About Us

The name "Vom Tillman" comes from my Great-Great- Grandfather Francis Joseph Tillman, who was born

in Arnsberg Germany March 14th, 1819. One of nine children, he and a brother William made their way

to America. First to Philadelphia, then to Vicksburg Mississippi where Frank found work installing lightning

rods. When gold was discovered in California, Frank promptly made his way there going around the horn

and through the Straits of Magellan, arriving in San Francisco October 3rd, 1849.

Frank provisioned and made his way to the mining camps in the McCollomey Hills, very quickly making a

strike to the tune of $5,000.00. Just as quickly he suffered a critical case of scurvy from his journey to

California, and spent almost every penny recovering in San Francisco. After nearly a year in recovery,

and realizing he wouldn't be able to push a broom, let alone manual labor of any kind Frank had to think

fast. What was this new town lacking? Safes, in 1851 Frank set up shop at 318 Battery street and promptly

lost it all in a fire the following year. Undaunted he rebuilt and became the sole agent on the west coast for

Tilton-McFarland safe and scales.

Frank prospered, retiring from the safe business in 1879 he pursued real- estate ventures. The city of

San Francisco honored Frank with a small street named for him very near the Trans-America building

where he owned a hotel/restaurant and small shops. Two of Franks sons graduated Stanford both

becoming physicians, my great grandfather Tilton E Tillman pursuing early brain surgery in his practice.

Franks father Henry Tillman was a farmer and owned much of Arnsberg Germany. Henry lived his entire

life there passing in 1833. Frank was very proud of his heritage and made certain that his offspring never

forgot where we came from. I wanted to honor this great German heritage by bringing the correct

German Rottweiler to America as it was intended. This is not a breed for everyone, and it deserves the
attention to detail to be done well. This breed came from the farmers in Germany with a temperament

for work and dedication to family. My intention is to honor that tradition and share it with those of like mind.

-Vom Tillman Rottweilers