Tillman Koch - G.A.R., Bishop Post

It was on July 1, 1850, that Tillman Koch registered and purchased 120 acres in Section 6 of Noble Township, Defiance County, as recorded in the Lima Land Office.  And there it was that the census enumerator found him that year at the age of 28, with his wife, Mary (Margaret Geitgey), daughter Mary, 2, and new son, Samuel, 0 years old. Tillman was a farmer.  

It was not until he was drafted in June, 1863, that entering the war became a reality for Tillman.  He was drafted into Company B, 47th Ohio Infantry.  His enlistment was on September 27, 1864, at the age of 43.  




The 47th was heavily engaged in the fighting in Georgia and in Sherman's March to the Sea.  After the Atlanta campaign, one source noted that in that regiment, the ranks of 830 men were reduced to just 120.  It was at that point that 400 drafted men, like Tillman, and substitutes arrived as reinforcements.  At the end of the war, the 47th joined the march to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Grand Review there to end the war.  Tillman was mustered out on May 31, 1865, having served 8 months and 4 days.

In the 1870 census, Tillman was back home, farming in Noble Township, now with land worth $2000, as reported on the census.  His family had grown to include eight children by this time, with a few more added by the 1880 census.  In 1881, his wife, Margaret died and the death was noted in the Defiance Democrat of March 17, 1881:

"Died on February 9th, 1881, in Noble Twp., Mrs. Margarette Koch, wife of Tilllman, 50 years, 11 months, 15 days."

Margarette Geitgey Koch at Clinker Cemetery

 On August 1, 1881, the Defiance Democrat reported the marriage license for Tillman Koch and Elizabeth Widmer. Then on August 26, 1886, the same paper reported this assault:

"Last Tuesday night, some miscreant entered the house of Tillman Koch, South Defiance, (and) in his absence choked Mrs. Koch and threatened to kill her unless she produced her money.  Mrs. Koch feigned that she would get the money, but jumped from the window and called for assistance, thus frightening the burglar away."

Elizabeth Widmer Koch died on June 2, 1891 at the age of 76.

Dorothea Elizabeth Widmer Koch at Riverside Cemetery

"Tillman Koch got leave to wed Matilda Lang of Tiffin Township," announced the August 6, 1892 newspaper.  Matilda (Frieberger) Lang was Tillman's third and last wife, wed when he was about 70. In the 1900 census, Tillman, 78, and Mathilda, 69, lived at 117 Emery Street in Defiance.  They had been married nine years.  Apparently, Tillman had some rental property or rented farmland as he described himself as a landlord.

In 1903, at the age of 81, he wrote his will which left his house and all its contents to his wife, Matilda, for her use during her lifetime.  The rest of his real and personal property was divided ten ways, with 1/10 going to each of the following:
Mary Harding, daughter (widow of Uriah), Ney, Ohio
John Koch, son, Defiance
Mandy (Amanda) Ellen Bohn (Boon), daughter, wife of Alvin, Lebanon, Ohio
Nellie (Elnora) Sparling, daughter, wife of Charles, Bryan, Ohio
S. Jennie Phillips, daughter, wife of William, Defiance
Cora Kibble, daughter, wife of Ed, Ney, Ohio
Albert Koch, son, Payne, Ohio
George Koch, son, Evansport
Charles Koch, son, Ney
Viola Tharp (Thorp) granddaughter, a minor at 14, Mark Center, Ohio, daughter of his deceased daughter, Sarah, wife of James Thorp

Tillman Koch died on May 2, 1905 and is buried at the Clinker Cemetery with his first wife, Margaret.

Matilda Koch lived on until 1916.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)