664The Titchenal, name which few people could spell or pronounce without help, the family bible, a civil war sword and an old clock belonging to my greatgrandfather, William H. Titchenal were passed down to our family. These items along with stories about William H. Titchenal and his wife Sarah Ann's travels has always peaked my curiosity. The bible record showed and oral stories told, in a sketchy manner, about his travels. I have always wanted to know more about him and his ancestors. This book is my attempt to know my ancestors.

William was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia in 1817 and moved with his father John R. Titchenal to Fort Smith, Arkansas when it was the most western outpost in America, on the border of Indian Territory.

During the gold rush of the 1850s, William took his family with him to seek gold in northern California. Seventeen years later he moved south to purchase the first property sold in Santa Ana, California. My mother had saved an old Santa Ana news paper published in 1902 that told the story of Santa Ana and had a sketch of his house and street as it was in 1877, so I knew this much was true. My father was also born in Santa Ana in 1890 and had heard some of the story from his father.

All well and good, but where did we come from? Who were our early ancestors? What did they do, where did they live? Did they fight in the Revolutionary War?

My cousin, David L. Titchenal, with the help of his wife, Lillian, had written a paper for one of his college courses in the 1940s, A Brief History of the Titchenal Family This was circulated within our family and was a good start, but it left many unanswered questions and raised even more. David's history also indicated Moses was the father of John R. Titchenal. We now know Moses was John's grandfather, not his father.

William Titchenal and Sarah Ann Dickason had the following children:

+ 20 i. Susan Ellen5 Titchenal was born Apr 1840.

26 ii. John Jackson Titchenal was born in Arkansas 20 Apr 1843.(43) John died 13 Nov 1911 in Santa Ana, Orange, California, at 68 years of age.(44) He married an unknown person.

27 iii. William Charles Titchenal was born in Arkansas 27 Oct 1845.(45) William died 12 Dec 1879 in Hornitos, Mariposa, California, at 34 years of age.(46)

28 iv. Rebecca Titchenal was born in Arkansas ca 1847.(47) Rebecca died 21 Feb 1883 in Merced Co., California, at 35 years of age.(48) She married Hale ca 1863.(49)

29 v. Martha Jane Titchenal was born in California ca 1855.(50)

30 vi. David Dickason Titchenal was born in California ca 1858.(51) He married Emelia Louisa Navarrine in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 6 Jun 1888.(52)

31 vii. Samuel Henry Titchenal was born in California 25 Jul 1860.(53) Samuel died 25 Apr 1894 in Santa Ana, Orange, California, at 33 years of age.(54) He married Julia Moulin in Santa Ana, Orange, California, 16 Jan 1885.(55)