Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 350- 351

M. TITSWORTH, capitalist, is one of the early settlers of Wichita. Coming here while it was in its infancy he has watched its rapid growth from a straggling hamlet to a populous, thrifty city of 40,000 inhabitants, occupying a leading position among the prosperous cities of Kansas. He is a native of Penn Yan, N. Y., where he was born in 1832. His paternal grandfather, Josiah Titsworth, was born in New Jersey; from there he emigrated to Livingston County, N. Y., where he died. The father of our subject, Martin Titsworth, was also born in New Jersey. He learned the trade of miller and pursued it through life, first in his native State and then in New York, where he removed after his marriage with Elizabeth Evans, both spending the remainder of their lives in that State. Mrs. Titsworth was a daughter of Robert Evans, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States when a boy, and made his home in New Jersey.

     The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of his native State during his younger days, but after his father's death in 1849 was forced to depend on his own resources. This proved no detriment to him, however, his industrious habits and energetic temperament securing steady employment for him. In 1852, being seized with an irresistible desire to search for gold in his native soil, he went to California, where he spent the ensuing four years engaged in mining, and made considerable money in the operation. In 1856 he returned to Allegany County, N. Y., and established himself in the grocery and commission business, following the same for ten years with good financial results. He then discontinued that business, but continued to live in the place four years longer, having an interest in the Genesee Valley Canal, for which he manufactured and sold boats.

     Mr. Titsworth was married, in 1855, to Miss Lucy Estabrook, a daughter of Alpheus and Hannah (Hitchcock) Estabrook, natives respectively of Vermont and New York. Her father, a son of Benjamin and Rebecca (Houghton) Estabrook, was a blacksmith, and followed that trade during life. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Titsworth were Timothy and Sally (Chandler) Hitchcock, who were extensively engaged in farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Titsworth were born three children, namely: Edith S., wife of L. C. Jackson, of Wichita; Leonard C., a student in Lewis Academy, and Mabel R. Mr. Titsworth suffered a sad bereavement in the death of the devoted wife and loving mother, who passed to the eternal life March 13, 1888.

     In the pleasant month of June, 1872, our subject came to Kansas on a prospecting tour, visiting, among other parts of the State, Sedgwick County, and was so impressed with the many natural advantages, undeveloped resources, and fine geographical location of Wichita, which he shrewdly foresaw would render it a great agricultural and commercial center, that he left capital for investment and returned to New York. Disposing of his property in that State, in November of the same year he retraced his steps to Wichita, this time accompanied by his family, and located on Emporia avenue, where be purchased a house in which he lived nine years. Subsequently he sold that and bought a dwelling on Fourth avenue, where he lived until 1886. At that time Mr. Titsworth purchased his present residence on the corner of Indiana and Third avenues, which he has tastefully and conveniently fitted up with all the modern appliances for making life enjoyable. In a few weeks after coming to Wichita Mr. Titsworth, with characteristic enterprise, established himself in business as a dealer in queensware, glass and stone ware, opening his store Dec. 10, 1872. It was the first one of the kind in the city, and was located on the corner of Douglas avenue and Main street, the building being the only one of stone or brick in the place. Associated with him as a partner was his brother-in-law, Mr. Colwell, who is now engaged in a similar business in Emporia. They continued in business, under the firm name of Colwell & Titsworth, for five years, when our subject sold out his interest to his partner, and engaged in the grocery business at No. 138 Main street. In 1884 Mr. Titsworth disposed of his mercantile interests and has since been retired from active business. During the boom in Wichita he was an active and fortunate buyer and seller of city property, using keen foresight and judicious wisdom in his transactions, which, with his other enterprises, have placed him among the wealthy citizens of Wichita.

     In politics our subject is a strong advocate of the principles promulgated by the Republican party. He has long been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his estimable wife was also a member, they being actively identified with all of its plans for the social and moral elevation of the community.

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