Milton Farmer Louis E. Tibbetts (1903-1991)

By Muriel Bristol | February 9, 2025

Louis Everett Tibbetts was born in Brookfield, NH, October 29, 1903, son of Everett J. and Susie L. (Weeks) Tibbetts. (His birth certificate said October 25, 1903).

Everett J. Tibbetts, a farmer (general farm), aged forty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Susie M. [(Weeks)] Tibbetts, aged forty-four years (b. NH), his son, Louis E. Tibbetts, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and his mother, Eliza A. [(Avery)] Tibbetts, aged seventy-four years (b. NH). Everett J. Tibbetts owned their farm, free-and-clear.

Louis E. Tibbetts married (1st) in Lynn, MA, April 16, 1927, Thelma Josephine Peabody. She was born in Lynn, MA, April 20, 1904, daughter of Ernest W. and Josephine B. (Gilman) Peabody.

LAKE SHORE PARK GIRL BRIDE OF LOUIS TIBBETTS. Among the outstanding social events of the Easter season at Lake Shore Park was the wedding of Miss Thelma Josephine Peabody, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest W. Peabody of 56 Bay State road, and Louis Everett Tibbetts of North Wakefield, N.H., Saturday evening at seven o’clock at the home of the bride’s parents. The ceremony was performed by Ovil B. Cole, pastor of the Lake Shore Park Methodist church. The maid of honor was Miss Gladys Myron of Beach Bluff and Carl Dore of Lynn was the best man. Miss Dorothy and Miss Virginia Hill, nieces of the groom were flower girls and Jacqueline Hill was ring bearer. The bride wore a gown of white satin and her wedding veil was caught with orange blossoms sent from California. She carried a bouquet of Easter lilies. Miss Myron wore a gown of light blue crepe and carried pink carnations. Miss Dorothy Rainsford, organist at the Lake Shore Park church played the wedding march, accompanied on the violin by Mrs. Arthur Weed. They also furnished the music during the reception with the Misses Grace and Blanche Stackhouse who played the drum and banjo. The house was attractively decorated for the occasion, the couple being married under an arch of Easter lilies, fern and pussy willows. Miss Hazel Shepherd of Peabody was in charge of the gift room and Miss Stella Brennan of Chelsea was in charge of the book. Miss Sophie Goodwin served at the punch bowl assisted by Miss Irene Melanson, Mrs. Ethel Hitson, Miss Marlon Wheeler of Manchester, N.H., and Miss Tappen. The bride is a graduate of Lynn English high school class of 1923 and of the Nasson Institute, Springvale, Me. For the past year age has been instructor of sewing at the Industrial School for Girls at Lancaster, Mass. The groom is a graduate of the high school at Newton, N.H. and was a member of the 1929 class at Northeastern University. Following the reception the bridal couple left for an auto trip through Pennsylvania and New York State following which they will make their home at Milton, N.H (Daily Item (Lynn, MA), April 18, 1927).

(The known child of Louis E. and Thelma J. (Peabody) Tibbetts was Janet Tibbetts (b. circa 1935)).

Lake Shore Park. COMMUNITY NEWS. Mr. and Mrs. John Clark of Lake Shore road spent several days this week with Mr. and Mrs. Louis Tibbetts (Thelma Tibbetts) at their new home in Milton, N.H. (Daily Item (Lynn, MA), September 9, 1927). 

Louis E. (Thelma P.) Tibbetts appeared in the Milton directory of 1930, as a farmer, Union R.D.

Louis Tibbetts, a farmer (general farming), aged twenty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census, HIs household included his wife (of three years), Thelma [(Peabody)] Tibbetts, aged twenty-five years (b. MA). Louis Tibbetts rented their house on Plummer’s Ridge, for $15 per month. They had a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Calvin Mason, a farmer (general farming), aged eighty-five years (b. NH), and Walter L. Sanborn, a farmer (general farming), aged fifty-seven years (b. NH).

The Milton Selectmen of 1931 were Fred M. Chamberlin, Charles S. Philbrick, and Louis E. Tibbetts.

The Milton Selectmen of 1932 were Charles S. Philbrick, Louis E. Tibbetts, and Leroy J. Ford. One of the issues with which their board had to deal was the Milton volunteer firemen’s strike of 1932 (See Milton’s Tri-Echo Hand Tub Fire Engine, c1879-1941).

The Milton Selectmen of 1933 were Louis E. Tibbetts, Leroy J. Ford, and Charles S. Philbrick. (This was the year in which national Prohibition was repealed and selectman Charles S. Philbrick (1860-1933) died in office).

The Milton Selectmen of 1934 were Leroy J. Ford, Frank F. Spencer, and Louis E. Tibbetts.

UNION. At the regular meeting of Unity Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, on Tuesday evening, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Worthy matron, Thelma Tibbetts; Worthy patron, Louis Tibbetts; associate matron, Isabelle Fox; associate patron, Arthur Fox; secretary, Ruth Plummer; treasurer, Maud Moulton; conductress, Pauline Moulton; associate conductress, Louise Paul; representative, Louise Paul; associate representative, Ingeborg Townsend. A chicken pie supper was served in the banquet hall at 6:30, with Mr. and Mrs. Howard Beecham, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kennett and others on the committee (Farmington News, December 14, 1934).

The Milton Selectmen of 1935 were Frank F. Spencer, Louis E. Tibbetts, and Leroy J. Ford.

The Milton Selectmen of 1936 were Louis E. Tibbetts, Leroy J. Ford, and Phillip G. Hayes. (This was the year in which long-serving town clerk Henry L. Avery (1864-1936) died in office).

UNION. Mrs. Thelma Tibbetts went to Lynn on Sunday for a week (Farmington News, April 24, 1936).

Louis E. Tibbetts divorced Thelma P. Tibbetts, both of Milton, in Strafford County Court, April 22, 1937. He alleged extreme cruelty. (One had to allege something).

Louis Everett Tibbetts married (2nd) in Farmington, NH, June 12, 1937, Arlene Rose Laskey, he of Milton and she of Milton Mills. Rev. Frank Hooper performed the ceremony. He was a farmer, aged thirty-three years, and she was at home, aged twenty-years. She was born in Milton, September 30, 1916, daughter of Ralph D. and Maud (Philbrick) Laskey.

(The known children of Louis E. and Arlene R. (Laskey) Tibbetts were Karla R. Tibbetts (b. circa 1941), James E. Tibbetts (b. circa 1945), Timothy Alan Tibbetts (b. circa 1957)).

Father Everett J. Tibbetts died of hypertensive heart disease in Wakefield, NH, March 21, 1939, aged sixty-eight years, seven months, and twelve days. He was a married farmer. Francis J.C. Dale, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Agnes H. Plummer, a “farmerette,” aged sixty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included her farm superintendent, Lewis E. Tibbetts, a farmer, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), and her farm superintendent’s wife, Arline R. [(Laskey)] Tibbetts, aged twenty-two years (b. NH). Agnes H. Pummer owned their farm. They had a resided in the “same place,” i.e., Milton, in 1935. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Rex W. Harris, a laborer (fiber mill), aged thirty-one years (b. ME), and Etta A. Plummer, aged sixty years (b. NH).

Ernest W. Peabody, a shoe cutter (shoe shop), aged sixty-four years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included Josephine B. [(Gilman)] Peabody, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), Thelma J. [(Peabody)] Tibbetts, aged thirty-five years (b. MA), and Janet Tibbetts, aged five years (b. NH). Ernest W. Peabody owned their house in the Milton Community, which was valued at $4,500. They had all resided in the “same place,” i.e., Milton, in 1935. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Walter L. Sanborn, a laborer (farm), aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), and John J. Williamson, a painter (house), aged sixty-three years (b. MA).

Lewis Everett Tibbetts of White Mtn. Highway in Milton (Union R.F.D.) registered for the WW II military draft, February 14, 1942. He was thirty-eight years of age (b. Brookfield, NH, October 29, 1903), and was employed by Miss Agnes H. Plummer, Union R.F.D. (He was listed in the 1940 census as being her farm superintendent). His phone number was Milton Mills 15-12, and his next of kin was Arlene L. Tibbetts, Union R.F.D. He stood 6′ 1½” in height, weighed 215 pounds, and had blue eyes, blond hair, and a light complexion.

Louis E. Tibbetts, a proprietor clerk (retail grocery store), aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Arline K. [(Laskey)] Tibbetts, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), his children, Karla R. Tibbetts, aged eight years, and James E. Tibbetts, aged five years, and his mother, Susie L. [(Weeks)] Tibbetts, aged seventy-four years. They resided on Route U.S. [NH] 16 in Union, i.e., Wakefield, NH. (This was still the original NH Route 16, i.e. White Mountain Highway. The Spaulding Turnpike / NH Route 16 of today lay still in the future (See Milton and the Spaulding Turnpike).

Lewis Tibbetts, Elmer Kimball, Marlin Eaton, William Wilson, George Kimball, and Raymond Howe were pallbearers at the funeral of Leon G. Tufts of Middleton, NH, aged seventy-three years, in August 1952 (Farmington News, August 15, 1952).

Mother Susie L. (Weeks) Tibbetts was feted on the occasion of her eightieth birthday (September 27, 1955), at a tea given by her daughter-in-law, Arlene R. (Laskey) Tibbetts.

UNION. Mrs. Susie Tibbetts observed her 80th birth anniversary at a tea given by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Louis Tibbetts, last week (Farmington News, October 13, 1955).

Louis E. Tibbetts served on a Boy Scout troop committee for Troop 198, when it was founded in June 1956.

NEW SCOUT TROOP. Troop 198, Boy Scouts, has been added to the Spaulding-Bay district of the Daniel Webster Council. Lions Club in Wakefield is sponsoring the group. Institutional representative is Fred Guttadauro with a troop committee of Rev. Harry Gasson, Russell Thompson, Irving Tuttle, Jr., Parker Trafton, Rollins Brown, Lloyd Stevens, Louis Tibbetts, William Sparhawk, Stanley Flynn. Woodrow Manning is scoutmaster and Norman Poisson is assistant. Two lapsed units are Pack 53 in Alton and Troop 188, Farmington (Farmington News, June 14, 1956).

The Milton Woman’s Club held its Reciprocity Day and Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration at the Milton Grammar School, May 11, 1964. Arlene R. (Laskey) Tibbetts was a part of a musical trio that supplied musical entertainment for the occasion.

Milton Woman’s Club. … Speaker for the evening will be Mrs. Marion Rudkin of Canterbury, N.H., who is widely known throughout the state for her lively and interesting book review. Music for the evening will be presented by a vocal trio, Mrs. Cecil Brakeville and Mrs. Louis Tibbetts of Union, and Mrs. Richard Higgin of Sanbornville. Mrs. Elmer Kimball, of Union is the piano accompanist. They will sing several songs that were popular 50 years ago, in keeping with the 50-year celebration (Farmington News, May 7, 1964).

Rebekahs Note 92nd Anniversary. FARMINGTON. The 92nd anniversary of the local Rebekah Lodge was observed at the local Legion Hall, Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Opening prayer was given by the Noble Grand, Katherine Boyd, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Mrs. Arlene Tibbetts and Mrs. Barbara Brakeville were soloists, accompanied by Mrs. Mabel Kimball at the piano, all of Union. They sang a medley of old songs. Then Mrs. Leroy Redlon of Rochester presented an illustrated talk on “Historical Ramblings” and refreshments were served. Mrs. Wilbur Jones was honored as a 60-year member and Miss Pearl Giles of Portsmouth as a 50-year member. Each were presented with corsages. Approximately 35 guests were present and included Eileen Carron of Rochester, Vice President of the State Rebekah Assembly; Elsie Bly of Wolfeboro, Dis. Dept. President; Mrs. Maud Rand represented the American Legion Auxiliary; Miss Emma Page, Women’s Relief Corps; Mrs. Olin Tracy, Congregational Church; Roscoe Chamberlain, the local Masonic Order, and Mrs. Chamberlain, the Women’s Fellowship of the Congregational Church (Farmington News, September 28, 1967).

Mother Susie L. (Weeks) Tibbetts died in Wakefield, NH, January 5, 1971.

UNION NEWS. Jimmie and Brenda Tibbetts will fly to Florida to have Thanksgiving dinner with Jimmie’s parents, Louis and Arlene Tibbetts, of Main Street and Sarasota, Florida (Farmington News, December 2, 1971).

UNION. Happy 35th wedding anniversary to Louis and Arlene Tibbetts. The family gave them a party that was a real surprise. Everybody came including all the children and grandchildren. Twenty-six people in all and a real fun party. The Tibbetts have two of Karla’s daughters, Julie and Jennifer, who live in Amherst, N.H., with them for a few days (Farmington News, July 6, 1972).

UNION. Janet Shea got a set of golf clubs for her birthday and plans to take up this game seriously this summer. Golf, or cow-pasture pool, as it was known among us yokels, is becoming so popular that many a good hay field has become a gold course.  Arlene Tibbetts has also decided to get into the act and brother Ken Laskey, who is a top golfer, has promised to help the girls get started. So, if you are abroad on a local golf course this summer and hear “FORE,” better duck because either of these girls should hit a “long ball” (Farmington News, March 29, 1973).

Father-in-law Ralph D. Laskey died in Milton, February 17, 1981.

PLEASANT VALLEY GRANGE. MILTON MILLS – Pleasant Valley Grange No. 272 held their regular meeting March 18, with 16 members present. Worthy Master Betty Lacouture presided. The charter was draped in loving memory of brother Ralph Laskey and sister Ingeborg Townsend. … (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), April 8, 1981).

Mother-in-law Maud (Philbrick) Laskey died in Sanford, ME, April 18, 1988, aged ninety-five years.

OBITUARIES. Maude Laskey. MILTON MILLS, N.H. – Maude P. Laskey, 95, of the Willey Road, oldest resident here, died Friday at Hillcrest Manor in Sanford, Maine, after a period of failing health. She was the widow of Ralph D. Laskey, who died in 1981. They had been married for 67 years before his death. She was born at Milton Mills on Christmas Day, 1892, the daughter of Charles and Jennie Applebee Philbrick, and was a graduate of Nute High School in Milton, class of 1911. Mrs. Laskey was the holder of the Boston Post Cane. She was an accomplished seamstress and pianist, having played for silent movies, and also for dances in the Old Central Hall, formerly located in the center of Milton Mills. She was a 79-year member and past master of the Pleasant Valley Grange, a 50-year member of the Rebekahs, and a member of the Pomona, State and National Grange. Surviving are a son, Kenneth M. Laskey of Union, Maine; two daughters, Mrs. Louis (Arlene) Tibbetts of Union and Mrs. George (Virginia) Mee of Acton, Maine; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Robert Laskey, in 1976. A private graveside service was to be held today in Milton Mills Cemetery. Arrangements were by Peaslee Funeral Home in Union (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), April 18, 1988).

Ex-wife Thelma J. (Peabody) Tibbetts died in North Adams, MA, July 13, 1981.

DEATHS. TIBBETTS – In North Adams, July 13, Thelma (Peabody), age 77 years, of Rochester, N.H. Funeral services in the United Methodist Church, Rochester, N.H., on Friday at 10 a.m. Burial in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, at 1:30 p.m. Calling hours at the church chapel this evening 7-9 Donations may be made to Nasson College Alumni Assn. Scholarship Fund, Springvale, Maine, or the United Methodist Women’s Scholarship Fund, Rochester, N.H. or charity of donor’s choice (Daily Item (Lynn, MA), July 16, 1981).

Louis E. Tibbetts died in Milton, November 9, 1991.

Arlene R. (Laskey) Tibbetts died in Wakefield, NH, January 4, 2015.


References:

Find a Grave. (2013, July 31). Ralph Diah Laskey. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114678187/ralph-diah-laskey

Unknown's avatar

Author: Muriel Bristol

"Lady drinking tea"

Leave a comment