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Author T.K. Carmell Publisher 1909 Page 291-202 Periodical Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants / A History of Frederick County, Virginia Source Type Book Source ID S545 Text Hawthorn, familiarly known as the home of Thomas Allen Tidball, the third
clerk of the county court. As previously stated, it was part of the Glen
Burnie plantation, passing from that estate to Alfred H. Powell, who sold 331-
1/2 acres to Joseph Tidball the father of Thomas A. Subsequently Alexander S.
and Thomas A. purchased this tract from their father, and Thomas A. having
purchased his brother's interest, became sole owner, and after his marriage in
1813, Hawthorn was his residence until his death in 1856. In Sept., 1856, his
executors sold the mansion house and 60 acres to Col. Angus W. McDonald, who
became a prominent officer in the Confederate States Army. During the Civil
War the old homestead was shorn of its beauty—the buildings became a wreck,
and the handsome lawn despoiled by wanton destruction of the great ornamental
trees, and the magnificent estate was left a dilapidated ruin. The vandalism
of certain well-known Federal Brigadiers and their commands, was without the
pale of civilized warfare. After the war, the McDonald family sold it to Henry
Laughlin of St. Louis, who did much to reinstate what had been destroyed.
Passing from his estate to Wm. R. Alexander, a member of the Winchester Bar,
it subsequently passed to the present owners, Mr. Edmunds and wife. Under
their artistic treatment, we see the New Hawthorn. May it never cease to
attract the admiration of the small number who knew and admired the old
homestead. The Old Town Spring on the roadside, with brick house and walls,
became the property of Winchester by a deed from Mr. Tidball June 15, 1840,
with reservations for the use of owners of Hawthorn. Thomas A. Tidball was
Deputy-Clerk for James Keith from 1804 to 1824. Upon the death of Judge Keith,
Mr. Tidball was appointed Clerk. When the office was made elective by popular
vote, he was elected, and continued his long term of 52 years as deputy and
clerk without opposition. His official life has been a guide to his
successors. None, however, ever felt they could equal their model. The
systematic and perfect work found in the old office is easily recognized as
that of the man who had the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. Mr.
Tidball married Susan Hill, a daughter of Rev. William Hill, D.D., Nov. 18,
1813. They had three children, Joseph, Scott and Bettie. Mr. Tidball was
elected and ordained a ruling elder in the Loudoun Street Presbyterian Church,
Winchester, Va., the 14th day of Jany., 1855. While the writer knew Mr.
Tidball and his family, and could draw from memory many incidents of interest,
he prefers to insert here the language of another, taken from a sketch
published in "Memorials of Virginia Clerks," written by James Carr Baker,
Esq., member of the Winchester Bar, and Mr. Tidball's deputy for many years.
"Indulge the writer in a reminiscence of the family of Mr. Tidball. When the
writer, in his fourteenth year, entered the family, it consisted of Rev.
William Hill and wife, Mr. Tidball and wife, and their three children: Joseph,
Alexander Scott, and Bettie Morton. William Marshall of Happy Creek and Lewis
Arms lead of Fauquier became members soon after. Bettie Morton (now Mrs.
Thurston) of Cumberland is the only living member of the family. Joseph was an
accomplished scholar; became a lawyer; removed to California, and left the
impress of genius on the country of his adoption. Alex. Scott had gone to the
same State before his brother, and became in that new country an artist of
some note. William Marshall died before completing his education. Lewis
Armstead graduated at West Point, and espoused the cause of the Confederacy,
and at the Battle of Gettysburg was killed in his saddle."
The author must add that the writer just quoted and Mrs. Thurston, have long
since gone beyond the River to join the family circle referred to. Mrs.
Thurston's daughter, Miss Helen, married Edward M. Tidball. One daughter (now
Mrs. Samuel Barton) survives both parents. One other daughter—is now Mrs.
Hunter Boyd of Cumberland, wife of the Judge of the Supreme Court of Maryland.
Joseph married Mary M., daughter of Dr. Stuart Baldwin. Two children survive
them: William A. Tidball, of Texas, married Miss Swartzwelder; and Susan
married Ed. M. Tidball.
Alex. Scott married in California, and had an interesting family when the
writer visited them in 1879.Linked to (1) TIDBALL, Thomas Allen
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