John Columbus Tilley, son of Henry Tilley and Mary Rose, was born in 1823 in Wayne County, Tennessee. He married about 1848 in Hardin County, Tennessee to Nancy C. Bratton, daughter of Paul Bratton and his first wife who name is unknown. He first appears on the 1850 Hardin County, Tennessee census in the 5th Civil District with his brother, Richard Tilley living next door.
27/27 - TILLEY, John 27, Nancy 20, Mary J. 5/12.
He and his family moved to Searcy County, Arkansas in 1854/5 where his wife's brothers and sisters had settled. He also had an uncle, James Tilley, Jr., and some cousins who had made the trip earlier. He next appears on the 1860 Searcy County, Arkansas.
136/129 - Jno. C. TILLY 37, Nancy 30, Jane 10, Wm. 8, Elisha 6, James 3, Caroline 2, W.H. RAMSEY 19.
The bloodiest war in America's history broke out the following year (1861). John Columbus Tilley was conscripted into the Confederate Army apparently late in the war and died in 1864 at Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. I am not sure how he died. I found where he died from dysentery but I also found where he was killed by a jay hawker.
His widow, Nancy C. Bratton Tilley, was second married 18 October 1876 in Searcy County, Arkansas to William "Grancer" Tilley who was John Columbus Tilley's first cousin. He too had served in the Civil War but he worn Union blue. He died on 3 October 1896 in Searcy County, Arkansas and Nancy was left a widow again. She probably soon afterward moved to Stone County, Arkansas where her children resided. She is found on the 1910 Stone County, Arkansas census.
Nancy TILLEY 80, Ruby 18, Samuel TILLEY 49, Mary A. (WARDEN) 42, Anna M. 21, John B. 15, Henderson 13, Claud G. 9, King David 8, Thomas J. 5, Rachel A. 3, Mary E. 8/12.
Nancy C. Bratton Tilley died 27 February 1920 at Bigflat, Baxter County, Arkansas and is buried in the Freeman Cemetery in Stone County, Arkansas.
The children of John Columbus Tilley and Nancy C. Bratton were:
1. Mary Jane Tilley, born December 1849 Hardin County, Tennessee; died ca 1901 Stone County, Arkansas; buried at Long Creek Cemetery near Landis, Searcy County, Arkansas; married ca 1869 to Mason S. Treat, son of Stephen Treat and Susan Miller.
2. William H. Tilley, born 10 October 1852 Hardin County, Tennessee; died 19 June 1954 Stone County, Arkansas; buried Big Springs Cemetery; married 15 May 1873 Stone County, Arkansas to Margaret L. Wallis.
3. Elisha J. Tilley, born May 1853 Hardin County, Tennessee; died 21August 1934 Farris, Stone County, Arkansas; buried Freeman Cemetery, Stone County, Arkansas; 1st married ca 1874 Stone County, Arkansas to Sarah E. Wallis; 2nd married 1 September 1918 to Mrs. Sarah Beavers Rorte.
4. James Tilley, born 1856 Searcy County, Arkansas; died after 1860 Searcy County, Arkansas.
5. Martha Caroline Tilley, born 10 November 1858 Searcy County, Arkansas; died 24 May 1943 Arkansas; buried Freeman Cemetery, Stone County, Arkansas; married ca 1878 Arkansas to N. Starkey Freeman, son of John and Anna Freeman.
6. Samuel R. Tilley, born 4 July 1860 Searcy County, Arkansas; died 4 October 1928 Stone County, Arkansas; buried Freeman Cemetery; 1st married 12 December 1878 to Mary Isabel Warden, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Warden; 2nd married 16 January 1887 Searcy County, Arkansas to Mary Ann Freeman.
7. Thomas Newton Tilley, born 22 June 1862 Searcy County, Arkansas; died 14 September 1933 Buffalo, Marion County, Arkansas; buried Buffalo Cemetery; 1st married 30 November 1881 Stone County, Arkansas to Sarah Angeline Sutterfield; 2nd married 15 July 1917 Marion County(?), Arkansas to Ida Wynne.
8. John Columbus Tilley, Jr.,
born 30 July 1864 Searcy County, Arkansas; died 30 November 1913 Stone County, Arkansas;
buried Freeman Cemetery; married 7 September 1884 Stone County, Arkansas to Mary
Adeline Huffines, daughter of William Henderson Huffines and
Minerva Sisk.
(A good source for information on this family is the
book Bratton, Massey, Martin by Louise Jones.)
This page created and maintained by Jerry W. Murphy.
