Miller Richards Tidrick (1914)

HAYS, HERRIN, MOORE, TIDRICK

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 8/31/2006 at 13:24:19

The Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, November 18, 1914
Page 1

Miller Richards Tidrick

Was Pioneer Citizen, Merchant and Identified With Early Life of Madison County

Miller Richards Tidrick was born in Guernsey county, Ohio Dec. 4, 1833. Died at his home in Winterset, Iowa Nov. 13, 1914.

He was the son of Michael and Elsie Lanning Tidrick and was the last surviving member of a family of eleven children. His mother died when he was eleven years old. His father married again and Miller then made his home with his brother Lawrence’s widow.

He worked on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he began teaching school. When he was 19, in the fall of 1852 he came to Des Moines and made his home with Dr. Brooks through the winter. In the spring of 1853, he passed through Winterset on his way to California, driving with ox teams from Council Bluffs to Salt Lake City.

He spent five years in the gold fields near Shasta, and then returned by ship to the Isthmus of Panama. After crossing the isthmus he went by ship to New York and returned to Winterset in 1858. He then made two freighting trips across the plains to Denver and after that, clerked for awhile in Adel. When the war broke out he was clerking in Winterset.

He was the first to leave Madison county to enlist in the Union army. Before he enlisted, S. G. Ruby, W. C. Newlon and B. F. Murray joined him at Indianola, and they were enlisted together in the 3d Iowa Infantry. He was soon promoted and had charge of the commissary department of his company. After the battle of Shiloh, he was commissioned second lieutenant. His health then became so impaired that he was forced to hand in his resignation.

The following is taken from the diary of his comrade, W. C. Newlon: “Corinth, Miss, Sunday, May 35th, 1862. Lieut. M. R. Tidrick received notice today that his resignation had been accepted. There is no other man in the regiment that I hate to part with so much. No other officer that ever had command of the company got along so well with the men as he. No one can say that he ever showed and partiality whatever. All have been treated equally and fairly. His efforts to improve the moral conditions of the company, as well as its personal appearance, were unceasing. His conduct on the field of battle at Shiloh is worthy of the highest commendation, but seeing that his heath is so impaired with no hope of recovery while in the army. I congratulate him on his discharge from the service.

After his return home, his health soon improved and he was married to Mary A. Fisher in Adel, Iowa, July 16, 1862. He was soon after elected county clerk of Madison County, and twice re-elected.

After his six years as county clerk he engaged in the grocery business. His brother, Isaac Tidrick, soon after joined him. After his brother Isaac’s death, which occurred soon, he sold out to Duer & Beerbower and then engaged in the dry goods business. He was associated with E. W. Jones in the firm of Jones & Tidrick. After being together for several years, they sold out and Mr. Tidrick went into the grocery business with E. F. Connoran, and in a short time he bought Mr. Connoran’s interest and soon joined D. T. Welch in the general merchandising business. He was soon after associated in this business with J. G. Steele. After buying Mr. Steele’s interest, he was then associated with his son, Charles, most of the time until his retirement in 1894. He then turned the store over to his sons Fred and Harry, and took an active interest in caring for his farm and other interests. In 1908, he was crippled by a fall, from which he never fully recovered.

He was very closely identified with Winterset and Madison county history through all his active years. He was on the school board during the building of the old stone school house and again was an active helper when the north ward school house was built. He was one of the early members of Evening Star Lodge No. 43 of Masons, and was Master in 1864 and again in1867 – he held many different offices in the lodge and was always an active and faithful member. He was converted and joined the Presbyterian church of Winterset in 1866. He was treasurer and trustee when the present church was built in 1876 and took a very active part, no one having done more to make its building possible. He was trustee for more than thirty five years, and president of the board for 18 years and was always an active worker and consistent Christian.

He leaves a wife and five children, Mrs. R. B. Herrin, Mrs. S. A. Hays, F. M. Tidrick and Henry Tidrick, all of Winterset; and Mrs. J. F. Moore of Columbia, Mo. George F. died in 1868. He leaves 24 grand children. Through all his many years of suffering and almost helplessness, as he was always cheerful and never known to complain. His has been a long record of loving faithfulness - never was there a man more faithful to his community, his country, his family, his church and his God.

The funeral services were held at the home at the west end of Court avenue on last Sunday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. J.S. Corkey, of the Presbyterian church, and Pitzer Post G.A.R. of which the deceased was an honored member. The services were concluded at the cemetery by the Masonic order of which he was also a member.

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