George Wilson Tilton
George Wilson Tilton, proprietor of a general store at Yorkville, O., was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was born June 25, 1851, on Deep Run, about three quarters of a mile from his present home in Belmont County, Ohio. He is a son of Joel and Cynthia (Hartzell) Tilton, and a grandson of Joseph Tilton, who was one of the early settlers of Warren Township, Jefferson County, Ohio. He owned a section of land running from Deep Run to Tiltonville, which town was named after him, and was an Indian trader and farmer. He died in the old house, which was over one hundred years old, in 1860, at the age of ninety-three years, three months and sixteen days. Joseph Tilton and his wife were often obliged to take turns at night watching through holes in the sides of the old log house for the Indians, who then dwelt in this locality in large numbers and were unfriendly. Joseph Tilton and wife were the parents of four children: Noah, deceased; Joel, father of our subject; and two daughters.
Joel Tilton was born on the farm in Warren Township in the old log house, which at that time was considered very fine, and he has a little bracket made from the old walnut logs of the house in which his father was born. Joel Tilton was reared in this township, became a farmer and subsequently came into possession of part of the old home place. He married Cynthia Hartzell, a native of Pennsylvania, who with their eldest child often rode alone on horseback over the moimtains to her parents' home in Pennsylvania. They had seven children: Noah, a resident of Martin's Ferry, O.; Mary, who is the wife of Mack McKim, of Kansas City; Indiana, who married W. J. Darrah, of Martin's Ferry; Joseph, who lives in Ohio County, West Virginia; John, deceased; Frances, who lives in Topeka, Kan.; and George W. The father died in 1875, aged sixty-five years, and the mother died at the home of our subject in 1903, aged eighty-nine years.
George Wilson Tilton was reared on the home farm, attended the old log school house and early in life began working on the farm. He engaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm of 180 acres just across the line in Belmont County, Ohio, until 1906, then sold out and established a general store at Yorkville, Jefferson County, Ohio. He was married May 1, 1885, to Mary M. Jones and they have two children: Earl B., a graduate of the Martin's Ferry High School, began teaching at Dillonvale in 1905 and was made superintendent of the schools in 1909; and Edgar G., who is agent for the C. & P. R. R. at Bedford, O. Mr. Tilton is a member of the American Mechanics of Martin's Ferry, and in politics is a Democrat.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910