Bio: Jesse Moore Tilly, Bienville & Caldwell Parish Louisiana
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Submitted by Kay Thompson Brown



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JESSE MOORE TILLY

Jesse Moore Tilly is still another of the successful and substantial citizens
of the parish who were originally from Georgia, his birth occurring July 12,
1825.  His parents, William and Hannah S. (Moore) Tilly, were natives of
Georgia and North Carolina, and born in 1798 and 1800, respectively. The
father was born in Burke County, and was a physician and surgeon.  He died
when sixty-five years of age, and his widow at the age of ninety.  Of their
children, thirteen in number, eight are now living:  Jesse M., William M.
(is a professional educator, and has taught for twenty five years in one
house; he is married and resides in Alabama), Z. D. (is married and resides in
Bienvill Parish, where be is engaged in farming), A. C. (married, and resides
in Arcadia), N. A. (married, and resides in Texas, where he is engaged
in farming), A. S. (makes his home in Bienville Parish), Benjamin W. (is a
farmer by occupation, and resides with his family in Bienville Parish),
Martha E. (married to Rev. F. A. Fuller and lives in Texas), and Caroline M.
T. (married to a farmer J. P. McCoy, and resides in Bienville Parish) 

Mr. Jesse Moore Tilly received a fair education in the private schools of
Georgia, and by his own self-application.  He is an earnest and sincere friend
of education, and is a gentleman well posted on all the current topics of the
day.  He began life for himself at the age of twenty years, as a , school
teacher and filled that position for a number of years.  He subsequently
embarked merchandising, as salesman and book-keeper and finally to
merchandising on his own responsibility; was engaged in this for some time,
and as he has had to depend on his own individual efforts for support, he has
had a varied experience in the details of life.  What he has accumulated is
the result of his own honesty, perseverance and hard labor.  To his wife,
formerly Miss R. J. McKee, a native of Mississippi, he was married in
September, 1854 and they have one son, Lemidas, who; resides in Bienville
Parish. After the death of his wife, Mr. Tilly married Mrs. Elizabeth Durbin
(Gordie), a native of Alabama, in September; 1867; and six children have
blessed this union: Mattie L., Martha J. J., Carrie B., Paul F., William J. M.
and Benjamin W. 

During the Civil war Mr Tilly enlisted in Company H., Twenty eighth Louisiana
Infantry Volunteers, and was on detailed service, manufacturing salt, during
the whole war at Price's Salt Works, in Winn Parish.  When he left the service
be was almost bankrupt, and he at once began farming, which occupation he has
continued successfully ever since.  He is a Democrat in politics and is
president of the Farmers' Union or Alliance of Bienville Parish, La., his
deepest attention being directed toward the interests of his most worthy
organization.  He is the recognized leader in all grand movements which are
fraught with good for the farmers.  On April 13, 1886, the subordinate branch
in his home vicinity organized and he was chosen president, and in June of
that year he was installed as president of the parish union, which position he
holds with credit to himself and the people.  This organization is in direct
sympathy with all farmers, and in fact all civilians, whose interests are the
interests of the people at large.  The secret of the organization is "By the
People and for the People."  The Alliance is in quite a flourishing condition,
and is constantly adding to its members.  Mr. Tilly is a gentleman well fitted
for his position, for he is well posted upon all topics relative to the
organization.  He and Mrs. Tilly are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, at Bear Creek Society, and are esteemed citizens.