TILFORD, Joseph 1826 - 1906

TILFORD, ANDREWS, FRAME, HUMPHREY, GRADY, WALKER, LAMBIRTH

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 4/12/2004 at 21:54:33

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, June 27, 1906
Page 7, Column 2

HE WAS INDEED A PIONEER.

Joseph TILFORD, who died in Round Prairie township Saturday, was indeed a pioneer settler of Jefferson County. He was a son of James TILFORD and a member of one of the first three families which settled in Jefferson County. The father, with S. S. Walker and Thomas LAMBIRTH, located in Round Prairie township in February 1836, and the son, a lad of ten years, with other members of those families, arrived on May 16th following. Joseph drove the oxen which turned the first furrow of soil in the county, and he also was a pupil of the first school taught in the county, in a rude log building with a fireplace occupying one entire end. . . . ."

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, July 4, 1906
Page 3, Column 2

OBITUARY.

The subject of this sketch, Joseph TILFORD, was born in Adair County, Ken., July 28th 1826. His father's family moved from that state to Morgan County, Ill., when Joseph was an infant, and on the date hereafter given moved to Round Prairie, Iowa. November 30th 1848 he was married to Matilda A. ANDREWS. Four children were born of this union -- Elizabeth, who died November 27th 1868; John, now a resident of Henry County, Iowa; Wm. A. at home, and James L., who died in infancy. The wife and mother died Nov. 23, 1893.

In the fall of 1835 Joseph's father, James TILFORD, looked over the Black Hawk Purchase and bought and selected lands. The following spring the father, with Thomas LAMBIRTH, his son-in-law, and wife and the lad Joseph, a driver and water carrier, came to what was to be the new home, arriving here May 16th 1836. Each spring from 1836 to 1840 the father and Joseph came from Illinois and made and improved the three farms during these years. Grandmother TILFORD, the oldest son, Bob, and little girls, afterward Mrs. FRAME, Mrs. HUMPHREY, and Mrs. GRADY, remained and conducted the farm in Morgan County, Illinois. Having disposed of this land in 1840, the entire family moved to what has been known during all these years as the TILFORD farm. After his marriage Joseph lived for a time in Marion County, Iowa, but after the death of his parents he bought the home farm. That, with the exception noted, has been his home from May, 1836, until his death, June 23d, 1906, at the age of 79 years, 10 months, 24 days. Twin sisters, Mrs. GRADY of Atlanta, Mo., and Mrs. HUMPHREY of Round Prairie township, are all now living of this large pioneer family.

Joseph TILFORD's life has been an open book to our people for more than seventy years. The funeral services were conducted at the home of the deceased by Rev. J. Lee, the remains were followed to the grave by a large concourse of people and were interred in the Lambirth cemetery."

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