Native Charles E. Tilton shaped his hometown through his many gifts of monuments, buildings and parks, places that make the community special today. After moving to the West Coast in 1850, Tilton acquired extraordinary wealth through his trading company and investments. The citizens of Sanbornton Bridge voted to name their new town Tilton in his family's honor after New Hampshire Governor Onslow Stearns approved the town's division from Sanbornton on June 30, 1869.