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and which realized blessed protection of a husband and father so
indulgent and devoted.
In 1819 going to Illinois was more of an event than a trip now to
the most remote part of the world. No railroads and steamboats to
annihilate time and distance, and the good people of Halifax were
furnished with a new topic of conversation when it was known that
John Tilson was going to Illinois. Some approving, others thought
it a wild undertaking, and that he would find it so before he was
half through his journey. In the early days of being in Illinois, he
with two others kept "bachelors' hall." A small commencement at
first, but a nucleus, for all the sick, homesick, newly arrived and
errant bachelors generally. All sought and took shelter at "Bachelors'
Hall." Among the arrivals that winter were Milton Shurtleff
from Carver and William Porter of Middleboro, Mass. The carriage
which John Tilson and wife journeyed to Illinois in was built at
Bedford, Mass., by his direction, similar to a two-seated buggy. At
that time buggies were not known. They had a trunk under the
seat, a bonnet trunk in front, and portmanteau containing the gentleman's
clothes, a trunk behind and a little bamboo basket for night
clothes, bundles, etc., and lunch basket. Their rate of travel was to
be about thirty-four miles per day. Was eight days to New York.
The journey from there was by Philadelphia, Pa., Wheeling, Va.,
Cincinnati, O., Louisville, Ky., Cairo, Ill., to Greenville, Ill.
393
CHARLES H. TILSON8, (John7, John6, John5, John4, Edmund3,
Ephraim2, Edmond1), son of John and Christaina (Holmes) Tilson;
b. Sept. 15, 1823. He attended the Kentucky Law School and settled
in St. Louis, Mo., in the practice of law. His talents and social gifts
won and retained many friends. He d. at St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 25,
1865.
394
JOHN TILSON8 (John7, John6, John5, John4, Edmund3, Ephraim2,
Edmond1), son of John and Christaina (Holmes) Tilson; b.
Oct. 12, 1825; m. Oct. 2, 1851, Anna E. Wood of Quincy, Ill., dau.
of Gov. John Wood of Illinois. She d. in Omaha, Neb., in 1905.
THEIR CHILDREN:
397 Ann Eliza Tilson, b. Sept. 25, 1852, in Quincy, Ill.; unm;
lives in Omaha.
398 Ada Maria Tilson, b. Feb. 16, 1854, in Quincy, Ill.; unm.;
lives in Omaha.
399 Caroline Tilson, b. Jan. 17, 1856, in Quincy, Ill.; d. Jan. 18,
1856.
400 John Wood Tilson, b. Sept. 15, 1859, in Quincy, Ill.
General John Tilson was educated at Illinois College and Kentucky
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