Histories

TILLER, WILLIAM (1813-1876). William Tiller was born on March 19, 1813 in Virginia, presumably Culpepper County. When he was a boy, his family migrated to Kentucky. Later on, William migrated to Louisiana where he married Laura Elizabeth Ann Richardson on February 12, 1835. Probably in late 1837, William ventured from Louisiana into the Republic of Texas to find a new place to settle. He likely arrived prior to October 1^st of that year as he later received a 2^nd class headright for which arrival prior to that date was required. The location he selected was in southeastern Harrison County. After the birth of 2 children and the family’s move to Harrison County, Laura died in 1841. Three years later, William married Elizabeth (Betsie) Woodley in Harrison County on September 30, 1844. In 1849, Will sold his 640 acres and moved to a new location near DeBerry in Panola County. William and Betsie were the parents of 9 children. William died in Panola County on June 14, 1876 and was buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery near DeBerry, Texas.

TILLER, ELIZABETH MARTHA WOODLEY (1821-1878). Elizabeth Martha (Betsie) Woodley Tiller was born on July 9, 1821 in Perry County, Alabama, to William and Telitha McMichael Woodley. In 1843 Betsie moved with her family to Harrison County in the Republic of Texas. It was there that she met and married widower William Tiller on September 30, 1844. The family lived on William’s land grant property in Harrison County until 1849 when they moved to a new location near DeBerry in Panola County. Betsie and William were the parents of 9 children. Betsie died of tuberculosis in Panola County on September 15, 1878 and was buried next to her husband at Mt. Zion Cemetery near DeBerry, Texas.