Born in 1796 in Kingston, Massachusetts, Christiana Holmes married John Tillson in October 1822, and they soon moved to Hillsboro, Illinois. They had two children; Charles was born in 1823, and John, Jr. was born in 1825. They came west with John's brother Robert, who was born in 1800. In 1828, Robert moved to Quincy. John was the first merchant and postmaster in Hillsboro and one of the founders of Hillsboro Academy. They were members of the Presbyterian church. The Tillsons built the first brick house in the county.