My Genealogy Hound

Edward Titus was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1827, and is the eldest child of Obadiah and Mary (Townsend) Titus, natives of New York State. Mr. Titus was a prominent man in his county, serving as judge of the county court, and sheriff of Dutchess County, N. Y., and in 1836 was elected to Congress, serving one year. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 for three months, and commanded a company of State militia. He was of Welsh-English, and his wife of English descent. His parents, Samuel and Ruth (Titus) Titus, were natives of Dutchess County and Long Island, N. Y., respectively. The mother was a daughter of George and Phoebe (Willett) Townsend, natives of New York. Her grandfather, George Townsend, was a stanch Whig, and during the Revolution served on a prison ship. Edward Titus, the subject of this sketch, moved to Putnam County, Mo., in January, 1872, where he has since resided. He received a good academical education, and passed his youth upon a farm. Farming has been his life occupation, with the exception of five years, during which he was employed in the New York Custom House, engaged in the manufacture of butter and cheese, and served in the war. He enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Company H, Sixth New York Cavalry, officiating as second lieutenant. He afterward served in Company A; in the same capacity, but after being transferred to Company I was made captain. He was wounded at the battle of Winchester on Opequah Creek, and January 16, 1865, was discharged at Annapolis, Md., on account of disability. In January, 1862, he married Rachel Spielman, a native of New York, by whom he has had six children: Catherine, Mary, Maud, Percy (deceased), Jessie and Floyd. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Knight Templar, and has served his township as justice of the peace four years.