son of John and Desire (Shaw) Tilson; b. March 13, 1796; m. Oct. 6, 1822, Christaina Holmes of Kingston, Mass.; b. Oct. 11, 1798; dau. of Col. Charles and Rebecca (Briggs) Holmes. She d. in N. Y. City, May 29, 1872. Many years of her life were spent in Illinois. She early gave most active, generous and judicious aid to many of the charities which are now so great a power in the west.

             THEIR CHILDREN: 
393  Charles Holmes Tilson, b. Sept. 15, 1823, in Hillsborough, Ill. 
394  John Tilson, b. Oct. 12, 1825, in Hillsborough, Ill. 
395  Robert H. Tilson, b. Oct. 22, 1830, in Hillsborough, Ill.; unm.; 
        resides in N. Y. City. 
396  Christaina H. Tilson, b. Feb. 25, 1838, in Brookline, Mass.; 
        unm.; resides in N. Y. City. 

John Tilson's boyhood and early manhood were spent with his parents on a farm in Halifax, Mass., attending the district school winters and working on the farm summers. He attended the Bridgewater Academy six months, and taught school at (Crookertown), Pembroke, Mass., and other places. In 1818, Dr. N. B. Shurtleff of Boston, having purchased a farm in Chelsea (new Revere), just out of the city, he spent the summer on the farm, and in the winter was writing in the doctor's office, Boston, attending a course of lectures on chemistry and geology, improving also other advantages which the city offered for education. In the spring of 1819 he went to Illinois as agent for the doctor, who had purchased largely in soldiers' land warrants, which required surveying, recording, etc. In 1821 he with others petitioned for a new county, Montgomery, Ill. He became post master, which gave him the franking privilege, being of importance in his business. In those days letters from there to N. Y. or Boston were 25 cents postage. In 1822 he returned east, traveling the entire distance by horse and saddle. On the 6th of October he married Miss Christaina Holmes of Kingston, Mass., and returned to Illinois by horse and carriage, arriving there the 27th November. Mr. Tilson was possessed of great hopefulness and energy. He was one of the most amiable of men in his intercourse with the world, both socially and in business, yet determined and persevering in whatever he undertook to do. He died at Peoria, Ill., May 11, 1853. He was known and esteemed throughout the state. His personal characteristics were well portrayed in an address by the Rev. Dr. Post., who describes him as "Tilson, the genial and generous, whose presence ever seemed to bring a larger sunlight with it, and whose public spirit and liberality wrought for permanent benefit in the early history and institutions of the state." There is scarce an influence of public good during the first thirty years of our state history (Illinois) that was not aided by his wise counsel, and his open and sustaining hand. Yet more richly was his sunny nature seen in the home where his chief affections rested