Stuart Earl Tilton, editor and publisher of the Longford "Leader," one of Clay county's prosperous weeklies, was born at Hope, Kan., September 26, 1891, a son of Oscar C. and Lois J. (Smith) Tilton. The elder Tilton is a well known veterinary surgeon and farmer of Hope, where he located in 1880. He was born at Chana, Ill., May 17, 1855, married, in 1874, Miss Lois J. Smith, a daughter of A. B. and Martha (Ford) Smith, born in Illinois January 1, 1854. As previously stated, he came to Kansas in 1880 and purchased a farm at Hope, Clay county, which he has since operated successfully and has also practiced his profession. He is well and favorably known to the citizens of his home county, enjoys a profitable practice and is highly esteemed by his neighbors. Five children have been born of this union and are as follows: Mabel Grace, born May 20, 1875, married Hiram Coke, a farmer of Shawnee county, Kansas; Ernest Clarence, born June 20, 1881, farmer in Texas, married Miss Rosa Wright in 1900; Alice, born May 23, 1883, married, in 1901, William Sinclair, a locomotive engineer; Stuart Earl, the subject of this sketch; and Lois Helen, born September 9, 1895, a student in the Hope High School and member of the class of 1914.

Stuart Earl Tilton acquired his education in the public schools of Clay county and was graduated from the Hope High School with the class of 1908. Following his graduation, he secured employment in a printing office at Enterprise, Dickinson county, where he learned the printer's art and received his first lessons in journalism. In November, 1911, he purchased the Leoti "Standard," which he edited and published until 1912, when he disposed of this paper and bought his present property, the Longford "Leader." Under his management this publication has attained a good circulation, is alive with interest and real practical usefulness, and is welcomed as a personal friend in the homes of its subscribers. The equipment of the office is excellent and a satisfactory job printing business is being done.

On April 3, 1913, Mr. Tilton married Miss Alberta Kensella, a daughter of Patrick Kensella, of Osawatomie, Kan., who was born at Paola, Kan., July 25, 1893. She was graduated from the Fort Scott High School with the class of 1910 and during the year preceding her marriage was employed as a railway telegrapher.