Fan Titus McKenzie (Harrington) and son Forrest "Toasty" from 1976 Montana Standard

One of the joys of doing historical research is when a search about one person reveals a whole bunch of inter-relationships! I have always said that at one time most everyone in Philipsburg was related either by blood, marriage or shirt-tails. I have long known that Frances (Fan) Harrington was the daughter of Henry Forrest Titus, but did not know much about him. 

Henry was a very intelligent man, born in New Hampshire on February 2, 1857. He received his education at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden and then studied Law in Boston and came west to Helena in 1880, where he formed a law partnership with Judge Atkinson. In 1884, he moved to Philipsburg and was appointed Principal of the public schools. In 1885, Henry married Miss Sarah Burks, who was teaching in the schools. After one year, he resumed his law practice and was elected County Attorney in 1888 and served 2 years. In May of 1892, Henry was elected Mayor of Philipsburg and on March 20, 1893 he died of pneumonia at his home. Survivors were: wife Sarah, daughter Frances age 5 and son Forrest about one year old. 

Needless to say, Mrs. H.F. Titus was in need of a job. She returned to teaching and according to the October 30, 1895 Citizen Call, operated a private school in Philipsburg, when the area was without a school for a short period of time. The 1900 Federal Census shows Sarah had married John Harris and returned to being a housewife. Sarah died of Ovarian Cancer at St. Anne’s Hospital in Anaconda on December 12, 1936. Survivor’s were her husband John and the two children. 

Sarah’s father, George W. Burks, was involved in the apparel business and married Francis (Fannie) Wheeler September 20, 1860 in Mason County, Illinois. To the Burks was born: Sarah (June 28, 1861); Edward (?), George Orin (Nov.14, 1875), Frederick (1872-1945) and Lucy (1856-May 28, 1916). By 1900, the Federal Census shows George in Philipsburg, and we know Sarah married Henry in 1885; Lucy came to Montana in 1888 and married Addison Huffman in 1889; Frederick was Sheriff of Granite County 1916-1024; George O. worked for the Huffman Grocery in 1899. Therefore, somewhere between 1880 and 1900 at least five of the Burks’ arrived in Montana. 

Research has failed to find the death of Fannie. George was still working as a boot and shoe dealer in the 1880 Illinois Federal Census. Until this research, I failed to connect that Lucy, George O., Fred and Sarah were siblings, thus making the large Huffman family part of Fan Titus Harrington’s extended family. Fan would have been twenty nine when her aunt Lucy died after a gallbladder surgery. Survivors were husband Ad, sons: Rodney and Carroll and daughter Lottie. 

Frances “Fan” was born in Havana, Illinois February 14, 1887, so Sarah must have returned to her parents home to give birth to her. Fan’s brother, Forrest was born in Montana four years later. She married Roderick McKenzie, son of John R. McKenzie in 1909 and to this marriage was born Forrest “Toasty” in Idaho (Sept.18,1909-Sept.11,1971) Fan was widowed with an infant when Roderick, while working as a railroad engineer near Frenchtown, was killed on June 9, 1910. His funeral was in Philipsburg. 

I am uncertain what Fan did for a living before she married Jess Harrington June 16, 1920. The 1930 Federal Census shows Jess, Fan, and Toasty with Sally Storer, (16 year old niece of Jess) and Addison Harris, (22 year old adopted brother-in-law of Jess), also living in their household. 

Research revealed a fire at the Harrington house June 26, 1929. The loss was insured for $1,000 and the damage totaled $4,000. The fire was seen by Toasty on his way home; Fan was at the theatre and Jess was at work at the Mill (about three blocks from the home) when the fire broke out. The town came forward to assist the family as they lost everything, but the clothes on their backs. 

Fan was widowed again when Jess died in 1937. Over the years she had started collecting pictures and history of the area and by 1939 was holding picture album parties at her home. She became the librarian and wrote numerous articles for the Philipsburg Mail. Old timer’s remember parents sitting for her interviews. The June 5, 1976, Montana Standard carried a picture of Fan and Toasty with columns of history told by Fan. 

Her son, Forrest “Toasty’ served in WWII and Korea and married Anna Mason (also a veteran) from Hall in 1946. Children were: Rod and twins: Don and Dan. Dan died shortly after birth. 

Fan collected history of the area until her death from ovarian cancer on December 12, 1961. 

I have been fortunate to receive a large amount of her collected pictures in the recent months.