Person:Thomas Tidball (3)

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDKJ-94B : 28 July 2017), Thomas Tidball, 1860.
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"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNXS-S5R : 12 April 2016), Theodore Tidball, California, United States; citing p. 40, family 316, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,587.
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Age 52 - 1880 Census at San Antonio, Monterey, California.; Occupation - Hotel Keeper.; Father born in Pennsylvania, Mother born in New Jersey.

"California Great Registers, 1866-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTXN-L4P : 4 August 2017), Thomas Theodore Tidball, 1882; citing Voter Registration, San Antonio, Monterey, California, United States, county clerk offices, California; FHL microfilm 1,434,237.
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Name Thomas Theodore Tidball
Event Type Voter Registration
Event Date 1882
Event Place San Antonio, Monterey, California, United States
Age 55
Birth Year (Estimated) 1827
Birthplace Pennsylvania

Age 83 - 1910 Census at Monterey, Monterey, California.; Parents born in United States of America.

"United States Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2MKP-M4R : 12 December 2014), Thomas T Tidball, 1907-1933; citing NARA microfilm publication M850 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,636,301.
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Name Thomas T Tidball
Event Type Pension
Event Date 1907-1933
Event Place United States
Form Type Army Invalid
Death Date 28 Jan 1913

Capt. Thomas T. Tidball Patriotism is a prominent characteristic of the Tidball family. Not only has Captain Tidball himself rendered valued service to the country, but other members of the family have been equally loyal and valorous. His maternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and the spirit that led him forth to do battle for the colonies caused his four grandsons to enlist in the Union army during the Civil war. One of these commanded the Fifty-ninth New York Infantry at numerous engagements; another, Joseph L., was a captain in the regular army and at the outbreak of the Civil war became a recruiting officer; another brother held rank as first lieutenant and regimental quartermaster in the Fifty-ninth New York Infantry.

Near Allegheny City, Pa., Captain Tidball was born October 2, 1826, being a son of Joseph and Eliza K (Lynn) Tidball. When he was a year old his parents settled in Holmes county, Ohio, where they remained until 1838, and then settled in Mansfield, same state. There the son learned the hatter’s trade under his father’s instruction, and later he also acquired a knowledge of the printing business. In 1846 he enlisted in Company A Third Ohio Infantry, for service in the Mexican war. With his regiment he proceeded to Mexico and thence still further southwest. After fourteen months as a private he was honorably discharged and returned to Mansfield, where he secured work as a clerk in a warehouse. In 1849, in company with a friend he stared for California. At Independence, Mo., they joined a party westward bound, it being the agreement that they were to pay $75 for their passage to California. However, when they reached the Platte river he and his partner bought a ferry for $50 and remained behind after their companions had proceeded on the way. In a little more than a week they had cleared $150. With this welcome addition to their funds they again started westward, overtaking their former companions and proceeding via Salt Lake, where they saw Brigham Young. Thence they walked to the present site of San Bernardino, where they arrived weary and hungry. Going on to Los Angeles, they took a boat to San Francisco, where they arrived with $10 in their combined possessions.

A few days later Mr. Tidball s worked as a wood chopper at $5 per cord. The then bought an axe and some provisions on credit from a man he had never seen before, and for six weeks engaged in cutting wood, soon making enough to repay his accommodating creditor. His next venture was at Placerville, where he tried his luck at mining. From there he went further up the Feather river, where he remained for six months. For two years he engaged in ranching near Sacramento, and then for six months he was interested in a store at Jackson, Cal. At the expiration of that time he returned to Indiana with a partner, expected to buy cattle and drive them across the plains. However, on account of sickness, the project was abandoned. For two years he edited a paper at Albion, Ind. and while there married Helen M. Hill. Three children were born of their union, but May and Minnie died in girlhood. The only one now living is Nellie H., wife of John D. Hall, and mother of four children, John J. Helen H., Stella and Charles S. During 1857 Captain Tidball came to California via the water route and settled in Santa Cruz, where he was employed on a paper when the Civil war broke out. Inspired with the patriotic spirit of his ancestors, he at once raised a company of eighty men, which was mustered into the United States service at Sacramento, with himself as captain. Ordered to Southern California, they remained several weeks near the coast, and then marched to Fort Yuma to suppress the Apaches, who were on one of their customary fierce outbreaks. About the 1st of October they were sent to San Pedro, and on the 1st of February were ordered to Tucson, Ariz., form which point they proceeded after the Apaches. they were obliged to be cautious in their pursuits, as they had a cunning foe to deal with. For five nights they traveled on foot, sleeping in the daytime. No camp fires were built, lest the Indians might see the smoke. There wee only twenty five white men in Company K, the balance of the one hundred and four men being Indians and Mexicans. On the morning of the fifth day they surprised the Indians, killing eighty of the braves, and capturing eighteen women and children, also sixty six horses and some government property. The expedition had been one of great hardship, but the successful termination caused the soldiers to forget their annoyances, and all rejoiced at the fortunate outcome. They had traveled about one hundred and eighty miles, with pack-trains to carry supplies, and had crossed one stream thirty six times. It was just at break of day when they surprised the Indians who were in the act of building a camp fire. With the loss of only one man, the expedition returned to Tucson, bringing with them their prisoners of war and the booty taken in the battle.

From Tucson Captain Tidball was ordered to the Rocky mountains, where he had command of a post at Bowie, Ariz., for sixteen months. During that time he commanded an expedition to the San Carlos reservation, and meanwhile killed thirty or more hostile savages, including the chief of the tribe. Frequently he went on scouting expeditions, and more than once crossed the desert on foot. Mustered out of the service November 30, 1864, he then returned to Santa Cruz, and in the fall of 1865 was elected county clerk. At the expiration of his term of two years he was appointed internal revenue collector of the second district. Resigning two years later, he moved to Tulare county and ranched there for a year. His next location was on the Cooper ranch in Salinas Valley, where he spent three years. In 1876 he came to Jolon and opened a store in partnership with Mr. Dutton. Two years later he erected a building, which he utilized as a hotel and store. He also conducted feed yards, and has served as postmaster, while at this writing the post office is in charge of his wife. for sixteen years he has been a notary public. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, among whose members in Monterey county he occupies a leading position. In 1853 he was made a Mason and has since been identified with the fraternity, being now past master of the lodges at Santa Cruz and Castroville.

At the first meeting of the legislative body of Arizona, its members adopted a resolution commending Captain Tidball for his services in the Apache outbreaks, and the letter forwarded to him from the legislature was cherished by him as indicative of the appreciation in which his l abors were held. He also received recognition in another manner no less acceptable than the former, this being in his promotion to major and brevet-major in the army, which honor his faithful and intelligent services amply merited. (Santa Cruz Riptide and Evergreen Records)

Born near Allegheny City, Pa., Oct. 2 ‘26 a resident. of Ohio where he learned, first, the hatter’s trade under his father and then turned to printing. At outbreak of the Mexican War he enlisted with Co. A, 3rd Ohio inf., serving 14 months. Overland with one friend for Calif., meeting up with a party at Independence Mo., who contracted to bring them across for$75. At the Platte he and his friend purchased a ferry for $50, operated it for a week during which they cleared $150; with this welcome addition to finances caught up with their friends and proceeded to San Bernardino. Going on to LA they caught a boat for SF, made a living chopping wood for a time before trying their luck in the placers with little success. As a rancher near Sacramento he had high hopes of becoming wealthy, went east to buy cattle, but was taken sick and did not get back for three years. The second trip was made by water ‘57. This year he settled in Soquel as the editor of a paper perhaps with Judge Skirm, elected pub. adm. ‘58 and appointed assessor vice Wm. Henderson resigned, candidate for county clerk ‘59 and for assessor ‘61 being a vice president of the Union the latter year. When the shot was fired at Charleston he organized what was organized as Co. K 5th Calif. inf. himself as Capt. and was on his way to Arizona to protect the southern routes overland from potential rebel assaults, engaged for the most part in fighting Apaches for which he was cited by the Arizona legislature. Mustered out in the fall of ‘64 he returned to Santa Cruz and in the fall of ‘65 was elected country clerk, grantee of a home site by the town council ‘66, possessed of a large taxable income ‘67, Union party leader, part owner Santa Cruz Times ‘68 in which year he became collector of revenue at SF. He never again called this city ‘home.’ Lived for the most part in Jolon in later years. Still living 1902. His wife was an Ind. lady nee Helen M. Hill. They were the parents of three, only one of whom survived to become the mother of four of her own.

(Scrapbook # 7 [Ruth Baldwin] Safety First) Circuit Rider Column- Column 1- Page 3 ------Thomas T. Tidball was a young fellow who was appointed Santa Cruz county assessor in 1855 when the incumbent, William T. Henderson left un- expectedly. (It was rumored that a few Hundred dollars of county funds and another man’s wife left at the same time.) Tidball made an unsuccessful race for country clerk in 1859. Two years later he was vice president of the Union Club and elected Captain of the Cavalry [infantry] company raised in Santa Cruz county which spent the Civil War fidgeting Apaches in Arizona. Back from the wars he was elected country clerk in 1865 but soon afterwards left for Jolon.

(Annals of Santa Cruz by Leon Rowland) Thomas T. Tidball was one of the first vice presidents of the Union club started May 8, 1861.

Began recruiting an infantry (became Captain) unit in the fall of 1861 and by November he had 36 men enrolled and word was sent to Governor Downey. It was sworn in as Company K 5th California Infantry, November 22, 1861. They stayed on the California Texas border fighting against Apaches. See Citation.

“15 enlisted men of Company K composed of the expedition sent under command of Captain T.T. Tidball against Apache Indians in Canon di Arivaype, Arizona Territory. The expedition left Tucson May 2 at dusk, made five successive night marches, built no fires, hid during the day. It surprised and attached the Apache rancheria in Canon de Arivaype on the morning of the 7th. Killed 47 Indians, took 10 prisoners, captured 66 head of stock with the loss of one man, a citizen of Arizona. Returned to Tucson on the 11th, having marched 180 miles in five days.”

In the fall of 1864, the regiment marched from Fort Bowie to Las Cruces to be mustered out. Captain Tidball returned to Santa Cruz where his war record won him immediate election as country clerk and appointments in 1867 to fill a vacancy as assessor. He moved to Jolon and died January 28, 1913 near Monterey.

[Note: Well researched collection of information. Explains that the death date on his headstone (01 Feb 1913) is actually the date of his internment. States his death date was 29 Jan 1913.]

In this typed index, his death date is given as 20 Jan 1913. Assuming a difficulty with legibility in the original, it is more likely that the original was 28 than 29.