Title: Frank E. Titus
Dates: 1903-1910
Collection Number: 2019-P-022
Quantity: 24 items
Abstract: Images taken by Frank E. Titus of himself and his crew while working on steamboats on the Missouri River in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas eliminating snags for the U.S. Government. Also included are images of the Soldiers Home in Leavenworth Kansas, the State Capitol Building in St. Joseph (Mo.), and railroad bridges.
Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired these photographs from Frank Titus, but the date is unknown.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researcher should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94‑553, Title 17 U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection name, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Biographical Sketch
From the Bismarck Tribune, Monday May 2, 1938
Frank E. Titus, one of Bismarck’s earliest pioneers and a charter member in a number of local lodges, died Saturday at 3:45 p.m. in the Bismarck Hospital after an illness of 10 weeks.
The body has been taken to the Convert Funeral Home and will lie in state from 4 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday. Guards from the Slope Chapter, Rose Croix, will be in attendance during that time. Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the body will lie in state at the Masonic temple. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. from the Masonic temple by members of the Rose Croix. Burial will take place in the Fairview Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Roy Logan, J. O. Lyngstad, Erve Iverson of Wilton; A. A. Loehrke, Theodor Taylor and G. Olgeirson. Honorary pallbearers will be Duncan McGillis, Charles Pearce, C. G. Boise, Frank Evarts, Frank Gage, William Watson of McKenzie; Judge A. G. Burr, Ole Johnson, R. M. Bergeson, Arthur Hollensworth, D. H. Houser, and E. G. Wanner.
Born in Titusville, Pa., Jan. 13, 1862, Mr. Titus was a scion of an old Colonial Dutch family. The original American forebear came from Amsterdam, Holland to settle in New York in the early beginnings of American Colonial history. Later the family moved to the Dutch settlement in Huntington County, Pa., where was born the grandfather of Frank E. Titus. This grandfather became a civil engineer and moved to the vicinity of what is now Titusville. The community was named in his honor. It was here that James Titus, father of the Bismarck man, was born Nov. 12, 1833.
Like most other residents of northwest Pennsylvania in those days, Frank Titus’ father became engaged in the oil industry. It was a profitable occupation for a while and he built up a sizeable fortune only to see it swept away during the panic of 1873. Undiscouraged, he started anew and was able to retire in comfort to Cambridge, Pa. in 1903. He died at Cambridge in April 1926.
Mrs. Titus’ mother was Miss Alta Hill of New York before her marriage. She was born in 1843 in Cattaraugus County, N.Y. and died near Titusville in April 1868.
Frank E. Titus received his education in the public schools of Titusville, cutting short his formal learning when he was 16 years old to take work in the Pennsylvania oil fields. It was at this time that he learned the trade of the stationary engineer which he was to follow for the rest of his active life.
Leaving Pennsylvania when he was 21 years of age, Mr. Titus came to Bismarck in 1883 to take employment as engineer in a flour mill for four years. Following that, he was engineer at Bismarck high school for two years. In 1889, Mr. Titus became engineer on the Steamer Josephine, a position which he kept for 14 years until he took the same job on another government boat, the Mandan. This was followed by 12 years on the McPherson and one year on the Missouri.
Each of these boats used to keep the channel free from snags that might interrupt river navigation. The day came, however, when the necessity of keeping the channel open for river boats no longer existed and Mr. Titus turned to land for employment. For two years he worked as a plumber and then in August 1922 was appointed engineer at the state capitol powerhouse. Mr. Titus served as capitol engineer until 1933 when ill health forced him to resign. Afterward he became custodian of the Masonic temple, the position he held at the time of his death. He would have served eight years in that capacity in August.
Mr. Titus married Miss Lizzie M. Walton, daughter of a Civil War veteran, at the home of her parents in Minneapolis Minn. in 1886. On Dec. 27, 1936 the couple observed their golden wedding anniversary. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Titus and there are many grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Children are Mrs. George E. Juell, Spokane, Wash.; Mrs. W. C. Cavanaugh, Kansas City, Mo.; and Lloyd E. Titus, Portland, Ore.
Mrs. Cavanaugh and her daughter Miss Vivian Cavanaugh came to Bismarck when Mr. Titus was first taken ill and are still here. Lloyd E. Titus also came to Bismarck when his father entered the hospital and remained for 10 days, returning to his home to attend to business. He and Mrs. Titus were to arrive Monday for the funeral services.
Mr. Titus also leaves three half sisters, Mrs. W. G. Fuller, Miami, Fla.; Miss Bertha Titus and Mrs. O. I. Martin, both of Cambridge Springs, Pa.; two half brothers, William and Luther Titus, also of Cambridge Springs, Pa.; and one cousin R. H. Davenport, Elizabeth, N.J.
He was a member of the Burleigh County Pioneer association since its organization. With Mrs. Titus he attended every function given by the group since it has been organized.
Mr. Titus was a member of the Methodist Church and was active in both church and lodge functions. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of Bismarck Lodge No. 5 A.F and A.M.; Bismarck Chapter No. 10 R.A.M.; Tancred Commandery No.1, K.T., Bismarck; Bismarck Lodge of Perfection; Missouri Slope Chapter Rose Croix; Bismarck-Mandan Consistory; St. Elmo Lodge No. 4, K of P., of which he was a past chancellor; Bismarck Lodge No. 120 AOUW, and Bismarck Lodge BPOE. He held charter memberships in all these organizations.
Photographs Inventory
2019-P-022-00001 Steamboat Missouri on the Missouri River ca. 1908
2019-P-022-00002 Frank Titus and crew on McPherson snagboat 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00003 Hannibal City Bridge, Kansas City (Mo.) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00004 Shooting a snag on Missouri River 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00005 Ferry landing near Omaha (Neb.) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00006 Douglas Street Bridge over the Missouri River between Omaha (Neb.) and Council Bluffs (Iowa) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00007 Stern paddle wheele steamboat 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00008 Steamer May Stewart 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00009 Harry Lynd's Steam Ferry at the landing, White Cloud (Kan.) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00010 Snag shooting on the Missouri River 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00011 McPherson snagboat crew 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00012 U.S. Boat Yard, Sioux City (Iowa) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00013 Union Pacific Bridge, Omaha (Neb.) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00014 State Capitol Building, St. Joseph (Mo.) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00015 Union Pacific Bridge over the Missouri River between Omaha (Neb.) and Council Bluffs (Iowa) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00016 Steamer McPherson crew 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00017 Rear paddle steam boat pushing raft of lumber 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00018 George Benjamin, 2nd Engineer on Steamer McPherson 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00019 Shooting a snag on the Missouri River 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00020 Frank E. Titus 1st Engineer, George Benjamin 2nd Engineer and other crew of McPherson snagboat 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00021 Chapel of Veterans, Soldiers' Home, Leavenworth (Kan.) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00022 Soldiers' Home, Leavenworth (Kan.) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00023 Man riding horse below hillside with homes, Leavenworth (Kan.) 1903-1910
2019-P-022-00024 George Benjamin, 2nd Engineer on Steamer McPherson 1903-1910
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