Tidball, Zan Linn, 1839-1926

US Marshal for the Arizona Territory

1ST LT RQM 59TH NY INF

Married Mary Elma Golden (1842–1921)

U.S. Marshal assigned to Arizona Territory on July 18, 1882, Tidball replaced Crawley P. Dake, who had been heavily criticized after the Gunfight at the O.K. Corrall in Tombstone, Arizona in October, 1881. Though Tidball, who was from the east, came well recommended and had previously served as a Department of Justice Examiner, Arizona leaders were not impressed and were not happy to have an “outsider” placed within their midst. In fact, the Arizona Miner complained, “Whey he was appointed is more than we can say.”

Soon after his appointment, he made a powerful enemy in San Carlos Indian Agent, Joseph C. Tiffany, who would later accuse Tidball of various misdeeds including bribery.

During his tenure, Tidball was tasked with picking up Geronimo on a murder warrant from the Army, to whom the Indian Leader had surrendered. However, Tidball was tricked by a young lieutenant and Geronimo got away.