Julius Clark Tilden 1809-1892

BRIGGS, TILDEN

Posted By: Sheila Simpson (email)
Date: 9/28/2002 at 21:54:37

Julius Clark Tilden was born in Hartford, Vermont, September 7, 1809, died at Ames, Iowa March 23, 1892, of inflammation of the bladder. At the age of 16 years he left home and went to Rochester, Vermont and entered the employ of a brother engaged in the mercantile business, where he lived for 40 years and during that period he carried on business for himself in company with George Lyman. Here he held many civil offices, serving as colonel of the state militia and postmaster of the town under President Franklin Pierce. He was married in 1836 to Eliza M. Briggs of that place. During a few years residence at Potsdam, New York two sons were born. Both died in their infancy.

In 1860 death claimed a third son, 9 years of age. In 1861 he buried his beloved wife, and the following year his remaining two sons, aged sixteen and twenty enlisted in the Union army. He remained in Rochester until 1867 at which time he joined his children in Iowa.

In later years he was called upon to mourn the loss of two granddaughters. It was as he looked upon all that remained of one of these dear ones, to whom he was greatly attached, that he said: “Another link in heaven, Grandpa will come soon.”

In the death of Colonel J. C. Tilden this community suffered no common loss. He was a man of marked individualities, and exhibited traits of mind and heart which made him a man of marked influence in every community where he lived. The best life is not often the one that creates the largest sensation, or pushes its personality ever before the public eye, but rather the one that succeeds in imprinting the most and best of itself upon the minds and building it into the characters of those who moved within his circle, be that circle large of small. Judged by such a test this life, which has just gone out in the mystery of death, is of more value to us than if he had made explorations in Central Africa or original discoveries in science. He was of robust and rugged physique, deliberate in motion, dignified in speech, thoroughly genuine and sincere in everything.

Of strong convictions and clear cut views, he was still broadly tolerant of the views of those who differed widely. He had hearty sympathy with the great moral reforms of the day and hearty contempt for meanness and oppression in any form. He was a man of rare social gifts, entertaining in conversation, to an unusual degree, a lover of quaint and humorous anecdotes, of which he had an unfailing store. He was self confident without egotism. Perhaps the most notable characteristic of his nature was the prevailing and persistent serenity and equanimity of his disposition under every variety of fortune or circumstances. Although he had an almost ideal temperament it was re-enforced by the strongest resolution and the highest courage. When fortune frowned upon him and calamities darkened his horizon he faced the storm without faltering. Adversity never soured but....….ture. All his later years were give to a ministry of helpfulness and strength to others. It is one of the rarest things in the world to grow old gracefully and pleasantly to carry the weight of 82 years with the jauntiness and blitheness of early life. Such lives are needed to teach the world that, amid disappointment and failures and sorrows of life, after all, laughter is better than tears. National grief and marble shaft are wont to commemorate the great but they seldom perpetuate the memory of grander virtues or a nobler life. We speak of death as separation, but to children and grandchildren there can be no separation, for already into warp and woof of every life have been woven some of the elements which made this life so worthy of imitation.

“Say not of the friend departed,
He is dead, he is but grown
Larger souled, and deeper hearted;
Blossoming into skies unknown.
All the air of earth is sweeter,
For his being’s full release,
And thine own life is completer,
For his conquest and his peace.”

The funeral services of Mr. J. C. Tilden took place at the Congregational Church on Friday PM at 2 o’clock. The services were conducted by the Reverend E. C. Moulton of Red Oak, Iowa, formerly of Ames, Reverend Mr. Douglass assisting. The Music was by a quartet consisting of Miss Marie Chambers, Miss Mary A. Nichols and Mr. Brown of the I.A.C. and Mr. Carstens, Miss Mary Johnston accompanist. The service was very appropriate and impressive. Mr. Moulton did not preach a sermon; he talked to the friends and relatives concerning the lessons of the beautiful life which Father Tilden had lived among us.