From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)

Tilford, Jesse

(born: 1898) Jesse ("Jess") Tilford was born in May 16, 1898. He  appears on the 1910 Anderson County Census as a 12-year old black boy living in the Joe Phillips household as a hired hand in the McBrayer community of the county.

Serving during World War I, Tilford was inducted at Lawrenceburg on April 13, 1918 as a private in the 317th Service Battalion Quartermaster Corps of the U.S. Army. He was discharged July 2, 1919.  A copy of his discharge is on file at the Anderson County Courthouse in Lawrenceburg.

Jess Tilford died February 14, 1947 and is buried at the Woodlawn Hills Cemetery in Anderson County. He is found on a list of soldiers from World War I compiled by Mr. Wyatt  Shely, Anderson County historian.

Contributor

Entries compiled by Anderson County Historical Society's Luther Allen Davenport.

Kentucky County & Region

Read about Anderson County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Lawrenceburg, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Tilford, Jesse,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed October 11, 2026, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/300005362.

Last modified: 2025-09-23 17:01:22