The Owen H. Tilton Collection
  The Tilton Family Photo Album, Vineyard Haven, Mass.


These images are from the collection of Donna Tilton Doel Griffiths and Wayne A. Griffiths.
Can you identify something in one of these photos that is not noted - a person, building, location, or event? Please Let us know!

Capt. Owen Hillman Tilton (1836 - 1901) was a whaler, the son of Benjamin Tilton of Chilmark. The log of his voyage on the bark Tropic Bird during 1876-78 can be found in the New Bedford Whaling Museum. He later became a Vineyard Haven merchant, dealing in lumber, lime, bricks, cement, and fencing. He married Eliza R. Cottle (1839 - 1913?), the daughter of Edmund Cottle and (probably) Elizabeth Ridgeway, and they were the parents of Ernest R. Tilton, Frank Owen Tilton (1864 - 1923), and Herbert L. Tilton (1869 - 1948). Frank took over the Tilton Lumber after Owen died in 1901. "Bert" ran the H. L. Tilton plumbing shop on Main Street, which later became Tilton's drugstore (and finally, Yates.)

Ernest R. Tilton (1875 - 1933?) ran Tilton's Hardware Store on Main Street, Vineyard Haven. He was married to Katherine Fraser (1876 - 1961) of Nova Scotia, and they had two sons, Owen Fraser Tilton (1903 - 1959) and Walter Lester Tilton (1907 - 1974?). Donna Griffiths writes "I believe Katherine and her sons, Owen and Walter, lived on South Main Street in Vineyard Haven. They did not own that house but may have owned one previously which they may have lost during the Depression, as I understand they lost the hardware store during that time. Katherine was known to make donuts and to take them to downtown Vineyard Haven to sell during the late 1950's - early 60's."

Owen F. Tilton and Catherine Crowell Tilton were the parents of Shirley (Tilton) Doel (1927 - 1988) and Richard Crowell Tilton (1926 - ).

Thumbnail Index to Photographs
Click on the image for enlargement.


Catherine Crowell Tilton


Kate Fraser Tilton


Katherine Fraser Tilton

Catherine C. Tilton

 

Ernest R. Tilton

 

O. F. Tilton

  

O. F. Tilton

Shirley Tilton

 

Richard Crowell Tilton

  

Rich & Shirley Tilton

 

Owen Tilton

Ernest R. and Katherine Tilton

Walter Tilton, 1907

Walter Lester Tilton

Owen F., Walter L., and Katherine

Shirley Tilton

Kate and Ernest R. Tilton

Owen Fraser Tilton

 

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