Red River County TX - BIOGRAPHIES - James Titus This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Lynn Titus Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *************************************************************** BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES TITUS James Titus, son of Ebenezer Titus and Rachel Mathews Bowen Titus, was born in Botetourt County, Virginia on December 10, 1775. In that same year, a large parcel of land was acquired from the Cherokee Nation by a group of associates known as the Transylvania Company. The tract was along and south of the Cumberland River, located primarily in today's west-central section of Tennessee. At that time, this was the edge of the western frontier. The chance for land and a new opportunity always prompted the relocation of settlers into an unknown wilderness. This was no exception as the Ebenezer Titus family, as well as scores of others, chose to take the journey to this unsettled frontier. Some of the settlers came overland from the Watauga Settlement with James Robertson. Others opted for a 1000 mile river journey, led by Colonel John Donelson, along the Holston, Tennessee, Ohio and Cumberland Rivers to reach Fort Nashborough. I know not which route Ebenezer Titus took, but to be sure, the undertaking was treacherous. I do know that he was at Fort Nashborough in May of 1780. In order to have a form of local self-government, Richard Henderson, leader of the Transylvania Company, drew up the Cumberland Compact. It was signed by all the adult males that had settled in the vicinity of Fort Nashborough, including my 4th great grandfather, Ebenezer Titus. This accounted to about 250 men. Twelve judges were chosen by human suffrage to represent the several stations surrounding Fort Nashborough. Ebenezer Titus was one of those selected. James Titus spent his youth and early adulthood in the area just described which was to become Nashville, Tennessee. Not only did the pioneers have to cope with clearing out the rugged countryside and growing crops to survive, but; there was always the threat of disease and occasional Indian raids. Many chose to relocate in an area not quite so primitive, leaving only the hardy behind. James' father, Ebenezer Titus built a large brick home to replace the original log structure in 1790. Unfortunately, it burned in the Spring of 1996. It was located on his 320 acre plantation on Dry Creek near present day Goodlettsville, Tennessee, a suburb just north of Nashville. James Titus grew up as an admirer of Andrew Jackson, who had settled in the same area in 1788 as a prosecuting attorney. He would later marry Rachel Donelson, daughter of Colonel John Donelson, the leader of the 1000 mile river journey spoken of earlier. She would have become the First Lady of the United States, had she not died in late 1828, after Andrew Jackson had won election to the presidency, but before he was sworn into office. On June 10, 1795, James Titus married Rebecca Sawyers Buchanan. They chose to stay in the Nashville area and had five children, of which only three reached adulthood. James father, Ebenezer Titus passed from this life on September 14, 1807. He was buried on his plantation next to his wife, Rachel, who had died on October 1, 1795. James wife, Rebecca Sawyers died on January 23, 1808. Shortly thereafter on May 17, 1808, he married Nancy Holmes Edmondson, who is my 3rd great grandmother. They did not stay in the area long, as another acquisition of land from Indians enticed the James Titus family to journey to a new land and optimistic future. This new frontier was the Mississippi Territory. This area covered the present states of Mississippi and Alabama except for a strip of land along the Gulf of Mexico which was an extension of the Florida panhandle and still belonged to Spain, although the United States would acquire this by 1812. The move into the Mississippi Territory was made in 1809. James' family chose to settle in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, which is present day Alabama. The pioneers here, like those in Tennessee, had to cope with the usual hardships, but that had become a way of life that was familiar to them. They had successfully entered the new frontier and established residence, but what kind of opportunity awaited them to better themselves and their loved ones. James Titus was appointed a Captain in the 7th Mississippi Territory Regiment on May 9, 1810. He became active in local affairs being chosen for the first jury of Madison County in October of 1810. By 1814, James Titus was a member of the Mississippi Territory Legislature. Mississippi became the 20th state in 1817 and after their constitution was adopted on August 15, 1817, Alabama became a separate Territory. St. Stephens, an old Spanish fort, became the first Capital of the new Alabama Territory. President James Monroe appointed William Wyatt Bibb as the first Governor. The Alabama Territory consisted of a Governor, Bibb, a House of Representatives, and a Legislative Council. The first Speaker of the House was Gabriel Moore, but; he was replaced before the expiration of his term by John W. Walker. Three men were selected as "Council Members" (Senators). They were Robert Beatty, Joseph Carson and my 3rd great grandfather, James Titus. Carson died and Beatty resigned his office, so when the first Alabama Territorial Legislative Council convened at St. Stephens on January 19, 1818, James Titus was the only member available to show up. Disregarding his precarious situation, he carried out his new duties with studied formality. He became a one-man upper house by calling his own Session to order, answering the roll call as all present, then proceeded to elect himself President of the Council. He introduced and voted on bills, made appointments, and finally adjourned the meeting. The first Session of the Legislative Council of the Alabama Territory convened for 26 days, adjourning on February 14, 1818. James Titus was the sole council member for the entire first Session. He had appointed Curtis Hooks, Secretary and John Pearson, as Doorkeeper. The second Session of the Legislative Council convened later in that same year, adjourning on November 21, 1818. James Titus was President of the Legislative Council for both Sessions, although he was not the sole member of the second Session. The adjournment of the second S ession ended St. Stephens reign as Capital of the Territory. The new Capital for the 1819 Government seat would be moved to Huntsville in Madison County. A letter, addressed to Governor William Wyatt Bibb, dated January 6, 1819, nominated James Titus, Henry Chambers, Lemuel Mead, George Phillips, John Gayle, Jr. and Matthew D. Wilson as Members of the Legislative Council for the Alabama Territory for 1819. These nominations were made by the United States House of Representatives for the approval of President James Monroe. The letter, signed by James Monroe, 5th President of the United States and John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State, certifies the approval of the above men as Council Members for the said Territory. On December 14, 1819, Alabama became the 22nd State to be admitted to the Union. James Titus continued to live in the State of Alabama after his tenure in the Legislature. He and his wife, Nancy Holmes Titus, had seven children, including my 2nd great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Titus, who was born in Madison County, Mississippi Territory on March 12, 1814. James Titus life took a turn for the worse as his wife of 14 years, Nancy Holmes Titus passed away on October 25, 1822 in Limestone County, Alabama, leaving him with several young children. On February 17, 1824, Ebenezer Titus, an attorney in Madison County died. He was the first born of James Titus and his first wife, Rebecca Sawyers Titus. Maybe these losses were too much for James and he wanted to leave his past in Alabama. This can never be known, but what is known is that James Titus moved with his family to Fayette County, Tennessee and was residing there near the township of La Grange in 1824. At some time before or after he left Alabama, James Titus married for a third time. This time it was to Rebecca Edmondson, sister to his second wife. He was still living in Fayette County in 1830, but by 1832, he had moved westward to Shelby County, Tennessee. By then, James Titus was in the employment of the United States Government in the relocation of the five civilized Tribes into the designated area. (Oklahoma) These Tribes were the Choctaw, Seminole, Creek, Chickasaw and Cherokee. History would remember this as the "Trail of Tears". James Titus was to assist in the removal of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The Choctaw Nation was the first of the five Tribes to be relocated following the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. The first move was scheduled to depart on November 1, 1831, but because of complications too numerous to mention, did not get underway until November 15, 1831. This move was disastrous for both the Indians and the soldiers and men that accompanied them as they suffered hardships from the natural terrain culminated with the frigid winter of 1831-32. It was on this mission that James Titus, along with his son, Andrew Jackson Titus, first set foot on Texas soil, although at that time it was a Mexican State. They crossed the Red River at Jonesboro in early 1832. This is in present day Red River County, Texas. The Choctaw Nation was to be moved in three successive moves. The second trek, which was as equally disastrous as the first, began in November of 1832. The third and final move, which culminated in November of 1833, was the only move that had the cooperation of the weather and was much more organized than the first two. The Chickasaw Nation began moving in 1837. The vast majority of the Tribe was moved in 1837 and 1838, although a few of the Chickasaw were still on the move as late as 1847. James Titus, who had received land certificate # 179 for a Third Class Headright Land Grant from the Republic of Texas, settled permanently there in November of 1839, following his mission with the Federal Government. Texas had won its Independence from Mexico at the battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Their Declaration of Independence was signed at Washington on the Brazos on March 2, 1836, during the siege at the Alamo, which fell on March 6, 1836. The President of the Convention at Washington on the Brazos was Richard Ellis, a delegate from Red River County and a political acquaintance of James Titus in the Alabama Territory and State. Another of the 59 signers of the Declaration was Collin McKinney, a delegate from Red River County and a second cousin to James Titus He is the namesake of Collin County and McKinney, Texas. James Titus opened the first post office in Clarksville, Red River County, Republic of Texas. His land grant of 640 acres was situated eight miles north of DeKalb near the Red River. His son, Andrew Jackson Titus, settled permanently in Texas during September of 1837. He had received land certificate # 317 for a Second Class Land Grant from the Republic of Texas of 1280 acres. It was located twelve miles to the north and east from DeKalb and fronted the Red River on a large bend in the waterway. James Titus' land was just to the west of the southern part of his son's tract. Andrew Jackson "Jack" Titus had initially entered Texas with out his wife, Jane, who was child bearing and unable to travel. He had married Jane Park Brown in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee on July 27, 1836. On April 9, 1838, she gave birth to a son, Ebenezer Brown Titus. He was born in Shelby County, Tennessee, but moved to Texas as soon as his mother was able. Jack's brother, Thomas Fearin Titus, also received a Second Class Land Grant from the Republic. Since he was single, it was for 640 acres and it bordered his brother's land on the west, fronting Red River. All these land grants were still in Red River County until 1840, when a portion of the county was broken off and named for Alamo hero, Colonel James Bowie. On November 9, 1840, a daughter was added to the "Jack" Titus family. Her name was Ann Rebecca "Becky" Titus and she was born on the Titus plantation in the newly formed Bowie County, Republic of Texas. Also arriving in Texas with Jack was his step-brother, James Titus, Jr. He was born to James Titus, Sr. first wife, Rebecca Sawyers Titus. He acquired land certificate # 322 for a Second Class Land Grant from the Republic of Texas of 640 acres about 14 miles to the east from Clarksville. This is the tract of land near Savannah, Texas, where countless ancestors were born and raised. James Titus eventually lived and died there, as did Jack Titus after the death of James Titus, Sr. I am not sure of the date that James Titus, Sr. moved to the James Titus, Jr. Headright near Savannah, Texas, but his obituary in The Northern Standard, dated November 25, 1843, tells of him being buried alone, in a secluded grave, upon his own grounds. It mentions that it was a spot selected by himself. Today, of course, we know this as Savannah Cemetery. The fate of James Titus, Jr. remains a mystery. Also moving to Texas during this same time frame was James Titus, Sr.'s brother George Titus. Accompanying George were his sons, Peter Wright Titus and George M. Titus. Two daughters of James Sr. also made the trek to Texas. These were Isabella Rachel Titus and Miriah Louise Titus. The James Titus and Andrew J. Titus families settled in the Republic of Texas as planters and large landowners, They were active in local affairs, but this was to change. The Republic of Texas was neither a wealthy nor always a stable Republic. Two political factions were feuding in the eastern area of the Republic. These were the Regulators and Moderators. The leader of the Moderators was Robert Potter, who was also a Senator in the 6th Republic of Texas Congress. The next day after he had tried to arrest William Pickney Rose, head of the Regulators, Potter's home on Caddo Lake was surrounded by Rose and his men. Potter was shot and killed on March 2, 1842, while trying to escape to safety by swimming to an island on Caddo Lake. An election was held to find a replacement for Potter's unexpired term. James Titus was elected as a Senator to fill that void. He was reelected as a Senator to the 7th Republic of Texas Congress, but died during that term at his home near Savannah on November 21, 1843. Politically, he was a Jacksonian Democrat and an ardent supporter and friend of General Sam Houston. He had remained active to the end, even penning a letter to Sam Houston, President of the Republic of Texas at that time, within three weeks of his death, telling of his intentions to make the trip to Washington on the Brazos and visit the General and his family as well as discussing political happenings of the time. My 3rd great grandfather, James Titus, was a man of strong convictions and high moral values intertwined with a pleasing personality and demeanor. He was well respected by his fellow citizens, candid in conversation, but never placed himself above any man, judging only by the character of his being, not by his status in life. He was buried in a secluded spot of his choosing on his own grounds. His wife, Rebecca Titus died on November 13, 1846 and is buried next to him. At the time of the death of James Titus, he had been involved in the negotiations of Statehood for Texas. Upon his death, his son Andrew Jackson Titus, carried on his work. "Jack" Titus had become very active in local matters, even opening up the Mt. Pleasant area to the river port of Jefferson, Texas. When Texas became a State, a portion of Red River and Bowie Counties were created to form Titus County, Texas in honor of my 2nd great grandfather, Andrew Jackson "Jack" Titus. He later would serve in the 4th Texas Legislature in 1851-52. The last child was born to "Jack" and Jane Titus on January 21, 1853 in Red River County. His name was James Fearin "Tobe" Titus and he is my great grandfather. The final resting place picked out by James Titus is today, Savannah Cemetery; a well kept, two acre community burial plot. All of my ancestors from James Titus to my father, Ollie Pirtle Titus, are buried there. Also at rest in these most special grounds are aunts, uncles and numerous cousins along with other local families. Maybe as a bit of irony, Robert Beatty, the man who resigned his position as a Senator in the Alabama Territory propelling James Titus into the position of a one man upper house, migrated to Texas and is buried only a few feet to the east of my 3rd great grandfather. All of the above information was researched, compiled and written by Ollie Lynn Titus. I am very proud to be the 3rd great grandson of such a unique individual, yet humble as I attempt to preserve his legacy for the generations of today and those of the future. For it is only in this manner of thought and action that our proud heritage can sustain. With respect, O. Lynn Titus