William T. Tilman, a substantial farmer of Lauderdale County, was born in
Giles County, September 1, 1822, and is the oldest of four sons born to John
and Parthenia (Garrett) Tilman, being of English descent. His father was
born in Virginia, and moved with his parents to East Tennessee at an early
date, but finding the Indians so hostile they soon moved to North Carolina,
and settled in Persons County, where he was raised, and when of age married
and moved to Giles County, Tenn., where he remained until the death of his
wife in 1840. After this he spent two years in Georgia, then came to West
Tennessee, and died at his son William’s home November 15, 1855. William T.
Tilman was raised on a farm, and received a good education, making farming his
chief business. When nineteen years old he assumed the management of a farm.
He married the first time, in West Tennessee, in September, 1850, Miss Mary A.
voss, a daughter of Wiley Voss, a farmer. Six sons and four daughters were
born to this marriage: Thomas J., James A., William A., Andrew J., John S.,
Joseph T., Mary E. and Parthenia A. (Bradford). Three of these have died:
William A., September 22, 1876; John S., October 15, 1876; Andrew J., October
30, 1876. The mother of this family was born February 9, 1831, and died
October 8, 1863. She was a member of the Methodist Church. December 14,
1865, Mr. Tilman married, in Haywood County, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Robinson, a
daughter of John McOlpin, a mechanic and farmer. No children were born to
this marriage, but Mrs. Tilman had one daughter by her former marriage — Ann
E. (Mitchell). Mr. Tilman is a Democrat and Mason, and with his wife belongs
to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He owns 460 acres of land, 320 in
the home farm, thirteen miles north of Ripley, Tenn., and is regarded as a
true gentleman, honest and upright, by those who know him.

Goodspeed’s Biographies of Lauderdale Co., TN