Tilden Tilford, son of Elisha Tilford, was born on April 18, 1876 in Covington, Kentucky. Educated by his older sister, he was first employed as a stenographer in Boston, MA. He moved to Houston, TX in the late 1890's where he worked as a clerk for the Southern Pacific Railroad. About 1907 he became superintendent of the Caro Northern Railroad, residing in Caro, TX. He moved to Nacogdoches, TX about 1910 to start the first supplied peeled pine poles to be used as props in mine tunnels in Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona. Later the company operated sawmills at Lacyville, TX and at Durant, OK.

Tilford was a charter member of the Nacogdoches Rotary Club and a member of the Nacogdoches Chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He helped to organize and build the First Christian Church of Nacogdoches.

Tilford published a number of short stories in popular magazines in the 1890's. His play, Monterey , was produced at Winter Hill near Somerville, MA in 1898. An organizing member of the Nacogdoches Little Theater, he wrote The Face for the First Texas One-Act Play Tournament held in Dallas in 1926. Although the play failed to receive an award, it was well reviewed by the Dallas Morning News drama critic and nominated for second place. Tilford's novel. Butternut Jones, was first published in 1903, reissued in 1908 and completely revised in 1923. Tilford died on August 29, 1926 in Nacogdoches.

("Tildon Tilford Papers." Control File, East Texas Research Center. Ralph W. Steen Library. Stephen F. Austin State University).