Thomas Theodore Tidball

Thomas Theodore Tidball (October 2, 1827 – January 28, 1913) was an American pioneer who came out west during the time of the California gold rush. He was a veteran of the American Civil War who served as a captain in the Union Army. In 1866, Tidball settled in Jolon, California where he and George Dutton purchased the Antonio Ramirez adobe Inn in 1876 and converted it into a two-story hotel and stagecoach station. Tidball went on to establish his own General Store in 1890, which is now the only standing commercial building of Jolon. The Tidball Store is a landmark, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976.

Early life

His maternal grandfather was in the American Revolution. When he was a year old, his parents moved to Holmes County, Ohio and then to Mansfield, Ohio in 1838. In Mansfield, he learned from his father the hatter's trade. He later learned the printing business.

The Society of Arizona Pioneers elected Captain Tidball as an honorary member in 1886 for his services in the Apache outbreaks. He won recognition for his bravery and gallantry in his promotion to Major and Brevet Major in the army.

After two years, the Tidball's partnership with Dutton was dissolved and the property became known as the Dutton Hotel, Stagecoach Station.

Jolon Store

Tidball established his own hotel and general store in Jolon, 1/4 mile south of the Dutton Hotel. The Tidball Store was constructed from the remains of an old adobe inn built in 1868 by Flint & Bixby Stage Lines. Tidball supplied food, clothing, building supplies and other necessities to customers traveling through or to local ranchers and miners. Redwood framing and feed yards was added in 1890. Tidball served as postmaster in 1881. For sixteen years he was a notary public. He was registered with Republican party. On December 29, 1908, T. T. Tidball was appointed Justice of the peace of Monterey township by the Board of Supervisors.

On September 19, 1948, the old Jolon store was replaced by a modern building called the San Antonio Curio Store. In the back room was an iron safe with the name "T. T. Tidball" painted across the top, which had valuables from the years that Jolon was a station on the stagecoach route to Los Angeles.

Today, except for minor alterations, the building looks as it did in 1890 when it was converted from an adobe way station to a proper retail store. It remains the only standing commercial building of Jolon, once a major community of southern Monterey County. The Tidball Store is listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976. The funeral took place from the Edward Roberts undertaker under the auspices of the Monterey Lodge No. 217, F. and A. M. The Grand Army Veterans and a large number of friends attended the funeral.

Over time, his headstone sank so on March 13, 2001, members of the Sons Of Union Veterans 10 Lincoln Camp, installed a new headstone at Tidball's grave.