BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 558-559.


J. H. TILTON is a leading citizen of Pease township, Belmont county,
Ohio. Mr. Tilton was born May 8,1846, the son of Joel and Cynthia A.
(Hartzell) Tilton. Joel Tilton was born March 10, 1813, in the state
of Ohio, Jefferson county. Cynthia Hartzell first saw the light in
Somerset county, Penn., November 4, 1811. Joel Tilton's, father was
Joseph Tilton, who was born near the headwaters of the Buffalo, in
the state of Pennsylvania. His wife, Mary, was also a native of the
same place. Joseph came to Ohio with his parents in 1775, and settled
in Warren township, Jefferson county, Ohio. Here he went to work in
the woods, and by great toil and energy he acquired one of the finest
farms in the county, consisting of 640 acres. He was exposed to all
the hardships incidental to a pioneer life, often after laboring all
day in clearing his land he would be obliged to keep watch at night
for the approach of hostile Indians. The Yorkville coal works are now
situated on this farm. Joseph and Mary Tilton were the parents of
twelve children. The father died at the age of ninety-three years
three months and eleven days. His first permanent residence still
stands as a monument to the enterprise of this man; it is over one
hundred years old. Joel, the youngest child born to these parents,
was raised in Jefferson county, and was educated in the old piopeer
log school-house. His father deeded his brother and himself a part
of the old homestead. In Belmont county, the deed being dated
December 10, 1838, the witnesses being Dr. S. B. West and John Zane.
The instrument was drawn up by John Beazle. He was married to Cynthia
A. Hartzell, December 21, 1834, and their marriage was  blessed by
the birth of five sons and two daughters, named: Noah J., born
May 3, 1836; Mary McKin, now living in Kansas City, was born August
19, 1838; Indiana (Darrah) was born March 10, 1841, now a resident of
Jefferson county; Joseph was born November 2, 1843, lives near Bethany,
W. Va.; John H., born May 8, 1846; Francis H., born November 28, 1848,
lives near Tiltonsville; George W., born June 25, 1851, he lives on the
farm formerly owned by J. West. The dividing line between Belmont and
Jefferson counties runs through his house, so that he can vote in either
county. Joel Tilton died February 3, 1873. His son, John H., was ap-
pointed administrator of the estate. The wives of Joel, Noah J., and
John H., reside on the Joel Tilton homestead, and the sons, John and
Noah, operate the farm. They raise large crops of grain, and are
prosperous and thorough agriculturists. The family stand very high in
the community.