Name/Title
Tibbetts FarmEntry/Object ID
PIC0014Description
"Peaceful Valley Farm, Exeter, Maine.
This is the story of a little farm in Maine where four generations of the Tibbetts family lived from 1829 to 1961. It is written by Margaret Alice Tibbetts the last owner of the homestead.
The genealogy of the Tibbetts family states the following.
Abner Tibbetts, born March 1, 1759, in Lebanon, York County Maine died April 7, 1843 in Exeter Maine, and was the first person buried in the Tibbetts Cemetery Exeter.
He was the eldest son of William and Lurana Young Tibbetts, of Lebanon, Maine.
In 1769 the family moved to Gouldsborough, Maine. After the Revolutionary War they moved to Bangor, Maine , in 1779 Abner served in the War at the age of seventeen as Private in Captain Ruben Dyers Company in 1777. Abner Tibbetts was one of the founders Corinth Maine, in 1792-1793, at the first town meeting of Corinth he was mentioned as Fence Viewer.
The history of Penobscot County states that Mr. Abner Tibbetts made the woodwork and Mr. John Goodhue the ironwork of the pioneer plow in Corinth.
In the year 1829 Abner cleared the land for the Tibbetts homestead and moved to Exeter with his second wife Mary (Fisher) Crane of Eddington Plantation.
Here he spent the remainder of his life.
This farm was inherited by his son, Elisha Crane Tibbetts, whose son, Clarence Elden Tibbetts, inherited it from Elisha. Elisha Crane Tibbetts was born January 24, 1812, and died at Tibbetts Farm May 1907. He married Christiana Ulmer of East Corinth, September 4, 1836.
Charles W., Corydon B., Dayton G.
The genealogy from which the preceding information was taken was written by May Tibbetts Jarvis (Mrs. Walter Chester Jarvis) of Indianapolis, Indiana, assisted by Elizabeth Tibbetts. As stated in this records, Tibbetts Farm was inherited by Clarence E. Tibbetts in 1907. After many year of hard work he finished on the mortgage. He gave his entire life to the farm.
In 1884 on the 24th day of September Clarence married Elizabeth Amorette Laird of Exeter. Their honeymoon consisted of a three mile ride from the cousins home where they married over to the Tibbetts Farm. The deed Clarence received from his father, Elisha, contains these words. Provided, nevertheless, that id the said Clarence E. Tibbetts, his heirs, executers of administrators shall suitably support the said Elisha Tibbetts and his wife, and furnish them such clothing, food and support as they have heretofore been accustomed to and furnish for them all necessary and proper medical attendance, medicine and nursing in sickness, with kind and filial treatment; during their natural lives. Then this deed shall be in full force, otherwise it shall be void Elizabeth and Clarence did care for the old folks with kind and filial treatment
Christiana lived with them thirteen years and Elisha, twenty-three years.
Elizabeth was a most charming mistress at the farm which she names Peaceful Valley Farm.
All guests was welcome. Her book of poems entitled Peaceful Valley Verses reveals her love for her home and family.
Two children were born to Clarence and Elizabeth. Celia Florence and Margaret Alice. Celia Florence, born in the front room of the homestead, November 15, 1891, died September 17, 1960, in an adjoining room victim of cancer. This was the place she always knew as home, although her work as a music teacher took her away from the farm until her father's death.
She then assumed the responsibility of the farm and the care of her mother, Elizabeth,. Celia become a famous breeder of pure bred Romney Marsh Sheep. In this she was as successful as she had been in the field of music as a teach, orchestra leader and Public school music supervisor.
Margaret Alice, born December 4, 1896, became a public school teacher. Her work was in Maine schools except for three years in Newton, Massachusetts. Her professional career ended in June, 1962. When she retired from her position as Guidance Counselor at the Lou Buker School in Augusta, Maine. The major part of each summer vacation was spent at Peaceful Valley until 1960. Here she had the freedom of the fields and the joy of being with her loved ones. She also assumed her share of the work and responsibility at the farm.
In November of the year 1961 Margaret sold the beloved homestead to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Coulimore. Margaret was the last Tibbetts to own the gracious rambling home , the rolling hillside, rocky fields and the babbling brook in the valley. She lived in the house as mistress of Peaceful Valley only one week after Celia's death. Here with the companionship of her nurse friend, Nellie Allen. She went from room to room each over flowing with memories and cleared away Tibbetts belongings collected over the years. Then, on a cold November day in 1961 the business of the sale of the farm was completed and with a grateful prayer for having had a home for sixty-four years, yet with tear dimmed eyes because of a closed chapter in the Tibbetts history. Margaret drove hir little grey car out of the yard, down the familiar road and away from her Peaceful Valley."Photograph Details
Subject Place
Village
East ExeterTown
Exeter, Maine