Samuel D. McDearmon purchased the undeveloped "Clover Hill" tract from Hugh Raine in 1846, cutting off for a county seat for the new Appomattox county. In 1849 he began improving the now property adding $1,056 worth of buildings. By 1851 he had made improvements totaling $2,800, likely indicating that the mansion house had been completed. This chronology also corresponds to his known political and financial zenith. Although he offered the tract for sale in October 1854,Marvel A Place Called Appomattox p.42-3. Jacob Tibbs did not purchase McDearmon's property until 1856 and then only of it, which included the $2800 "improvements." The following year Tibbs's "improvements" had been reduced to $2000.Appomattox County Land Tax Records 1845 – 1857, microfilm Library of Virginia, Richmond.
