Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameMajor Thomas Jefferson McQUIDDY 
496,470, Thomas Jefferson McQuiddy
496,470, Thomas Jefferson McQuiddyBirthMar 6, 1828, Woodford County, Kentucky496,470, Thomas Jefferson McQuiddy
DeathFeb 20, 1915, Hanford, Kings County, California470, Thomas Jefferson McQuiddy
BurialHanford Cemetery, 10500 S. Tenth Avenue, Hanford, Kings County, California470, Thomas Jefferson McQuiddy
Spouses
Death1864496
BirthMay 3, 1843, Bedford County, Tennessee470, Mary Jane Huffman McQuiddy
DeathJul 23, 1919, Kings County, California470, Mary Jane Huffman McQuiddy
BurialHanford Cemetery, 10500 S. Tenth Avenue, Hanford, Kings County, California470, Mary Jane Huffman McQuiddy
FatherJohn HUFFMAN (1800-1878)
MotherPolly CORTNER (1805-1876)
Marriage1866470, Thomas Jefferson McQuiddy
Obituary Online notes for Major Thomas Jefferson McQUIDDY
He was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1828. His grandfather, a native of Virginia, was a pioneer of Woodford County, and for many years did all of the gun-smithing and blacksmithing of that locality. His parents, John and Achsah (Dale) McQuiddy, were natives of Kentucky, and in 1840 emigrated to Bedford County, Tennessee, where they followed an agricultural life. Thomas J. received a common English education, attending private schools and living at home until he was twenty-one years of age.
In 1847 he was married to Miss Jane M. Ruth, a native of Tennessee, and in 1849 they emigrated to Nodaway County, Missouri, becoming pioneers of that locality. Their nearest neighbor lived three miles away, and it was twelve miles from their home to Maryville, the county seat. Here he followed farming for many years. In 1859 he was elected sheriff of the County. When the war broke out he enlisted, in 1861, in Company B, Missouri State Guard, and was elected Captain of his company. Six months later the company re-enlisted as Company G, third Battalion, Confederate Cavalry, under Colonel A. W. Slayback, remaining in the department of the Missouri, under General Sterling Prince. In April, 1862, the battalion was transferred to the eastern department of the Mississippi, and Captain McQuiddy was promoted to Major and placed in command of the battalion. In 1863 he was assigned to the Secret Service, where he remained until the close of the war.
In 1863 Mrs. McQuiddy and her children returned to Bedford County, Tennessee, and the following year she was called to the other world, leaving a husband and seven little ones to mourn her departure. At the close of the war Major McQuiddy joined his children in Tennessee, and in 1866 wedded Miss Mary J. Huffman. He continued in agricultural pursuits in the East until 1873, when he emigrated to California and settled in Tulare County. He preempted 160 acres of government land in the Mussel Slough District, and the following year brought his family to this place. He then purchased 320 acres of land from the Southern Pacific Railroad Co. Title to that company being incomplete, they made promises in pamphlet form that upon securing title the land should be graded at from $2.50 to $10 per acre, improvements made by settlers not to be included. Acting in good faith, about 250 families settled on the railroad lands, then an arid sand plain, and through their stupendous efforts, having little with which to work and midst many deprivations, they organized the Settlers' Ditch Co. and diverted water from the Kaweah river, a distance of twenty miles, thus converting the sand plain into a garden spot. In 1877 the railroad was built through, and in 1878 the company graded the values of lands, ranging from $5 to $45 per acre, unmindful of all former promises. A land league was formed by the settlers to centralize their interests in the defense of their homes. The railroad company secured indictments and began evictions, selling under the indictment to other settlers, which culminated, May 11, 1880, by the shooting of seven men, and the litigation continued through the courts until 1887, when the settlers were obliged to pay for their lands according to the company's assessed value.
The Major began setting out fruit trees in 1875, and is the pioneer orange grower of this section. Realizing the value of alfalfa for feed, he early began to raise it and to engage in the stock business, with which he has been prominently identified. His ranch now comprises 380 acres, 240 of which he has in alfalfa. Forty-five acres are in vines, and he also has a small family orchard. He keeps about 100 head of horses, mules, and cattle.
Until October, 1889, Major McQuiddy lived on his ranch. At that time he bought property on Eighth street, Hanford, and moved his family to it, although he still carries on his farming operations. After passing through a life of varied experiences and many hardships, the Major is in the enjoyment of good health, happy in his well-earned possessions, and occupies a prominent position in the advance line of agriculturists. 470, Thomas Jefferson McQuiddy
In 1847 he was married to Miss Jane M. Ruth, a native of Tennessee, and in 1849 they emigrated to Nodaway County, Missouri, becoming pioneers of that locality. Their nearest neighbor lived three miles away, and it was twelve miles from their home to Maryville, the county seat. Here he followed farming for many years. In 1859 he was elected sheriff of the County. When the war broke out he enlisted, in 1861, in Company B, Missouri State Guard, and was elected Captain of his company. Six months later the company re-enlisted as Company G, third Battalion, Confederate Cavalry, under Colonel A. W. Slayback, remaining in the department of the Missouri, under General Sterling Prince. In April, 1862, the battalion was transferred to the eastern department of the Mississippi, and Captain McQuiddy was promoted to Major and placed in command of the battalion. In 1863 he was assigned to the Secret Service, where he remained until the close of the war.
In 1863 Mrs. McQuiddy and her children returned to Bedford County, Tennessee, and the following year she was called to the other world, leaving a husband and seven little ones to mourn her departure. At the close of the war Major McQuiddy joined his children in Tennessee, and in 1866 wedded Miss Mary J. Huffman. He continued in agricultural pursuits in the East until 1873, when he emigrated to California and settled in Tulare County. He preempted 160 acres of government land in the Mussel Slough District, and the following year brought his family to this place. He then purchased 320 acres of land from the Southern Pacific Railroad Co. Title to that company being incomplete, they made promises in pamphlet form that upon securing title the land should be graded at from $2.50 to $10 per acre, improvements made by settlers not to be included. Acting in good faith, about 250 families settled on the railroad lands, then an arid sand plain, and through their stupendous efforts, having little with which to work and midst many deprivations, they organized the Settlers' Ditch Co. and diverted water from the Kaweah river, a distance of twenty miles, thus converting the sand plain into a garden spot. In 1877 the railroad was built through, and in 1878 the company graded the values of lands, ranging from $5 to $45 per acre, unmindful of all former promises. A land league was formed by the settlers to centralize their interests in the defense of their homes. The railroad company secured indictments and began evictions, selling under the indictment to other settlers, which culminated, May 11, 1880, by the shooting of seven men, and the litigation continued through the courts until 1887, when the settlers were obliged to pay for their lands according to the company's assessed value.
The Major began setting out fruit trees in 1875, and is the pioneer orange grower of this section. Realizing the value of alfalfa for feed, he early began to raise it and to engage in the stock business, with which he has been prominently identified. His ranch now comprises 380 acres, 240 of which he has in alfalfa. Forty-five acres are in vines, and he also has a small family orchard. He keeps about 100 head of horses, mules, and cattle.
Until October, 1889, Major McQuiddy lived on his ranch. At that time he bought property on Eighth street, Hanford, and moved his family to it, although he still carries on his farming operations. After passing through a life of varied experiences and many hardships, the Major is in the enjoyment of good health, happy in his well-earned possessions, and occupies a prominent position in the advance line of agriculturists. 470, Thomas Jefferson McQuiddy