Titterington, James B.

The following data is extracted from Biographical History of Rock Island Illinois.

A typical example of the virile man-hood of Rock Island County is the subject of this sketch. Born in Buffalo Prairie Township, he resisted the lure of the city and of the great west to which so many of his boyhood companions yielded and set himself to the task of extracting wealth from the old home farm. After more than sixty years spent there he has now retired and is enjoying the fruits of his labors as a resident of the City of Rock Island.

Mr. Titterington is a descendant of one of the oldest and most honored families of the county. His father, James Titterington, senior, was born in 1809, in Yorkshire, England, and came to America with his parents when a lad of twelve years. The grandfather, Thomas Titterington, settled first in Ross County, Ohio, but after a few years removed to Rock Island County (in 1838) to make his home with his children, John, James, Moses and Charles, all now deceased. Before leaving Ohio the father of our subject was married to Miss Lena Beall, daughter of William Beall. Upon coming to Illinois he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Buffalo Prairie Township and devoted the remainder of his life to its cultivation and improvement. He died on the old homestead in 1876. His wife passed away in 1893.

James, the son, was born May 30, 1843, and was one of a family of six children, the others being: Mrs. David Bopes, now dead some years; Jane, widow of the late Robert S. Montgomery, and now of Rock Island; Mary E., who died at the age of fourteen years; William T., who died July 2, 1907, and Thomas, who passed away in infancy. James, when he reached manhood, settled upon the old home farm and eventually became its owner, buying out the other heirs. He added to the original two hundred acres till he had four hundred and forty acres of as fine soil for agricultural purposes as is to be found. As may be imagined from his material prosperity, Mr. Titterington was industrious and enterprising. He was, in fact, one of the most progressive farmers of the community, and attained a high standing in the esteem of his fellow men besides. Stock feeding was his specialty, and he also dealt in live stock with success. He retired from the farm and became a resident of Rock Island in 1907.

Mr. Titterington cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and has since steadily sup-ported the nominees of the Republican party. Locally he was accorded a considerable degree of political leadership and was honored by his party in various ways. He served four terms as member of the board of supervisors, and was highway commissioner for a number of years. Besides he often served as delegate to county and district conventions. Unlike many who leave the farm, Mr. Titterington did not delay his removal to the city till broken in health. He is still in full mental and physical vigor and the same qualities that won him high regard as a resident of Edgington are still daily making him new and firm friends.

Source: Biographical History of Rock Island Illinois

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