John C. Tidball was born June 5, 1801, in what then was Allegheny county (now Lawrence), Pa. He graduated at Jefferson College ; was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian church, in 1826, at Island Creek, 0. He subsequently preached at Morrisville, Belmont county. His unquestionable ability was connected with a certain measure of eccentricity which frequently involved him in more or less of trouble, often leading to expostulations on the part of his brethren in the ministry, under which he grew some-what restive. While in Belmont county, he became more and more dissatisfied with the position of his own and also of kindred churches upon the matter of slavery. Meanwhile his health was quite impaired. In this state of things, he turned to the law, and having read with Carlo C. Carroll, of Belmont county, was admitted to the bar, practically demitting the ministry. He came to Coshocton in 1848, and practiced more or less until his death. His keen insight and earnest and impassioned delivery were marked features in his practice; but calm investigation and cool judgment simple not always so apparent, and his success in business was only moderate. His thorough classical education made him a, valuable man in school matters, and to his efforts must, in some considerable amount, be attributed the deepened and enlarged interest in education apparent in the town of Coshocton soon after he came into it He connected himself with first the one and then the other of the Presbyterian churches of Coshocton, and maintained his position as a Christian man unto the last. He had in earlier days paid no little attention to medical matters, and was ready on all occasions to visit the sick, and make himself useful in times of affliction. He was a very zealous politician-intensely anti-slavery. He had, however, little. disposition to carry his partisanship into his social relations, and was in every way a kind neighbor and clever citizen. He had a large vein of humor, and keenly relished the ludicrous. His power of facial expression was
wonderful-quite in the style of his friend, Sam Galloway, of Columbus.
In the summer of 1863, he got word of the serious illness of a son, then in the army at Vicksburg, and against the counsels of his friends he went to visit him. The son recovered before the father reached the place ; but the old gentleman took sick, struggled back home, and died in a few days, on the 11th of August, 1863.
While preaching at Island Creek, he married Miss Hunter, who, with her children, N. R., Haddasah, and W. S. Tidball, still live in Coshocton. Theophilus Tidball, of Bedford township, is a foster-child, adopted when an infant.

 

Source:  Historical Collections of Coshocton County Ohio 1764-1876
Author: William E Hunt, pub. 1876