Josiah P. Tillson

As printed in 1902

JOSIAH P. TILLSON.

.Mali Pierce Tillson, deceased, was born on a farm in Otsego county. New York, April 17, 1839. son of Ass and Camilla

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

1867, in the freight depot of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, which he served for the greater portion of his lifetime.

an occasional variation of this work, he took employment in grocery stores, the woolen mill, and at the date of his final illness was employed as a carpenter by the railway company.

Josiah P. Tillson was the fourth child and oldest son of his parents, the brothers and sisters being: Mrs. Louisa Fessenden.of Clyde. Kansas; Mrs. Ruth Eaton, of Maple Grove, New York; Mrs. Marcella Baker, of Binghamton, Xew York; Albert, of Maple Grove, Yew York; Mrs. Rosaline Hunt, Mrs. Marcia Holliday, Warren. Hiram and Sidney, all deceased.

On February 4. 1868, Josiah P. Tillson was united in marriage to Miss ( Hive Lucas, at Belvidere, Illinois, she being the fifth child of Horace and Elizabeth (Hinkson) Lucas, and was born February 26, 1847, near Flora, Boone county. Illinois. She was. ne of-even brothers and sisters, namely: Walter, of Belvidere, Illinois; Oscar F. and Moses, also of Belvidere, Illinois; Catherine, deceased wife of Hawley Main, Boone, Iowa; Horace, deceased; and Mrs. Mila Ann Gibbs, deceased.

The children horn to Josiah P. Tillson and wife were as follows: Ida May. deceased; Clarence 1) head clerk of Fraternal ( !hoppers of America. Boone, Iowa: Edward E., machinist, Chicago& Northwestern Railway Company, at Boone; Lloyd A.. plumber, of Boone; Harry I. student in the b.wa State College, Ames, Iowa.

In all that makes for good American citizenship Josiah P. Tills.n was well equipped. He was industrious, companionable and thrifty. He took interest in public affairs, was active in the incorporation of the new city of Boone, and one of its early councilmen, serving as such in the years 1868 ami 1871. He was later ik.Roman of the fire company, and always alert to the necessity of securing good and capable men in public office. Upon the organization of the UniversaJist Church Society of Boone he was one of its charter members, connecting himself with the church, May 9, 1870, and always taking an active part in its work. For many years he was one of its trustees and at the time of his decease was the superintendent of its Sabbath school.

Mr. Tillson always showed a preference for fraternal societies and was a member of the Legion of Honor in which he carried insurance, as he also did in several other organizations, a precaution which was highly commendable. Perhaps his nature derived the greater enjoyment from his association with the Masonic bodies. He was a member of Mount Olive Lodge. No. 79, F. & A. M.; of Tuscan Chapter, Xo. 31, R. A. M.: and of Excalibur Commandry. Xo. 13. K. T. He took an active part in all Masonic work, and was the Tyler for each of these bodies for many years. The members of the fraternity who survive him are wont to recall his many pleasantries during their "hours of refreshment."

He died March 8, 1886, within a few weeks of his forty-seventh birthday, and was buried with full Masonic honors. He had been ill but three weeks, his malady being a malignant form of typhoid fever. From a notice published shortly after in one of the local papers, the manner of the man is characteristically delineated:

"In disposition the deceased was one of the must equable of men; with a cheerful temperament, hopeful, sturdy, independent; conceding to all men similar independence of action and the same purity of motive which actuated himself. He made few enemies and was respected by all. lie was a thoroughly reliable man, one of the conservatives of society, neither too fast nor too slow, making few mistakes and generally attaining his ends. with >nt undue display of the means. A community of such persons would have little use for statutes. He will be sadly missed in the church, the home, the lodge and in society.""

As printed in A Biographical record of Boone County, Iowa (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.