Joseph Pearson Tidwell was born in Holmes County, Mississippi in 1844 and died in Bowie County, Texas in 1922.  He was buried at Sand Hill Cemetery.  In about 1865 Joseph P Tidwell married Sarah "Sally" E Hall, the daughter of James and Barbary Hall.  Joseph is the son of william Tidwell, 1808-1845, who lived and died in Holmes County, Mississippi and never came to Bowie County but is believed to be a son of Levi Tidwell, 1774-1869, who did come here.  The brothers and sisters of Joseph P Tidwell are:
1. James R, born 1833 in Holmes County, Mississippi, died in the Civil War
2. Elizabeth A, born 1835 in Holmes County, Mississippi
3. John M, born 1836 in Holmes County, Mississippi
4. Rachel Ann, born 1838 in Holmes County, Mississippi, married James E Sweet, buried at Sand Hill Cemetery
5. Sarah C, born 1940 in Holmes County, Mississippi, married William P Alexander, buried at Sand Hill Cemetery
6. Amanda M, born 1842 in Holmes County, Mississippi
7. William L, born 1845 in Holmes County, Mississippi

Joseph P Tidwell served in the Civil War and did not begin his family until the end of that war.  Joseph and Sally Tidwell had eight children.  The first seven children were born in Freestone County, Texas which is just west of Palestine.  Their last child was born in Bowie County, Texas in 1890.  These eight children and their husbands and wives are also buried at Sand Hill Cemetery.  The names of the eight children of Joseph P and Sally Tidwell are:
1. William Lowery, 1866-1910, married Loretta Shaw in 1889
2. James Franklin, 1868-1936, married Ada Lou Dobbins
3. Rufus Loveoneal "Brunce", 1872-19902, married Julia V Morris
4. Florance G, 1864/74?-1919, married Alex A Champion in 1893
5. Annie Lue, 1875-1943, married Willard S Nash in 1894
6. Emma, 1880-1969, married James E Thompson in 1912
7. Joseph Patton, 1884-1959, married Lou Ella Orr in 1907
8. Pearl Levada "Quilla", 1890-1960, married Author McCullough in 1913.