William Ira Tillotson was born on May 6, 1876 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan. (His name also appears occasionally as William L. Tillotson.) William was the son of William Thomas Tillotson and Betsy Wooll.
William Ira Tillotson.
William Ira Tillotson.
William Ira Tillotson married twice. He first married Harriet M. Wilcox on October 1, 1902. Harriet was born April 9, 1874 in Duplain, Clinton County, Michigan. She was the daughter of James Wilcox. Some sources give her mother's name as Lucy Cooper; the Clinton County death records say Sarah Francks; and the wedding notice below says her mother's first name began with an "E." Sarah Francks is correct.
The wedding notice for William Ira Tillotson and Harriet M. Wilcox reads as follows:
A quiet but pretty wedding took place at the home of Mrs. E. Wilcox, Wednesday, October 1, when her daughter Harriet, was married to William L. Tillotson, Rev. A. H. Stevens performing the ceremony. There were about thirty invited guests.
The bride wore a gown of light green Liberty satin trimmed with cream applique with the yoke and lower portions of Marehal Neil roses.
The parlor was tastefully decorated with smilax and carnations and other flowers were plentiful.
The presents were very pretty including silver, table linen and china. The teachers of the primary department of the Sunday school, of which the bride was superintendent, gave her a beautiful set of china chocolate cups and saucers, and the Epworth League, of which she was for many years an active worker, presented her with a gold lined spoon for cream. After the ceremony dainty refreshments were served.
Those present from out of town were C. A. Wilcos (sic), of Portland, A. B. Wilcos (sic) of Owosso, brother of the bride, and a sister, Ella Wilcox of St. Johns, Levi Maynard of Kingston, brother-in-law of the groom, were also there. Mr. and Mrs. Tillotson left on the evening train for Portland. They will be at home on East Oak Street after October 15.
Harriet M. Wilcox.
William and Harriet had no children. Harriet died of shock during an operation on January 15, 1911 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan. She is buried there.
On February 13, 1913, William married Myrtle L. Maynard. She was born August 30, 1883 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan. Myrtle was the daughter of David Albert Maynard and Sarah Ann Carter, and the sister of Levi Arthur Maynard who married William's sister Hattie Corlista Tillotson.
Myrtle L. Maynard.
Myrtle L. Maynard.
William and Myrtle had two children:
Leonard C. Tillotson was born March 10, 1915 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan. He was graduated from Elsie High School in 1933. He married Margarite Louise Phillips at the Bannister Methodist Church in Bannister, Michigan on June 5, 1937. Margarite was born April 26, 1916. Leonard and Margarite had two children. Margarite died July 15, 1991. She is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Elsie, Clinton County, Illinois. Leonard was a member of the Order of the Cedar in the Foresters of Lebanon-Midland Chapter #169 R.A.; Royal Arch-Alma chapter #123; Grand Council of High Priests since 1952-State of Michigan; Tall Cedars of Lebanon-North American District #17; Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons of Michigan-Elsie #238; Knights Templar-Commandery-Ithaca #40; High Twelve Club-Alma #662; Grand Council Royal Select Master; and the Eastern Stars-Elsie #69. Leonard was also a charter member of the Elsie Historical Society and a charter member of the Elsie Glee Club. Leonard was a member of the Elsie United Methodist Church in Elsie, Michigan. In 1987 Leonard and Margarite celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding. In that year Leonard retired from maintenance with the Shiawassee County Medical Care Facility in Corunna, Michigan. After Margarite's death Leonard moved to the Michigan Masonic Home in Alma, Michigan where he spent the last decade of his life. Leonard died there August 8, 2000. Funeral services were held in the Elsie United Methodist Church on August 12, 2000 with the Reverend Merlin Pratt presiding. Leonard is buried in the Riverside Cemetery with Margarite. Leonard was the source for much of my information about the Tillotsons and allied families in Clinton County, Michigan.
Leonard C. Tillotson.
The family portrait at the top of this page shows, left to right:
David and Sarah Ann Maynard were the parents of Myrtle. Myrtle was William's second wife. Betsy was William's mother.
William Ira Tillotson started out as a farmer. His worsening asthma finally forced him to change occupations. He became a mail carrier, delivering rural mail until his death. He served as secretary of the local letter carriers association for several years. William was also a Mason. At the time of his death he was secretary of the Blue Lodge. He had held all chairs in the Blue Lodge. William was also Secretary and Treasurer of the Elsie school board for a time, succeeding Harvey Brainard.
William Ira Tillotson died September 12, 1939 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan. Myrtle L. Maynard Tillotson outlived William by almost forty years. She died April 27, 1978 in Elsie. Both are buried in the Elsie Riverside Cemetery.
Photos courtesy Mary Porubsky and Leonard C. Tillotson.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hess of the Elsie Historical Society provided a copy of the wedding notice for William Ira Tillotson and Harriet M. Wilcox.
Back to William Thomas Tillotson and Mary Elizabeth Wooll.
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Last modified by pib on November 1, 2009.