Re: Tilley family of Washington State--Countess Stavra

Your may find this article of interest:

from the "The Olympian" of February 23, 1910

COUNTESS STAVRA, OLYMPIA GIRL DIES AT MANSION IN PARIS

Guy Tilley May Be Sole Heir to Estate

From Paris, France, yesterday came the news of the death of the Countess Stavra a world famous beauty, at the age of forty-five years, and as a result it is possible that Guy Tilley of Olympia will be one of the heirs, if not the sole heir of an estate worth nearly $1,000,000 and a collection of gems that has attracted the attention of all of Europe.The countess was formerly Mrs. Charles Tilden of New York and before her marriage to the New York broker, was Miss Maybelle Florence Tilley of Olympia.

She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Tilley, pioneer settlers of Olympia, her father's parents coming west in the early days and settling in Thurston county while her mother's folks resided in Cowlitz county.As a child her great beauty attracted wide attention and she was known as the most beautiful child in Washington.Her parents lived in the house that now stands at the Northwest corner of Fifth and Washington streets in this city where she was born and her father conducted the Pioneer livery stables at Third and Main streets, which are still in operation.He also owned the stage line that connected Olympia and Centralia in the early days.

Moses Tilley made considerable money in business.He was a shrewd business man and knew how to accumulate wealth and in those days was considered more than well to do. The Tilleys had three children, two boys, and the girl who came to be the Countess Stavra.One boy married early and when he died his widow married Larry Cormier of this city and they still make their home here.Guy Tilley, the other brother, still lives in Olympia.

Maybelle Florence Tilley was a gifted girl in more things than physical beauty of which she had a considerable portion.She was educated in the public schools of this city and then sent to St. Helen's hall in Portland to finish her education, as her parents could well afford the expense and were justly proud of their child.Later she traveled eastward and while on one of those trips met Charles Tilden, a wealthy New York broker.He was attracted by her beauty and her will and succeeded in winning her for his bride.He took her to New York and they established a beautiful home in New York on Fifth avenue and soon she was in the midst of the gay social whirl of New York where she claimed prominence at all times.

During the years that followed she traveled much abroad and after the death of her husband went to Europe for a long visit.There she met Count Starva, a Greek, and married him.With him she traveled back and forth across the Atlantic several times but following his death ten years ago took up her abode in Paris and spent most of her time in that city, where she died at her beautiful home yesterday.

It is understood that she had no children by either husband.Both of them are reported to have been wealthy and her collection of jewels was the envy of the nobility of several courts.

What steps Guy Tilley of Olympia will take to establish a claim for a share of the estate are not known.It is more than likely, however, that he will seek to secure a part of it as he is her only relative, so far as known, of direct kin.

The countess is well known by all of the old time residents of Olympia.Her beauty was remarkable and many will rave over her and as a result her career in the social world was followed closely by scores of people.She lost interest in Olympia after going east and following the death of her parents little was learned of her save through the newspapers, but now that her death is reported numerous people have no trouble recalling her.