Emma May Tillman

Emma May Tillman was the daughter of David H. Tillman and Elizabeth Detrick. She was born on the 26th August, 1856 in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania and was the last surviving child in this family. Elizabeth died sometime between the 1860 and 1870 census possibly due to childbirth likely in Tunkhannock. No burial record has been found. David Tillman went on to reside with various family members until 1897 and is listed in the Luzerne County, PA death register. Buried in West Pittson Cemetery, marker unknown at this time. Emma married Andrew Anderson Smalley in 1873 in Wyoming County and they became the parents of 14 children, the youngest who was my paternal grandmother, Etta May Smalley. After the birth of the two oldest boys, they set off to Virginia City, Nevada where Andrew tried his hand with silver mining. There, two more sons were born to them, with one dying at 10 months old and apparently was buried in the Catholic Cemetery. I don't believe he was very successful and from there went to Mendocino County, California where 4 more children were born to them. Andrew worked in the timber forests. In 1888, they had worked their way up the coast in purchased a homestead of 160 acres on Hall's Creek in Coos County, Oregon. Emma died of stomach cancer in 1923 and Andrew went on the ripe old age of just shy of 90. They, with some of their children are buried in Norway Cemetery near Myrtle Point, Oregon.

This photo, so very special to me, was sent to me by a granddaughter of Emma's sister, Sarah Isabelle. This cousin was so very generous in sharing this photo as the Smalley House burned down to the ground in 1904 and everything was lost. Lois believes that the age of Emma in the photo is about 13 years old taken approximately 1869, 1870. You will note the photographer was C.B. Tinker of Pittston, Pennsylvania. I looked him up and sure enough, he is listed in the 1870 census of Pittston and his name is Charles, age 34 born in New York, occupation Photographer. His wife Frances is 27 and they had two sons; Harrison age 5 and Asher age 3.

Today, as I look at this photo, I am reminded of how much I appreciate fellow researchers and cousins who have been so willing to share their information.