Abram B. Titus
SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: BECKER, CHANCY, MOOREHOUSE, TITUS
ABRAM B. TITUS has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1850. He is now located on section 21, in Rantoul Township, being the proprietor of a good farm comprising 160 acres and equipped with modern buildings. He is a native of New York State, born in Camillus, Onondaga County, Nov. 8, 1828. His father, Leonard TITUS, was a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., where his paternal grandfather located early in life, reared his family and died.
Leonard Titus in his youth learned the trade of blacksmith, and after leaving Dutchess located in Onondaga County, where he followed his trade until 1834. Thence he removed with his family ato Gallia County, Ohio, the journey being made by canal to Buffalo, thence by the Lakes to Toledo, from there down the Muskingum River to Marietta, and thence by the Ohio to a point near Gallipolis. There he purchased a tract of partly improved land, where he spent the remainder of his life, engaged in farming and blacksmithing. He rested from his earthly labors in 1848. The mother of our subject, who in her maidenhood was Miss Maria BECKER, was also a native of the Empire State. She removed with her husband to Ohio and is now living in Gallia County, having arrived at the advanced age of eighty-two years. The parental household included five children, of whom our subject was the eldest.
Mr. Titus, of our sketch, was in the sixth year of his age when his parents removed from his native State to Ohio. There he frew to manhood, attending the common schools and assisting his father in the work on the farm. He remained on the homestead until after the death of the latter, and two years later came to Illinois, engaging for the first three years as a farm laborer. He had lived economically, saving what he could of his earnings, and in 1853 rented a tract of land in Richland County which, however, he only operated upon one year. He then purchased thirty acres in that county in the midst of a timber tract, and having already selected a companion to share his fortunes, put up a log cabin, where they commenced housekeeping in true primitive style. Mr. Titus cleared fifteen acres and occupied this property with his family until 1863. In the meantime there had been added to the household seven children, and Mr. Titus felt the necessity of making some change which would bring about a better conditition financially, and secure an additional income to meet the necessities of the growing family. He accordingly disposed of the embryo farm in Richland County, and resolved to try his fortunes in the better developed and more thickly populated districts within the boundaries of Champaign County. He selected forty acres on section 9, in Somer Township, which, however, he sold after a period of six years. At the expiration of that time he purchased the land upon which he now resides.
Soon after coming to this section Mr. Titus began to realize the just reward of his labors, and found himself on a firm footing. He now has a good home, a sensible and worthy wife, and a fine family of children. These, seven in number, are Leonard, Helen, Edgar, Rosecrans, Charles, Martha and Jesse. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Richland County, April 7, 1853, was Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of Isaac and Cynthia (MOOREHOUSE) CHANCY. Mrs. T. was born in Richland County, this State, in 1830. Her parents were natives of Tennessee and New York respectively, and removed to Illinois soon after their marriage, locating in Richland County during its early settlement. The father is deceased; the mother still survives, and lives in Richland County.
Mr. Titus has been the subject perhaps of no very thrilling experiences but has simply lived the life of a good citizen, and performed with fidelity the duties devolving upon him as a worthy member of society and the father of a family. In politics he is independent.