The first settlers known to have located in that part of Snake River Valley now included in the Tilden Ward were non-Mormons. Among the first Mormon settlers who located there were a Brother Rufus Walker and family, Justin T. Grover and sons with their families, and Levi L. Wheeler and family and others. Wheeler came in 1892 and located on the bottom, about three miles southwest of the present Tilden schoolhouse.

In due course of time, Bishop Andrew O. Ingelstrom of the Basalt Ward (to which the Saints in the Tilden district belonged) organized the Saints into a branch of the Basalt Ward, with William D. Grover as Presiding Elder. Even earlier than that a Sunday School had been organized in the Tilden district, which remained under the jurisdiction of the Basalt Ward until the Riverside Ward was organized in 1893.

At a meeting held at the residence of Joseph B. Grover Feb. 2, 1894, presided over by Charles E. Liljenquist of the Riverside Ward, the Saints who had settled in that part of the country now included in the Tilden Ward, were organized as a branch of the Riverside Ward, called Grover (in honor of the Grovers), with William D. Grover as Presiding Elder. Sunday School officers were also set apart and a Relief Society organized. Elder Grover presided over the branch until a ward was organized.

1895

After that meetings were held in private houses. In 1895 the Mormon population was augmented by the arrival of James Buttcane and family, George Y. Pugmire and family, Ransom Harris and family, George A. Ward and family, Halvor H. Berg and family, Hosea Berg (unmarried), and others. At that time meeting and Sunday School services were held regularly in the branch.

In May, 1895, Henry W. Chandler and family located in Tilden, also James Christiansen and family.

A post office named Tilden, in honor of Samuel J. Tilden, a noted statesman, was established at this time, with Peter Hansen as the first postmaster.

1896

At a special meeting held October 14, 1896, in the schoolhouse, attended by Stake President James E. Steele and counselors, the Grover Ward was organized as the Tilden Ward, with George Young Pugmire as Bishop. James Buttcane was chosen as first, and Wm. Delbert Grover as Second Counselor to Bishop Pugmire. Elder Pugmire was ordained a High Priest and Bishop by Elder John Henry Smith of the Council of the Twelve at a Quarterly Conference held at Menan Dec. 14, 1896. On the same occasion James Buttcane was ordained a High Priest and set apart as First Counselor and Wm. D. Grover ordained a High Priest and set apart as Second Counselor to Bishop Pugmire, Bro. Buttcane by James E. Steele and Bro. Grover by Robert L. Bybee. (Bingham Stake Hist. Record, page 257)

Soon afterwards, Mrs. Martha E. Pugmire was chosen as Ward Clerk, and she still acted in that capacity at the close of the century.

In 1897 Samuel Cooper and family located at Tilden.

Second Counselor Grover removed to Blackfoot, and at a meeting held at Tilden in May, 1899, Hosea Berg was ordained a High Priest and set apart as Second Counselor to Bishop Pugmire by Robert L. Bybee.

The numerical strength of the Tilden Ward Dec. 31, 1900, was 124 souls (eighteen families), including five High Priests, one Seventy, six Elders, one Teacher, eleven Deacons, 62 lay members and 38 children under eight years of age.

Following are the names of the principle officers of the Tilden Ward: George Young Pugmire, Bishop; James Buttcane, First Counselor; Hosea Berg, Second Counselor; Martha A. Pugmire, Ward Clerk.