Thomas Tidwell

Thomas Tidwell was born July 8, 1826 in Freeburg, Illinois to Absolam and Elizabeth McBride Tidwell. Thomas served as the First Bishop of Richmond. Thomas is a Pioneer of Richmond. Thomas was a veteran of the Indian Wars.

History

In 1833, the Tidwell family was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Soon after, they moved to Caldwell County, Missouri to live among the Saints. Members of the Church, including the Tidwell family, were persecuted by mobsters while in Missouri and were forced out in 1839. During this time, it is possible that Thomas became acquainted with Elizabeth Henderson.

The Tidwell family moved to Quincy, Illinois, and later to Nauvoo. While there, Thomas' father rented some land from John Williams to support his family. 

"Thomas told of his experiences as a farmer boy and of having earned some money and stock by operating rafts on the Mississippi River. At one time the river flooded some farms on the islands, and he built a raft on which he made trips to the flooded islands in the river. After helping the people to shore, he was offered some of their stock if he could save it. Thomas found that by going to the islands, placing the young calves and baby pigs on his raft and bringing the young animals to shore, that the mothers of the young animals would swim along beside his raft and many of them were saved. Thomas made some money in this way a short time before he left Nauvoo for the West.

In 1844, a member of the Williams family became enraged with the Saints and burned down the Tidwell home. The following year, Thomas' father died. After the assassination of Church President Joseph Smith in 1844, the Tidwell family moved to Winter Quarters, Iowa. While there, Thomas married Elizabeth Jane Henderson on Oct 7, 1847. The Tidwell family lived in Kanesville, Iowa to gather funds to cross west. The exact company the Tidwell family joined is unknown, but they made it to Utah by 1853. They moved to Kaysville, Utah soon after.

Bishop of Richmond

By a letter of surprise, Thomas Tidwell was called by the Church to preside as the Bishop of the Richmond Branch, Cache Valley.

Thomas moved his family to Richmond in 1860 and presided as best he could. While his sheep were still in Nephi, he had to travel a distance from Richmond to Nephi and was gone for many months out of the year, putting John Bair, the Elders Quorum President, in charge most of the time. As Bishop, he saw to the formation of the Richmond Fort, digging canals to the fort, and the first tithing office within the fort.

Due to his travel and the length of time he was gone, Thomas stepped down as Bishop in 1861. He moved his family back to Nephi soon after.

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. Thomas was appointed as a Private in both instances.

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