John Titus

John Titus (August 12, 1812 – October 16, 1876) was an American attorney and jurist. He served as chief justice of the Supreme Courts of both Utah and Arizona Territory. Background Titus was born on August 12, 1812, to William and Mary (Torens) Titus in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In addition to a strict fear of God instilled by his Presbyterian parents, he was educated in the Doylestown public schools, Lane Theological Seminary, and Washington College, Pennsylvania, before graduating from a law course at Transylvania University in 1837. In 1840, Titus was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar. He practiced law in Bucks County before moving to Philadelphia in 1842. In 1843, Titus married widow Martha (Shaw) Buck. The marriage produced two children: Henry C. and Amanda W. Titus In addition to practicing law in Philadelphia, Titus argued several cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. During the 1850s he had become involved with the Know Nothing Party and ran for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, losing his bid by one vote.