Aaron Rosser Titlow (November 22, 1857 – January 6, 1923) was a Washington state lawyer and politician. Titlow served as a prosecuting attorney for Pierce County from 1896 to 1898 and was the Democratic National Committeeman from the state of Washington from 1920 to 1923. As of 2020, he's best remembered for Titlow Beach, a popular waterfront public park in Tacoma which was purchased from Titlow's family in 1928 by Metro Parks Tacoma.
Titlow settled in Tacoma, Washington, in 1888 and made many successful real estate investments that brought him wealth and prominence. As a lawyer, he was involved in several high-profile cases, defending public interest against corporate interests. In 1893, he won a court case representing the public interest against Tacoma City Council and Tacoma Light and Water Company, saving $787,000 ($22.6 million in 2020 dollars) in public money. In 1909, Titlow protected his real estate interests and public access rights to the waterfront, fending off James J. Hill and Northern Pacific Railroad's attempt to monopolize the Tacoma waterfront.
Although Titlow did not hold any public office (with the exception of his two-year prosecuting attorney term), he became an influential political figure in Washington state as a Democratic Party factioneer. Titlow was a campaign manager for George Turner, contributing to his election to US Senate and supported James M. Cox during the presidential election of 1920.
As of 2020, Titlow's residence on Sheridan Avenue in Tacoma and the remnants of his Hesperides Hotel on Titlow Beach (now known as Titlow Lodge) are historic landmarks.
Early life and education
Titlow was born on a farm near Dayton, Ohio, on November 22, 1857, into a family of Dutch ancestry. Two years after Titlow's birth, his father, Aaron Titlow (1829–1912), and his mother, Jane (Casad) Titlow (1831–1914) moved to Delphi, Indiana, in search of better farming opportunities. Titlow grew up on his parents' farm and attended Delphi public school. He had four sisters: Alice Ann (1855–1925), Mead G. (1865–1937), Read S. (1870–1917), and Lora (1872–1951).
While in school, Titlow developed an ambition to become a lawyer and studied Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England at Delphi. He later entered the law department of the Washington University in St. Louis, and graduated one year ahead of his class in 1885.
Early law career
After graduating, Titlow returned to Delphi and was admitted to the bar. However, in search of more lucrative opportunities for his law practice, he decided to move. In 1886, he borrowed $60 ($1,670 in 2020 dollars) and moved south to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he was welcomed by the local community. First, he practiced in a small new law firm, Titlow and Walker, which operated from an office on Seventh Avenue. A year later, Titlow joined two experienced lawyers who had recently moved from Indiana, and they formed a new law firm: Russel, Titlow, and Daniels. The new firm focused on business law, and Titlow began specializing in real estate cases.
Although Titlow was well received in Chattanooga and formed many friendships, he decided to move again to find better professional opportunities. In 1888, just as Washington Territory was about to join the Union and become Washington state, Titlow moved to Tacoma, Washington.
Career in Tacoma
Early legal career and real estate dealings
Titlow came to Tacoma in 1888 and later formed the law firm Titlow & Applegate. He also invested all the earnings he had accumulated in Tennessee, into Tacoma real estate. This investment proved to be very successful, propelling Titlow from "rags to riches." In addition to Tacoma, many of Titlow's real estate holdings were in Gig Harbor and on Fox Island. By 1903, Titlow owned three farms and approximately 300 lots in the Tacoma vicinity.