TILTON, W. J. - 1914

TILTON, ANDERSON, FREEMAN, MAPES

Posted By: Colette Miles (email)
Date: 6/30/2009 at 09:35:22

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
By Thomas McCulla

W. J. TILTON.

W. J. Tilton has resided in Spring township since 1877 and since that time has made his home upon his present farm, lying on section 29. During the years he has taken a place among the prominent and substantial farmers of this vicinity and has made many important contributions to general agricultural development. He was born in Ogle county, Illinois, April 19, 1851, and is a son of James and Susan Tilton, natives of Ohio, where their marriage occurred. They lived in that state until 1844 and then moved to Ogle county, Illinois, where the father purchased land, engaging in farming for a number of years. He afterward took up government land in Nebraska and after developing this for a short time passed away. He had survived his wife for a number of years. To their union were born twelve children, eleven of whom still survive.

W. J. Tilton acquired his education in the public schools of Illinois and remained at home until he was nineteen years of age. He afterward worked at various occupations in Illinois until 1877 and then moved to Iowa, settling in Cherokee county, where he has since resided. He bought eighty acres of land on section 29, Spring township, and through the years has steadily carried forward the work of improving and developing the place, which under his able management has become one of the valuable and productive farms of the vicinity.

On December 11, 1888, Mr. Tilton was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Anderson, who was born in Spring township, this county, April 15, 1871, a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Anderson, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. After their marriage they settled in Appanoose county, Iowa, and the father engaged in larming there until his death. In their family were five children, all of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Tilton became the parents of nine children: Boyd, who was born in 1890 and who now makes his home in OBrien county, this state; Sylvia, the wife of Frank Freeman, of Minnesota; Goldie, who married Clarence Mapes, of Omaha, Nebraska; Jay; Clarence; Jessie; Mark; Allen; and Nellie.

Mr. Tilton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a republican in his political beliefs. During a period of residence in Cherokee county covering thirtysix years he has proved himself reliable in business, progressive in citizenship and at all times trustworthy and honorable, and he has won the high esteem and confidence of his neighbors and friends.