Elizabeth Titus didn’t just stumble into the role of a mail carrier; she charged into it like a letter marked “urgent.” Starting as a substitute mail carrier during World War I, Titus stepped in when the regular carrier left the district. At a time when few women held such roles, she quickly proved herself indispensable, taking on one of the most demanding routes in Robbinsdale. It was during these formative years that she began to understand the critical role mail played in connecting families, friends, and lovers separated by distance and circumstance. Let’s just say Cupid himself would’ve had a hard time keeping up with her.
In 1920, Elizabeth became one of Minnesota’s first full-time female rural mail carriers. It was a role she would hold for 33 years, delivering letters and parcels across Route 2 and later Routes 1 and 11. Her daily journey spanned 33 miles, winding through farms, dirt roads, and narrow lanes. Over her career, she traveled an estimated 325,000 miles—enough to circle the globe more than a dozen times.
Her work required both physical and mechanical skills. During winter, she often hitched a team of horses to navigate snow-clogged roads. Later, as cars became more common, she learned to perform her vehicle maintenance. Whether changing tires, repairing broken axles, or extricating her car from mud or snowdrifts, Elizabeth’s resourcefulness became legendary.
Life as a rural mail carrier wasn’t all postcards and stamps. Elizabeth often faced harsh Minnesota winters, with blizzards and sub-zero temperatures making her daily rounds perilous. On one occasion, her car’s rear wheel detached, forcing her to seek help. On another, a runaway horse dragged her for hundreds of yards before it was stopped. Through all the trials, she never let the mail be delayed. She took “neither snow nor rain” to heart.
Elizabeth also had to contend with unusual cargo, such as baby chicks, baby turtles, and fragile plants. These live parcels added an extra layer of complexity to her work, as she ensured they reached their destinations safely. Poison ivy, snowdrifts, and muddy roads were constant adversaries, but she faced them all with unwavering determination. If there was a “most wanted” list for rural mail hazards, poison ivy would’ve been public enemy number one.
Elizabeth Titus wasn’t just a mail carrier; she was a vital part of her community. Her daily visits to 400–460 mailboxes connected her with the lives of the families she served. She delivered not just letters but also hope, love, and sometimes heartbreak. During the two World Wars , she brought news from soldiers overseas, becoming a source of comfort for anxious parents and sweethearts.
Her role often extended beyond mail delivery. Farmers and townsfolk relied on her for small favors, from delivering groceries to helping round up stray cows. She was a friend to dogs, children, and farmhands alike, her presence as familiar as the sunrise. The treats she often found waiting for her in mailboxes—freshly baked cookies or juicy apples—showed just how much she meant to the community.
Elizabeth also played the occasional role of Cupid, delivering love letters that blossomed into lifelong partnerships. However, she herself remained single for most of her life, choosing the freedom and fulfillment of her work over traditional expectations of marriage and homemaking. As she liked to joke, she was already married—to the mail.
One of the most amusing of all her experiences as a carrier, Miss Titus said, occurred in the 1920’s when an elderly man on her route took occasion to interrogate her on several points and finally ended by asking her if she was married. She replied that she was not and the gentleman said, “Well, I have a, mighty fine young son.” At the time Miss Titus preferred her mail route to matrimony.</>
By the time Elizabeth Titus retired in 1951, she had become a local legend. Her dedication and service were celebrated by colleagues and community members alike. At a small retirement gathering at the Robbinsdale post office, she was presented with matching travel cases—a nod to the countless miles she had traveled in her career.
Retirement did not mark the end of Elizabeth’s adventures. In 1953, at the age of 63, she shocked everyone by trading her mailbag for a bouquet. She married Franklin L. Prestige, a widowed Baptist minister. Their union was a testament to the idea that life’s most beautiful chapters can begin at any age. The couple divided their time between Robbinsdale and Holland, Michigan, enjoying the fruits of their labor and the companionship they found in each other. And yes, for once, someone else delivered her mail.
Elizabeth Titus’s story is more than a tale of a dedicated mail carrier; it is a testament to the power of resilience and the impact of community service. She broke barriers as one of the first female rural mail carriers in Minnesota, inspiring future generations of women to pursue paths less traveled. Her work ethic, kindness, and unyielding commitment to her community remain an enduring legacy in Robbinsdale and beyond.
As we reflect on her life, we are reminded that heroes come in many forms. For the families along Routes 1, 2, and 11, Elizabeth Titus was not just a mail carrier—she was a lifeline, a friend, and a trailblazer. Rain or shine, her story will always deliver inspiration.
The image at the top of the post is a clipping from the Minneapolis Tribune May23rd, 1925