The Six Wives of Ralph Tilley

Ralph Clarence Tilley was born on 30 November 1863 in Boone Co., Kentucky, a son of Dillingham B. and Rebecca Ann Tilley.

He married his first wife, Elizabeth J. Green, daughter of Morton B. Green and Jane E. Gammell, on 18 July 1885 in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn Co., Indiana.  They had two children that I know of: Mabel, born August 1886 and an unnamed infant born in 1887.  Elizabeth J. (Green) Tilley died on 29 January 1888 in Petersburg, Boone Co., Kentucky.  The cause of her death was given as consumption.  Lizzie and Ralph were married about 2 1/2 years.

The following notice appeared Feb. 8, 1888 in the Boone County Recorder: "Mrs. Tilly, wife of Ralph Tilly, and daughter of M. B. Green, of Bellevue, died of consumption at her home in Petersburg, Sunday the 29th ult."  The following notice appeared in the Boone County Recorder:  "The funeral of Mrs. R. Tilly, who died recently, will be preached in the Methodist church at Petersburg on the third Sunday at 11 a.m."  The date on the notice is March 7, 1888, but this seems late given that her death was in early February.

On 1 March 1888, Ralph left for Louisville to attend the Kentucky School of Medicine.  His first wife had been dead less than a month and his daughter, Mabel, was only about 19 months old.

Ralph married his second wife, Emma Belle Reed, daughter of Joseph B. Reed and Lucretia Ann Brown, on 2 December 1889 in th Fifth and Walnut Street Church, Louisville, Jefferson Co, Kentucky. They were married secretly by Dr. H. C. Settle.

He became a medical doctor on 3 December 1889 and began working as a physician in 1889 in Petersburg, Boone Co., Kentucky.

The following story appeared in the Boone County Recorder on December 11, 1889:  "A SECRET WEDDING.  Dr. R. G. Tilley Is Quietly Married to a Daughter of Hon. Joe Read.  The Post is enabled to announce a wedding this afternoon, which will be a surprise to even the families of the principals.  It occurred Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock.  The bride is Miss Emma Read, the handsome daughter of Hon. Joseph B. Read, of this city.  The groom is Dr. R. G. Tilley, a prominent young physician of Petersburg, Kentucky.

   Dr. Tilley came to the city several days ago, and the bride's parents, although they had no valid objection to her marriage, could not consent to give her up, as she was the only remaining single daughter.

   One Monday afternoon the young folks attended the opera at Harris Theater, and on their way home dropped in at the parlor of Dr. H. C. Settle, at the Fifth and Walnut Street Church, having previously notified him to be there.  In the presence of a few friends the ceremony was said, and everybody was pledged to secrecy until after the lapse of a specified time, especial precaution being taken to "keep it out of the paper."

   Dr. Tilley and wife will leave for Petersburg in a few days, and this is the first information the public will have concerning the wedding. - Louisville Post."

Ralph and Emma had the following children:  Rena (born Aug. 1891), Maria Lucretia (born March 1894), Clay E. (born Sept. 1895), and William Wade (born March or Nov. 1897).  There may also have been an unnamed infant son. 

On16 July 1898, the town trustees took Ralph to court for selling whiskey without a license.

Dr. Ralph C. Tilley and Emma Belle Tilley appeared on the census of 1900 in Petersburg, Boone Co., Kentucky.

Emma and Ralph were married 11 years and 11 months.  Emma died on 6 November 1901 in Petersburg, Boone Co., Kentucky. 

The following news story appeared in the Louisville newspaper the Courier Journal on 8 November 1901:  "INDICTED BY GRAND JURY. - Serious Charge against a Former Kentucky Physician. --  Lawrenceburg, Ind., Nov. 7 - Mrs. Frances Withered and her son Bud, residing on a farm near Aurora, together with Dr. Charles Tilley, formerly of Petersburg, Ky. but for the past year living in this county, have been indicted by the grand jury, growing out of an alleged criminal malpractice case, of which Mrs. Charles Trester is the victim.  The mother and son are more directly charged with aiding and abetting the offense of which Dr. Tilley is accused, and they have given bond in $500 to await action of the Criminal Court.  The Sheriff so far has not arrested the accused physician who is said to be visiting at his old home in Kentucky.

  Mrs. Charles Trester is the chief witness against the defendants.  Two years ago her husband was sentenced to the Reformatory at Jeffersonville, and she found a home on the John P. Baker farm, near Dillsboro, where she was employed before her marriage.  Baker is the father of Mrs. Withered.  Mrs. Trester alleges that after her return to the farm Bud Withered began forcing his attentions on her and he was responsible for her condition which necessitated calling a physician.  The late John P. Baker was one of the wealthiest farmers in Dearborn County and his will is now being contested in the courts.  Both the Withereds, mother and son, deny complicity in the affair."

Then by mid-November, Ralph was arrested in connection with the suspicious death of his wife, Emma (Reed) Tilley in early Nov 1901.  The following story appeared on Friday, November 15, 1901, in the Hartford Republican: "Doctor Held on a Serious Charge.   Lawrenceburg, Ind., Nov. 11. - The wife of Dr. Ralph Tilley died suddenly at Petersburg, Ky., last Wednesday and under circumstances that caused suspicion of foul play.

   Dr. Tilley is under arrest awaiting the result of an autopsy, which was held yesterday.  The stomach has been sent to a Cincinnati chemist for analysis as poisoning is suspected." 

Less than a month after Emma died (under suspicious circumstances), Ralph married his third wife, Anna Belle Dorrell, daughter of Isaac B. Dorrell and Mary A. Anderson, on 29 November 1901 in East Enterprise, Ohio Co., Indiana.

The following story appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal on 6 December 1901:  "CAN GET NO REPLY FROM THE OFFICERS - Chemist Who Analyzed Stomach of Mrs. Tilley Will Take Steps to Force Some Action. -- Cincinnati, O., Dec. 5 - (Special) - Dr. C.T.P. Fennel, to whom nearly a month ago authorities sent the stomach of Mrs. Charles Tilley, who died recently at Petersburg, has completed his analysis, and has written twice to the acting Coroner and the County Judge, but no reply has been received.

'I never had this sort of experience,' said Dr. Fennel to-day.  'I shall force some sort of action.'

Dr. Fennel says he will not say whether he has found traces of poison until he has delivered to the authorities the official report.  Dr. Tilley said his wife had suffered for eight years with a complication of diseases.  The Coroner's jury withheld its verdict awaiting the analysis of the stomach."

The following appeared on 17 December 1901 in the Louisville, KY Courier Journal:  "MRS. TILLEY'S MOTHER LIVES IN LOUISVILLE. - Dr. Tilley Met His Wife While Attending Medical School Here. -- Mrs. Lucretia A. Read, mother of Mrs. R. C. Tilley, who is said to have been poisoned at Petersburg, lives on Crep Street, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth.  She is the widow of State Senator Joseph B. Read, who died about nine years ago and for a number of years was a well-known Democratic politician.  The family formerly lived on Magazine Street, between Eighth and Ninth, and it was here that Dr. Tilley, as a medical student at the Kentucky School of Medicine, became acquainted with Miss Read.  He was brought to the house by another medical student friend who boarded in the neighborhood.  They were married fourteen years ago."

The following notices appeared in the Boone County Recorder on December 18, 1901:  "Friday's Louisville Times carried a good picture of Dr. Tilley and wife." and "Harry Goss, reporter on the Enquirer, was here Saturday morning to get the verdict on the Tilley case."  and "Our town is in the throes of excitement again over the reported marriage of Dr. Tilley and Anna Belle Dorrell, of Indiana.  The ceremony took place at East Enterprise, last week."

The following notice appeared in the Boone County Recorder on December 18, 1901:  "The Cincinnati chemist who analyzed the contents of Mrs. Dr. Tilley's stomach, will likely sue Boone county for his fee.  There are some who think the town of Petersburg should pay that bill, as it was the citizens there who had the analysis made.  That is true, but still they are citizens of Boone county, and the county may be responsible for the bills they incur for services such as the chemist rendered."

This news story appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky, on 19 December 1901:  "TILLEY MARRIED AGAIN. - He Wedded Anna Dorrell Three Weeks After Former Wife's Death.  

   Petersburg, Ky., Dec. 17 - Dr. R. C. Tilley, who has been figuring conspicuously here since the sudden and mysterious death of his wife early in November, has created another sensation by marrying Anna Dorrell, the woman who has been associated with him most unfavorably in this matter.

   The marriage of Dr. Tilley and Anna Dorrell took place at East Enterprise, Ind., November 28, about three weeks after the death of the former Mrs. Tilley, who was the second.  The present marriage is Dr. Tilley's third.  He has four children.  Rev. Mr. Seymour officiated at the recent wedding."

And then the following story appeared on December 20, 1901 in the Hickman Courier:  "Poison in Dead Woman's Stomach.  Petersburg, Ky., Dec. 14. - This town is in the throes of a sensation over the mysterious and sudden death of Mrs. R. C. Tilley, the wife of Dr. R. C. Tilley, who, prior to her marriage, was Miss Emma Belle Read, of Louisville, and the daughter of the late State Senator Joseph B. Read.  It is known that poison was found in the woman's stomach, which was analyzed."

The following appeared in the Boone County Recorder, Burlington, Kentucky on 25 December 1901:  "Dr. Tilley and Miss Anna Dorrell, were married at East Enterprise, Indiana, on Nov. 29th.  They returned to Petersburg, last week, and began housekeeping."

On 21 May 1902, the Adair County News (Kentucky) reported:  "Seven different poisons, as show by a Chemist's report, were found in the stomach of Mrs. Dr. R. C. Tilley, who died under mysterious circumstances at Petersburg."

The following story appeared on July 31, 1902 in the Portsmouth (Ohio) Daily Times:  "WHITE CAPS GIVE WARNING - Order Scioto County Woman to Skip from Kentucky. - The Cincinnati Enquirer Wednesday had the following dispatch in reference to Dr. Tilley, the practitioner at McDermott.

    Petersburg, Ky., July 31 - A sensation has been caused here by the posting of a white cap notice, which reads as follows:

  "Arthur Watson and Anna Belle Tilley, get out of town by July 30 or we will hang both of you.  Take warning!  TWENTY WHITE CAPS."

   The notice is headed with the rude drawing of skull and crossbones.  No one has undertaken to remove the notice.

   Anna Belle Tilley is the wife of Dr. Ralph C. Tilley, who has been living here with the doctor's three children, Lucretia, Clay and Wm.  Watson is a burly Negro.  Mrs. Tilley has not been seen here since the notice was posted.

   The woman is the third wife of Dr. Tilley.  He married her three weeks after the death of his second wife and before the chemists had made a report of the analysis of her stomach.  The wedding took place at Aberdeen, O."

Dr. Ralph Clarence Tilley and wife, Anna Belle Tilley, were arrested for threatening to kill a newspaper man, James B. Tolin on 13 August 1902 in Petersburg, Boone Co., Kentucky.

The following story appeared on August 20, 1902 in the Boone County Recorder:  "Dr. Tilley Is Armed.  Petersburg, Ky., Aug. 14 - Dr. Ralph C. Tilley and his wife were Wednesday bound over by court to keep the peace.  They were arrested on the charge of threatening to kill James B. Tollin, a newspaper man.  Tilley says he has laid in a supply of arms and ammunition in the event that white caps try to make good their threats to chase him out of town."

And on 21 August 1902, the Hazel Green Herald (Hazel Green, Wolfe Co., KY) reported: "Tilley Is Armed to the Teeth.  Dr. Ralph C. Tilley and his wife, charged with threatening the life of a newspaperman, were arrested at Petersburg, Ky., last week and bound over to keep the peace.  James B. Tolin is the man they are after, and Tilley says he has laid in a supply of arms and ammunition for defense against white caps if they attempt to drive him out of town."

The following news story appeared on 17 December 1902: Tilley, R.C. prosecuted in Circuit Court (pg 8/column 1, Boone Co. Recorder). 

Sometime after these 1902 stories, Ralph and Anna Belle split up and probably divorced, though we have found no divorce records.  On 3 May 1909, Anna Belle married Jerome Doerflein in Marion Co., Indiana.  Anna Belle and Jerome apparently remained married the rest of her life.  She died in July 1948 and is buried in River View Cemetery, Aurora, Indiana.

Ralph married his fourth wife, Mattie Harris, daughter of Lebbeus A. Bell and Mary Brown, on 18 August 1909 in Dearborn Co., Indiana.

This story was in the Elkhart Weekly Review (Elkhart, Indiana) on 21 August 1909:  "TO MARRY FOR FOURTH TIME - Love at First Sight Between Physician and Woman Patient.  Lawrenceburg, Ind., Aug. 20 - Dr. Ralph C. Tilley, age forty-two, and Mrs. Mattie C. Bell Chance Calvert Harris, aged forty-three, a dressmaker of Chesterville, have been granted a marriage license.    This is the fourth adventure on the matrimonial sea for each.  Their courtship was romantic and brief.  Mrs. Harris was taken slightly ill during the Lawrenceburg fair, and she visited Dr. Tilley's office for medical advice.  It was love at first sight with each, it is said." 

A notice appeared in the Boone Co. Recorder of 25 August 1909 which read: "Third Venture for Each.  Dr. Ralph C. Tilley, of Lawrenceburg, and Mrs. Mattie Harris, of Chesterville, the third marriage license for each was taken out Wednesday afternoon. - Lawrenceburg Register."  Of course, Ralph must have lied on the marriage license, since Mattie was his fourth wife, not his third.

Dr. Ralph Clarence Tilley and Martha W. Tilley appeared on the census of 1910 in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn Co., Indiana.

In June 1911, Ralph was living  in Kentucky. He had moved from Indiana to Kentucky because he did not have a license to practice medicine in Indiana.

Ralph and Mattie were separated on 23 August 1911.  The following story appeared in the Decatur, Illinois  Daily Review on August 27, 1911:  "SLUR ON COFFEE CAUSES TROUBLE - Little Household Scene Is Brought Into Court.  Lawrenceburg, Ind.  Aug. 26. - Wife (pouring the breakfast coffee)  Looks like rain, don't you think?

Husband (sipping his coffee) - Yes, indeed it does, and it taste like water but smells a bit like coffee. (Business of breaking many dishes.)

BEATEN BOTH TIMES.  This, in a nutshell, is what happened in Lawrenceburg in the family of Dr. and Mrs. Ralph C. Tilley.  It also happened that a patient kept Dr. Tilley, just as he reached his office, so that his wife beat him to the probate court.  Incidentally she asks for $1,000 alimony and the return of her maiden name.  Warrants were sworn by both for the other's arrest on the charge of assault and battery.  Again Mrs. Tilley "beat her husband to it," and he was arrested on this charge."

The following appeared on Sept. 14, 1911 in the Boone County Recorder:  "Mrs. Mattie B. Tilley has filed a petition for a legal separation from Dr. Ralph C. Tilley.  She charges the doctor with cruel and inhuman treatment.  She obtained a restraining order to prevent him from disposing of his personal property.  She also asks to be restored to her maiden name Mattie Bell.  They were married August 18, 1909 and separated August 23, 1911. - Aurora Independent."

But then, from the Seattle Star on page 6 on October 25, 1911:  "Wife Is Repentant.  Lawrenceburg, Ind., Oct. 25.  Dr. Ralph C. Tilley, 47, a prominent physician, who was whipped by his wife, arrested for assault and battery, sued for divorce and alimony, and enjoined from disposing of his property, all in one day, has settled the differences between himself and wife, and going arm in arm to court, Mrs. Tilley requested the divorce suit and other cases be dismissed."

But it didn’t last.  On 31 May 1912 in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn Co., Indiana, Mattie again filed for divorce from Ralph.  The following story appeared on June 3, 1912 in the Warsaw Daily Times:  "DIVORCE IS A HABIT - Mrs. Mattie Bell Chance Harris Calvert Tilley Tired of Last Spouse. -  Lawrenceburg, Ind., May 31.  - A fifth petition for divorce has been filed by Mrs. Mattie Bell Chance Harris Calvert Tilley, aged thirty-two, from her fourth husband, Dr. Ralph C. Tilley, aged forty-seven, in the Dearborn circuit court.  A divorce was obtained by Mrs. Tilley from three former helpmates and this is the second complaint against the doctor during the last three months.  The first suit was withdrawn after reconciliation.  It lasted twenty-four hours.

   Mrs. Tilley alleges that the doctor was cruel and abusive and deserted her and failed to provide for her since April.  She asks for $5,000 alimony.  Dr. Tilley had to move from this state about a year ago, as he had no license to practice here.  A suit for legal separation was filed by him in the Kentucky courts a few days ago, alleging cruelty, and it is a race to see who will obtain the decision first."

By August 1912, Ralph had taken up with Hattie Ada Licher, wife of Frank Licher.  Ralph was a witness when 11 August 1912, Hattie Licher shot her husband, Frank Licher, six times.  This happened at Ralph’s home in Petersburg, Kentucky

Dr. Tilley and Hattie Licher were arrested and indicted by the grand jury for shooting Frank Licher on 11 Aug 1912 in Petersburg, Boone Co., Kentucky.  There were multiple articles in the news about this shooting.  See my posting, “FrankLicher” for all of those articles; no reason to repeat them all here.

The following story appeared in the Boone County Recorder on Nov. 28, 1912:  "John Bradley, of Gallatin county, came to Burlington, last Monday and baled his sister, Mrs. Licher out of jail.  Her bond had been reduced to $500 by Judge Cammack.  Her trial is set for next term of the Boone circuit court.  It will be remembered that she was indicted at the last term of the circuit court for shooting her husband in Petersburg shortly before the August term of that court.  Mrs. Licher's departure leaves Dr. Tilley the only occupant of the jail."

The following story appeared in the Boone County Recorder on Dec. 12, 1912:  "The December term of the Boone Circuit Court convened last Monday, with Judge Cammack presiding....  The prosecutions against Dr. R. C. Tilley and Mrs. Licher for the shooting and wounding of Mrs. Licher's husband in Petersburg several months ago were continued on account of the absence of some of the witnesses for the Commonwealth, they having gone beyond the jurisdiction of the court.  Since the above was put in type a demurrer to the indictment by Mrs. Licher has been sustained and the indictment resubmitted to the grand jury."  So apparently, they got off.

Sometime before August 1913, Ralph and Mattie Bell Tilley were apparently divorced, though no divorce records have been found.  They were married about four years.  Mattie did not remarry.  She died 5 July 1951 and is buried in the Union M.E. Church Cemetery, Moores Hill, Dearborn Co., Indiana. 

Ralph then married his fifth wife, Hattie Ada Bradley Licher, daughter of Hiram Bradley and Mary A Beagle and ex-wife of poor Frank Licher, on 19 August 1913 in Hamilton Co., Ohio. Ralph's marital status is listed as widowed; Hattie's marital status is listed as divorced.  Each of them stated that they had only been married one time before.  This was obviously not true; Hattie was Ralph's 5th wife.  Ralph was Hattie's 3rd husband. 

Next we find Ralph as somehow involved in the death of Maude M. Sykes on 1 June 1915 in Elizabethtown, Hamilton Co., Ohio.  The following story appeared in the Boone County Recorder on December 30, 1915:  "Dr. R. C. Tilley was Monday week sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Geoghegan of Cincinnati from one to seven years in the penitentiary.  He was convicted in connection with the death of Mrs. Maud Sykes, wife of Harry J. Sykes, of Elizabethtown, Ohio."

The following story appeared in the Boone County Recorder on January 6, 1916:  "Wants a New Trial.  A petition was circulated in town last week praying for a new trial or leniency in the case of Dr. R. C. Tilley, convicted in Cincinnati in connection with the death of Mrs. Maude Sykes of Elizabethtown.  A large number of citizens signed the petition. - Lawrenceburg Press."

Ralph and Hattie were apparently divorced between January 1917 and May 1917, though no divorce records have been found; they were married less than three years.  On May 14, 1917, Hattie married Hubert Burns in Dearborn Co., Indiana.  She died 2 December 1959 in Covington, Kentucky.

Next, Ralph married Susie S. Sebree, daughter of John C. Sebree and Addie Thompson, sometime between Jun 1917 and Jan 1919.  Susie was the sixth wife of Ralph Tilley.

Dr. Ralph Clarence Tilley died on 20 January 1919 at 606 Western Ave., Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky, at age 55. His death certificate states that he was a medical doctor.  He was married at the time of his death.  He died of "organic heart disease."  The informant was a Lillie Ewan; I have not discovered who Lillie was.

An obituary appeared on 23 January 1919 in the Boone County Recorder, Burlington, Boone Co., Kentucky, that read: "Dr. R. C. Tilley Dead.  Dr. R. C. Tilley, a native of Petersburg, this county, died of a combination of diseases at his home in Covington, last Monday morning.  He was about 61 years of age and had been practicing medicine for many years.  His wife, who survives him is a daughter of John C. Sebree.  Mr. Sebree went to Covington Tuesday evening to attend the funeral."

An obituary appeared on 23 January 1919 in the Lawrenceburg Press, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, that read: "Dr. Tilley Dies Suddenly.  Dr. R.C. Tilley died suddenly about 2 o'clock Tuesday morning at his home in Covington.  He was fifty-five.

Dr. Tilley was widely known in Dearborn, Boone, and Hamilton counties.  In the practice of medicine he never refused a call, often giving his services where he knew absolutely that he would not receive any compensation.

Funeral services will be conducted at Fitch Bros.' chapel Friday morning by M. McMullen, pastor of the Christian church.  Burial will be in Petersburg cemetery."

Dr. Ralph Clarence Tilley was buried on 24 January 1919 in Petersburg Cemetery, Petersburg, Boone Co., Kentucky.

Susie Tilley (wife #6) did not waste any time remarrying.  She married Martin Weber on 20 March 1919 in Indianapolis, Indiana, just two months after Ralph’s death.

I have found numerous other articles about Ralph and his wives, but they don't really add anything new to the story, so I did not attempt to post them all.  I have not found a picture of Ralph or any of his wives.  I would sure love to.