Draft:Madison Tilley

Madison Tilley (1809-30 October 1887) was an African-American political activist, entrepreneur, and businessman.

Life
He fled to Ohio as a young man after being born into slavery. When Tilley first arrived in Cleveland in 1837, he worked as a teamster and boatman. According to his obituary the Plain Dealer, Madison had obtained a fair education and accumulated considerable property, in the city of Cleveland. He was one of just five African Americans in the city who had taxable property by 1840. With 20 carts, 40 horses, and an integrated workforce of up to 100 workers at times, he operated as an excavating contractor. Tilley amassed land in the Haymarket neighborhood, and his estate is valued between 25,000 and 30,000. Despite being supposedly illiterate, he rose to prominence as a leader in the city's black community by utilizing his persuasive demeanor and skill at public speaking to encourage Black people to cast ballots.

Throughout Madison Tilley career, he started out as a Whig, went on to become Republican, and then joined the Democratic party. He attended the 1854 NATL EMIGRATION as one of the local representatives.

Tilley had six children (Alexander, Hattie, Alice, Thomas, Mary, and Josephine) with his wife Rachel, who died in 1879.

When Tilley died at his hill street home following a protracted illness with Dropsy, he was described as " a man of unusual force of character, of rare judgement, and of great courage" by The Plain Dealer. The Cleveland Gazette observed the attendance of both white and African-American mourners at his funeral. Tilley was interred at the Erie Street Cemetery.