My Genealogy Hound

JACOB R. TITLOW, a well known farmer in Norriton township, was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1855. In 1873 his father bought the farm now owned by Mitchell Harrison, and here Jacob grew to manhood. Mr. Titlow attended the public schools in Philadelphia until after his father removed from that city, after which he took a course in Pierce’s Business College, graduating from that institution and receiving his diploma in the summer of 1873. He remained on the farm, assisting his father, until his marriage, in 1881.

For the next two years he was employed in the Wharton Switch Works, at Edge Hill, near Jenkintown, as machinist. He had never served an apprenticeship as a machinist but became a good workman by applying himself closely to his business for a short time. After these two years spent in working for other people he removed to the farm of his father-in-law near Jenkintown, living there three years. About this time his father was stricken with blindness, and feeling that it was his duty to be near him he returned to his home and was near his father until 1891. In the latter year his father died.

For a few years he was engaged as a dealer in real estate, buying property near Chestnut Hill. He also managed a plantation of one thousand acres in Accomac county, Virginia. It was located between Broadwater bay and Machipenga river. During this time the family remained at their Pennsylvania home but Mr. Titlow passed many pleasant days with the Virginians, and holds their memory as a delightful experience. In 1898 he sold his Virginia estate and soon afterward purchased the farm of forty-seven acres on which he now lives. This was known as the Pennock farm.

A year after removing to Norriton township, his barn and all it contained, including Alderney cows, fine Virginia horses and other stock, was entirely destroyed by fire. He at once rebuilt it on a much larger and better scale.

In politics Mr. Titlow is a Democrat and is active in local contests. While a resident of Philadelphia he was a delegate to city conventions on various occasions and also served at different times as judge and inspector of elections. Although a Democrat all his life he could not conscientiously support William J. Bryan and the Chicago platform of 1896 and he accordingly cast his ballot at the presidential election for Palmer, the straight Democratic nominee. In Montgomery county politics Mr. Titlow has represented his party in county conventions at different times and in February, 1903, he was elected supervisor of the eastern district of Norriton.

Hiram Titlow (father) was born in the old township of Bristol, in the twenty-second ward of Philadelphia, October 14, 1824, and lived there until, as mentioned above, he removed to Springfield township. He was a farmer, as was his father before him, the latter being also a drover. Hiram Titlow was a stanch Democrat of the Jacksonian type. He was an attendant, though not a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Sarah, daughter of Henry and Sarah Earnest, old residents of Springfield township. Their children are: Jacob R., supervisor of Norriton; Sarah E., who married J. Milton Brooke, represented elsewhere in this work; and Emma B. and Blanche, both unmarried, and residing in Germantown.

Jacob Titlow (grandfather) was born August 7, 1787, in Lower Milford township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He married, January 16, 1810, Catharine Rush. She was born August 29, 1784. After his marriage they removed to Bristol township and went on the farm inherited by his wife from her father, John Rush, a wealthy Philadelphian. Their children were: Susan, who married Henry Benner; Mary Ann, who died unmarried; Jacob J., who married Abigail Bullock; Daniel, who married Susan Revel; and Hiram, father of Jacob R. Titlow.

George Titlow (great-grandfather) was a native of France and was born close to the German frontier. He was a soldier and came with the French army to America to assist the colonists under General Washington in the Revolutionary war. He had married a German woman prior to his enlistment. The war over he sent to France for his wife and settled in Lower Milford, Bucks county, where he cleared a farm on which he spent the remainder of his days. Their children were: Jacob, Abraham, John, David, Joseph, Hannah, and another daughter who married a Mr. Knox.

Jacob R. Titlow married, March 15, 1881, Esther, daughter of John R. and Elizabeth (Pierson) Unruh. Mrs. Titlow was born at Milestown, in Philadelphia, September 14, 1856.

John R. Unruh (her father) was born in Germantown, February 1, 1819. His father was a farmer and owned the farm on which John R. was born. The Unruh family, as their name indicates, are of German origin but have been residents of Germantown and vicinity for a great many years. John R. grew to manhood on the home farm and became a farmer by actual experience. He was a director of the public schools. After his marriage to Miss Pierson he resided on farms as a tenant until 1884, when he purchased land at Jarrettown, located on the Limekiln pike, about thirteen miles from Philadelphia, where he resided until his death, in October, 1894. He was a Republican in politics though he never sought or held office. In religious faith he was a Methodist from the time he was nineteen years of age. In 1867 he was licensed as a local preacher, his wife being also a member of that denomination. He was buried in Ivy Hill cemetery at Mount Airy. Their children were four, as follows: Emma L., unmarried, who resides with her sister at Hooverton; Esther and Adeliza (twins), who were born September 14, 1856, and Adeliza died in infancy; and John Wesley, who also died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob R. Titlow have two children: J. Wilbur, born April 28, 1882; and Edith W., born February W., born February 1, 1884.