Harold Titus was born on 20 February 1888 in Traverse City,
the son of Dorr C. B. Titus and Frances Josephine Smith.[1]
His father died in 1892 when he was four-years-old.
On 8 June 1900, Harold D. Titus lived with his mother,
brother Leon F. Titus, maternal grandmother Jeanette F. Smith and a servant,
Mary C. Wright at 447 Webster Street in Traverse City. His brother Leon was a
bank cashier and Harold was attending school.[2]
On 18 April 1910, Harold Titus lived at 633 4th
Avenue in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan in the household of Henry A. and Anna
R. Simmons. He was listed as their son, which was incorrect. Harold was working
as a newspaper reporter.[3]
Harold was married on 14 April 1914 to Frances Elizabeth
Benedict. Beth was the daughter of Frank Benedict and Jessie Churchill.
On 5 June 1917, Harold lived at 502 Washington Street in Traverse
City. He was a farm superintendent for the Grand Traverse Orchard Company. He
was tall, had a medium build, blue eyes, and light hair.[4]
On 14 April 1930, Harold, his wife (her name not listed), their
children Elizabeth and John J., his mother Josephine Titius, and a maid, Winifred
Gullah lived on Washington Street in Traverse City. Harold was a book author.
Their home was valued at $4,000 and they did not have a radio.[5]
On 13 April 1940, Harold and Beth B. Titus and their
children Elizabeth L. and John S.; along with Beth’s father Frank X. Benedict
lived in Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County. Harold was a fiction
writer. Their home was valued at $5,000.[6]
By 1941 five of his books had been made into movies: The Last Straw (1920), Shod with Fire (his book Bruce of Circle A), Hearts Aflame (1922), How Baxter Butted In (1925), and The Great Mr. Nobody (1941).
Harold registered for the draft on 27 April 1942 while
living on Route 1 in Peninsula Township. He was working as a fruit grower. He
was 6 ft tall, weighed 170 pounds, had blue eyes, brown hair, and a ruddy complexion.[7]
On 3 April 1950, Harold and Elizabeth lived in Peninsula
Township. Harold was a writer and farmer.[8]
Harold died on 9 October 1967 in Traverse City. He was
buried in Oakland Cemetery.[9]
Harold Titus, Noted Author and Conservationist, Dies.
Harold Titus, 79, of 6591 Peninsula Drive, raverse City,
nationally prominent conservationist and author, died early this morning at his
home. He had been in failing health for some time.
Mr. Titus was conservation editor of Field and Stream
magazine, recipient of a number of conservation awards, author of nearly a
dozen novels, and contributor to many national publications, includlng
Collier's, Red Book, and Ladies Home Journal.
He helped to organize the Izaak Walton League of Amer'ica in
1922, was instrumental in formation of the Forest Service, and served on the
Michigan Conservation Commission from 1927 until 1935.
In 1934 he received an honorary master of arts degree from
the University of Michigan and in 1951 was awarded the Wildlife Society's
Leopold Medal for his work on behalf of conservation.
His novels included I Conquered (1916) and Black Feather
(1936).
Mr. Titus was born February 20, 1888 in Traverse City, the
son of Dorr B. and Josephine Smith Titus. He attended the University of
Michigan from
1907-1911 and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, arid
while at the university was a reporter for the Detroit News. After leaving U-M
in 1011 he became a fruit grower in Grand Traverse county.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War I, being
assigned to the lllth Ordnance Depot Company and attaining the rank of ordnance
sergeant by the time of his release from active duty.
On April 14, 1914 he was married to Beth Benedict, who
survives. Also surviving are: a daughter, Mrs. Edward (Elizabeth) Pattullo, of
Winchester, Mass.; a son, Dr. John Titus of Urbana, 111.; and seven
grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Titus will be held at 2 p.m.
Wednesday at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City, with cremation to follow.
Hibbard funeral chapel in Traverse City is in charge of
funeral arrangements.[10]
Harold Titus was an author of at least 16 books, many of
which are novels based in northern Michigan.
I Conquered (1916)
Bruce of the Circle A (1918)
The Last Straw (1920)
Timber (1922)
Spindrift: a Novel of the Great Lakes (1925)
Below Zero, a romance of the north woods (1932)
Beloved Pawn (1923 or 1932)
Code of the North (1933)
Flame in the Forest (1933)
Forest War (1934)
The Man from Yonder (1934)
Black Feather (1936)
A Program to Complete Land Type and Farm-Forest Inventories
for the State of Michigan (1944)
Learning for Living: adult education in Michigan Today
(1945)
The Land Nobody Wanted: the Story of Michigan's Public
Domain (1945)
Timber and Game-Twin Crops (1945)
[1]
Harold Titus entry, Michigan, U.S., Births and Christenings Index 1867-1911,
Ancestry.com.
[2]
Josephine Titus household, 1900 US census, Grand Traverse County, Michigan,
population schedule, Traverse Ward 01, ED 39, SD 11, sheet 9B, dwelling 182.
[3]
Henry A. Simmons household, 1910 US census, Wayne County, Michigan, population
schedule, Detroit Ward 4, ED 56, SD 1, sheet 2B, dwelling 46.
[4]
Harold Titus Registration Card, U.S., World War I Draft Registrations Cards,
1917-1918, Ancestry.com.
[5]
Harold Titus household, 1930 US census, Grand Traverse County, Michigan,
population schedule, Traverse City, ED 14, SD 4, sheet 14B.
[6] Harold
Titus household, 1940 US census, Grand Traverse County, Michigan, population
schedule, Peninsula, ED 28-13, sheet 7A, dwelling 141.
[7]
Harold Titus Registration Card, U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards,
1942, Ancestry.com.
[8]
Harold Titus household, 1950 US census, Grand Traverse County, Michigan,
population schedule, Peninsula, ED 28-17, sheet 2, dwelling 26.
[9]
Harold Titus Memorial 97786876, Findagrave.com.
[10]
Traverse City Record-Eagle (Traverse City, Michigan), 9 October 1967, 1:4.
