My Genealogy Hound

JOHN TILMAN, farmer and stock-raiser; Section 28; P. O. Greenville. The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, born in Preble Co. on the 16th of July, 1816; spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm, receiving his education in the subscription schools in the unique schoolhouses so peculiar to those days. On the 26th of July, 1838, he celebrated his marriage with Thisby Snyder, who was a native of New Jersey, born on the 18th of May, 1817. In 1838, he moved to Darke County, locating in Neave Township, on a tract of land consisting of 160 acres which his father gave him, which, at that time, was a dense forest; he erected a log cabin, moved in and commenced the herculean task of clearing and opening up a farm, and in a few years the mighty forest had disappeared, and in place of the “little log cabin” a beautiful brick house now stands erected at a cost of $1,500, also a barn 40x60 feet erected at a cost of $800; he added 160 acres more, making in all 320 acres with 240 acres under a good state of cultivation. In 1869, he purchased his present place of residence, 156 acres, at a cost of $7,304; he has cleared about 40 acres since his residence here; he now owns 470 acres, 150 in Adams Township, and 320 in Neave, the whole valued at $36,000, all of which he has made by his hard labor, connected with correct business and temperate habits. In the spring of 1843, he lost his wife, after an illness of three years; two children were born to them, of whom one is living, viz., Anderson, born March 26, 1841. In 1846, he celebrated his second marriage with Margaret Daughterty, who was a native of Ohio, born on the 7th of September, 1818; four children were the result of this union, of whom three are living, viz.: Nancy A., born April 21, 1848; Martha and Cellia (twins), born Dec. 5, 1850; Humphry D., born April 2, 1856; and on the 16th of March, 1879, the angel of death entered this peaceful family, removing Mrs. Tilman from earth to heaven; she was a loving mother and a devoted wife. Mr. Tilman is not a church member, but known as an honest, upright man.