The Rangeley region is rich in history. It is a proud history that is full of many long standing “Rangeley” family names. Many still remain here in this special community of “Lakers”. Families that helped settle the region and some go back 200 years and we’ll before Squire Rangeley himself came here. Names like Hoar, Haley, Grant, and Tibbetts to name a few.
Sadly, Rangeley recently said farewell to a special man with deep Rangeley roots…David Tibbetts. Dave is well known for his beautiful watercolors and writings that have captured the beauty and mystique of the region. He is also well known for his charm, humor and kindness to others. I don’t believe he ever once said “no” when asked to donate a print or painting to a Rangeley non-profit. So many folks here were so fortunate to call him friend. He was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed. 
Dave was extremely proud, and deservedly so, for the part his ancestors played in pioneering the region as woodsmen and guides. Below is an article that shares the account of the 60th wedding anniversary of Lucinda (Hoar) and Timothy Tibbetts here in Rangeley. Timothy Tibbetts first came here in 1835, “long before the woods knew the sound of the woodsman’s axe”. Lucinda had even deeper roots being the daughter of Luther and Eunice (Lakeman) Hoar, THE FIRST family to settle here. Lucinda was born on July 10, 1819 and was the first non-Native American born in Rangeley. Her father, Luther, was 49 and her mother, Eunice Lakeham, was 43, which is amazing given the mortality and poor general health and longevity rate of the time period! They were having babies when most were at the end of their lifespan!
Their daughter, Lucinda, and Timothy H Tibbetts were married in 1837 and were the parents of at least 8 sons and 5 daughters! Rangeley’s first “Baby Boom”. When you live on a farm, you have to have help, I suppose.
Godspeed to Dave, the Tibbetts Family.

(From the front page of the March 18, 1897 edition of the RANGELEY LAKES newspaper)

A GLORIOUS TIME
Sixtieth Anniversary of the Marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Tibbetts. 

Friday, the 12th the relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Tibbetts gathered at their farm home to do them honor in the way of extending congratulations to the aged couple. About 50 were present, both old age and youth being represented. The visitors began to arrive in the early part of the forenoon and by 10 o’clock nearly everybody had come and the old people were round with smiles on their faces to see friends and relatives together again. Sixty years ago, the 12th day of last April Timothy A. Tibbetts and Lucinda Hoar stood before the marriage altar, 24 persons being witnesses to their marriage vows. Out of that number, but one is alive and that is Aunt Rhoda Hoar, who lives in this place. Mrs.Tibbetts was the first white child born in Rangeley at a place about four miles from where the aged couple now reside, on the 10th day of July, 1819 and consequently will be 77 years of age on the 10th of next month. She is a remarkably smart lady for her age and enjoyed the festivities of the occasion to a marked degree. Mr. Tibbetts was born in Biddeford Dec. 12, 1812. He came to Rangeley, then nothing but a virgin forest, in 1835. The noise of the woodman’s axe had not been heard, save in the making of a path by marking the trees. Mr. Tibbetts immediately set to work clearing land and in the course of a short time had gone over quite a piece of territory. Ten children have been born to them, seven of whom are living and all but one, Mrs.Julia McKechnie of Fairfield, being present at the anniversary. Mrs. Tibbett’s father was Luther Hoar, one of the first pioneers who dared to come to this place at that time.
At the time Mr. Tibbetts came there was, on the site of the store of Furbish, Butler & Oakes and the site where the Rangeley Lake House formerly stood a small house occupied by two Indian families. At the time of the birth of Mrs. Tibbetts only two white families inhabited Rangeley. Immediately after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts they went on the farm that they now occupy. For 60 years they have seen Rangeley grow, from wood-covered land to the prosperous village that it now is. Men, as Mr. Tibbetts and the like, made improvements a necessity and from the path to Rangeley, marked by spotted trees, the whistle of the engine is heard echoing through the forests yet unmolested by the chopper’s axe. At about the time of the marriage of Mr. Tibbetts no grain of any kind could be obtained, this side of Strong. People here did not eat bread, one thing probably that made them go without was the scarcity of the “golden grain.” Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts have always been hard working people, the former working in the woods and for 13 springs on the drive (floating logs on waterways to the mills downstream). He at one time worked for a man for three weeks and lived on nothing but milk and potatoes. Quite a change from the living of today. This aged couple has 49 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. At 11.30 o’clock a picnic dinner was served, after which all went out in the yard and had a group picture. Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts also had a photograph taken alone. Not every couple can say this on their 60th wedding anniversary. On account of bad travelling, it was decided to hold the anniversary on the 12 of June instead of the 12th of April and everybody was well paid for the time spent with these old people. During the day there was singing which was enjoyed by all. The health of both is quite good at the present time. At an early hour in the afternoon the party disbanded, wishing the couple a quiet and peaceful life in their declining years. Few couples it is who have the privilege of enjoying the 60th wedding anniversary in each other’s company. Mr. Tibbetts has one brother who, if living, is about 100 years old.

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