The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          Eben. M . Tibbetts                                           

Title:               Papers

Dates:             1865-1889

Call No.:         Col. 42

Acc. No.:         85x87

Quantity:        7 boxes

Location:        15 B 1-2

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Eben[ezer] M. Tibbetts (also spelled Tebbetts) was a furniture manufacturer and dealer in Dexter, Maine, ca. 1865-1888.  He operated a shop in partnership with John Pennington under the name Pennington & Tibbetts up to about 1873.  After that, he worked under his own name.  Tibbetts also worked as an undertaker.  Furthermore, he seems to have been a local agent for the Eastern Express Company and in 1885-1886, he was one of Dexter's selectmen (as he may have been before and after this time, but this collection only documents those years mentioned).

           

Billheads in the collection from the years of his partnership with Pennington list their areas of interest. They proclaim themselves to be "manufacturers of and dealers in furniture of all descriptions, looking glasses, spring beds, mattresses, ready-made coffins, &c." (1868).  A few years later, the heading reads "manufacturers of and dealers in furniture, feathers, looking glasses, carpetings, spring beds, mattresses, ready-made coffins, caskets, &c." (1872).

 

When Tibbetts ventured out on his own (this collection does not indicate why the partnership dissolved), his billheads read "manufacturer and dealer in furniture, feathers, looking glasses, oil cloths, spring beds, mattresses, ready-made coffins, caskets, children's carriages, &c." (1874).  An 1878 billhead adds “agent for National Wire Mattress.”  From 1880-1886, Tibbetts' billheads read “manufacturer of and dealer in furniture, caskets, robes.”

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection, which documents this relatively stable business in some detail, consists almost exclusively of receipts and bills for items purchased by Tibbetts or by the partnership of Pennington & Tibbetts.  A few stray pieces of correspondence are also included as is an indenture leasing a barn to Pennington & Tibbetts; the Report of the Trustees of the Town Library, 1886; other papers reflecting town business, 1885-1886; a printed booklet of “Instructions for Using the Oliver No. 9 Typewriter”; a small number of telegrams; and attendance rosters for the Methodist Sunday School of which Tibbetts was apparently superintendent, 1877-1881.

           

These papers give detailed documentation of the breadth of furnishing types and styles available in central Maine during the third quarter of the 19th century.  A wide variety of items came to Dexter from suppliers all over New England, as well as from New York City.  With freight receipts in the collection, one might develop a detailed picture of trade patterns, supply routes, interstate commerce, and outside influences on style and taste in rural Maine.  Receipts from Tibbetts' undertaking business may reveal trends in mourning practice, as well as establish a variant of the known cabinetmaker-undertaker pattern: the furniture dealer-undertaker.

 

Included in the collection are nine photocopies of illustrated billheads, the originals of which were removed from this collection and sold to Maine Architectural Preservation Commission.

           

 

ORGANIZATION

           

Most of the receipts are arranged alphabetically by firm name and are in Boxes 1-6.  The firms are listed for each box, and the list includes a note about the goods purchased from each firm. 

 

The rest of Box 6 consists of miscellaneous files.  Box 7 contains unsorted transportation receipts and Sunday School roll books.

 

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from W. M. Schwind, Jr., of Yarmouth, Maine.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Pennington, John.

 

Topics:

            Pennington & Tibbets.

            Eastern Express Company.

            Furniture industry and trade - Maine - Dexter.

            Furniture industry and trade - New England.

            Sunday schools - Records - Maine - Dexter.

            Undertakers and undertaking - Maine - Dexter.

            Public libraries - Maine - Dexter.

            Dexter (Me.) - History.

            Receipts.

            Bills (financial).

            Letters.

            Telegrams.

            Reports.

            Rolls.

            Instructions.

            Retailers.

            Manufacturers.

           

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 15 B 1-2

 

The list of receipts includes the firm name, the products purchased, the location (city only), and the file number.

 

 

Box 1: Receipts: Abbot-- Chase. (files A-1 to C-1)

 

Abbott, Amos                          cassimeres, flannels       Dexter              A-1 

Abbott, J. & G.A.                    lumber                          Dexter              A-2 

Abbott, M.L.                            milk                              Dexter              A-2 

Abbott, W.H.                           flour, grain                    Dexter              A-2

Ambrose, E.F.                          [none listed]                  Revere, Malden            A-2 

Amer. Ottoman & Hassock      ottomans, hassocks       New York        A-2 

American Shade Roller shades                          Boston             A-3

Ames, Chase & Bates              grocers                         Portland           A-4

Arnold, J.F.                              furniture                        Foxcroft, ME   A-4 

Arthur & Bonnell                      account books              New York        A-4

Augusta Furniture Mfg. tables                           Augusta            A-5 

Ayer, E.A.                                dry goods                     Dexter              A-6

Ayer, H.A.                               hardware                      Dexter              A-7

[see also Johnson & Ayer]

 

Babb & Cowee                        tables                           Portland           B-1

Bachelder, J.                            chairs                           West Waterville, ME                B-1

Bailey, Elmer D.                       ash chamber sets          Foxcroft, ME   B-2

[Bailey, E.W.  & F.E.]

Bailey, F.O.                              auctioneers                   Portland           B-3

Bailey, James                            carriage trimmings         Portland           B-3

Bardwell, Anderson & Co.       tables                           Boston             B-4

Barrows, J.H.                           Shaker chairs                W. Paris, ME   B-5

[Barrows &  Brown]

Bartlett & Longfellow               boots                            Harmony          B-6

Batchelor, E.A.                         fancy groceries             Dover, ME       B-6

Bay State Casket                      caskets                         Boston             B-6

Beal & Hooper                         furniture                        Boston             B-6

Beals, Thomas P.                      mattresses, beds           Portland           B-7

Bent, G.W.                               beds                             Boston             B-8

Bigelow, J.F.                            livery stable                  Dexter              B-8

Bodwell & Wilson                    upholsterers                  Augusta            B-8     

Boston Chair Co.                     chairs                           Boston             B-8

Boyd, James                             furniture                        Boston             B-8

Bradbury, James Otis               attorney                        Hartland           B-8

Bragg, Conant & Co.               looking glasses              Boston             B-9

Bragg, H.H.                              looking glasses              Boston             B-10

Bragg, N.H., & Sons                coal                              Bangor             B-8

Braman, Shaw & Co.               furniture                        Boston             B-11

Bray, Benjamin            furniture designer          Boston             B-12

Brennan & Hooper                   furniture                        Portland           B-12

Bridgham & Son                       drugs                            Dexter              B-12

Bridgman & Peabody               wooden ware               Boston             B-13

Brown, John H.                        house painter                Dexter              B-14

Brown, Luke & F.H.                bedsteads                     N.Bridgton       B-15

Bucknam & Colley                   lounge chairs                 Portland           B-16

Burgess, Fobes & Co.              drugs, paints                 Portland           B-17

Butler & Haynes                       hardware                      Bangor             B-18

 

Cain, M.W.                              furniture                        Boston             C-1

Callender, Benjamin                  hardware                      Boston             C-1 

Carr, W.H.                               hardware                      Dexter              C-1

Chase [& Bragg]                      clothing                         Bangor             C-1

Chase, E.H.                              groceries                      Dexter?            C-1

 

 

Box 2: Receipts: Chipman -- Eastern State Publishing Co. (files C-2 to E-2)

 

Chipman, George W.                carpets                         Boston             C-2

Cilley, J.A.                               pine furniture                 Fairfield            C-3

Clarke, Bros.                            fancy cabinetware         New York        C-4

Clayton, William Z.                   coffins                          Bangor             C-4

Cochran, McLean                    mirror frames                Boston             C-4

Codman, C.H.                          photographic materials  Boston             C-4

Colburn, G.W.                         furniture                        Gardiner, ME   C-4

[Colburn & Weymouth]

Colley, James A.                      easy chairs                    Portland           C-5

[Deane & Colley]

Conant, A.                               looking glasses              Boston             C-6

Conner, George T.                   furniture                        Boston             C-6

Copeland, O.                           milk                              Dexter              C-6

Corey, Walter                          furniture                        Portland           C-7

Covel, Samuel             furniture                        Dexter              C-8

Crockett, Dana            stoves, tinware              Monson            C-8

Crockett, Daniel          stoves, tinware              Dexter              C-8

Cummings, T. & J.B.                lumber                          Portland           C-8

Curtis & Billings            hardware                      Dexter              C-8

Cushing & Bliss           carriage goods              Boston             C-9

Cushman Bros.                         window shades             Boston             C-10

Cutler, A.L.                              paints                           Boston             C-11

 

Daniels & Co.             furniture                        Boston             D-1

Daniels, Badger           furniture                        Boston             D-2

Deane & Colley                        furniture                        Portland           D-2

Deane Bros. & Sanborn           furniture                        Portland           D-2

Derby, Philander & Co.            chairs                           Boston             D-2

Derry, H.F.                              fabrics                          Dexter?            D-3

Dexter Clothing           clothing                         Dexter              D-3

Dexter Electric Light    electric lights                 Dexter              D-4

Dexter Gazette            newspaper & printing    Dexter              D-5

Dole Bros.                                furniture                        Bangor             D-6

Dorntee Casket                        funeral supplies Boston             D-7

Dow, William H.                       pine furniture stock       Waterville         D-8

Drew, Jackson & Co.               tables                           Boston             D-9

Dunning, R.B.               agricultural implements  Bangor             D-9

Durgin & Fossett                      blacksmith                    Dexter              D-9

Dustin, N.                                 hardware                      Dexter              D-10

Dutton, Andrew                        upholstered goods        Boston             D-11

 

East India Bedding                    bedding                        Boston             E-1

Eastern State Pub./Steam Print printing             Dexter              E-2

 

 

Box 3: Receipts. Eaton—I. (files E-3 to I-1)

 

Eaton, W.D.                             corn, flour                     Dexter              E-3

[Eaton & Sawyer]

Eldridge Bros.                          sashes & doors             Dexter              E-4

Ellingwood, O.P.[& G.E.]         basket chairs                W. Paris           E-5

Ellis & Milner                           painted furniture            Boston             E-5

Emery, S.B.                              mill remnants                 Sanford            E-6

Emery, Waterhouse & Co.       hardware                      Portland           E-7

Estey Organ                             organs                          Boston             E-8

 

Fairfield Furniture         pine furniture                 Fairfield            F-1

Fassett, A.G.                            photographer                Dexter              F-2

Fawsett, C.A.                           caskets                         Garland            F-3

Fifield, E.B.                              painting                         Dexter              F-3

Flanders, E.A.                          lumber                          Dexter              F-3

Flanders, Reuben                      drawer bottoms            Dexter?            F-3

Fletcher, Webster                     furniture                        Nashua             F-3

Flynt & Macomber                   groceries                      Dexter              F-4

Fogg, F.J.                                 groceries                      Dexter              F-4

Fogler, P.M.                             beds, tables                  W. Gardiner     F-4

Folsom, J.B.                             floor cloths                   Dover, NH       F-4

Fort Wayne Organ                   organs                          Ft. Wayne        F-5

Foss, Cyrus                              tinware                         Dexter              F-5

[Foss & Crockett]

Foster, O.S.                             beds                             Utica                F-5

French, Benj. & Co.                 photographic goods      Boston             F-5

Fuller, Aug. P.             varnishes                      Portland           F-5

 

Gallison & Robbins                   advertising                    Dexter              G-1

Gerrish & O'Brien                    parlor suits                    Boston             G-1

Gilman, Townsend &   Co.       furniture                        Bangor             G-1

[J.T. Gilman & W.S. Townsend]

Glidden & Joy                          varnishes                      Boston             G-1

Glover & Willcomb                  curled hair                    Boston             G-2

Goff, Geo. W.                          coal                              Dexter              G-3

Golder & Goodwin                   excelsior                       Belgrade Mills, ME       G-3

[Golder & Co.]                                              

Gould & Co.                            paints                           Boston             G-4

Gould, J.H.                               meat                             Dexter              G-4

Graves, Samuel & Son             sofas, lounge chairs       Boston             G-5

Gridley Bros.                            chairs                           Boston             G-5

 

Haines & Smith                        hardware                      Portland           H-1

Hall, Frank A.                          bedding                        New York        H-1

Hapgood, E.                wool mattresses            Lowell              H-1

Harris, Charles P.                     cane chairs                   Rutland             H-1

Harris, Chipman & Co.             carpets                         Boston             H-1

Haskell & Oak                         caskets                         Garland            H-2

Haskell, A.B.               funeral  goods               Bangor             H-3

Herring, M.F.                           advertising                    Dexter              H-3

Heywood Bros.                        furniture                        Boston             H-4

Heywood, Walter                     chairs                           Boston             H-5

Hill, N.T.                                  extension tables, small stands    Portland           H-6

Hills, Turner & Co.                   plate glass                     Boston             H-7

Hincks & Nealley                     chandlery                      Bangor             H-8

Holman, John              mattresses/hair              Boston             H-8

Holmes, F.M.                           black walnut furniture    Boston             H-8

Homan, C.N.                           music stools                  Boston             H-8

Hooper, J.H.                            upholsterer                   Portland           H-9

Howes, Hilton & Harris            flour                             Portland           H-10

Hunt Bros.                                Estey organs                 Boston             H-10

Hunt, Abel                                coffins                          Bangor             H-11

 

Ireland, S.S.                             fancy goods                  Dexter              I-1

 

 

Box 4: Receipts. Jenkins & Hill -- Miller Bros. & Co. (files J-1 to M-8b)

 

Jenkins & Hill               groceries, crockery       Dexter              J-1

Jenkins Bros.                            caskets                         Boston             J-1

Johns, H.W.                             asbestos                       New York        J-2

Johnson & Ayer                       hardware                      Dexter              J-2      

[see also Ayer, H.A.]

Johnson & Shaw                      manuf. chemists            Boston             J-2

Johnson, Theo.                         carver, cabinetmaker    Portland           J-2

Jones & Brewster                     meat                             Dexter              J-3

Jordan Marsh                           retail                             Boston             J-3

           

Keene Chair Co.                      chairs                           Keene              K-1

Kennebec Furniture                  chamber sets                Boston             K-1

Kilborn, W.T.              carpets, mattresses       Portland           K-2

King, E. & F.                           paints                           Boston             K-3

Knight, A.H.                             boots, rubber                Dexter              K-3

Knowlton, A.  & H.C.              chairs                           Gardner, MA   K-4

 

Ladd, Hermon                          spring beds                   Boston             L-1

Lancaster, S.R.            cane seat chairs            New Sharon     L-2

Leighton & Haines                    groceries, crockery       Dexter              L-3

Leighton, J.W.             groceries                      Dexter              L-3

Lockey, J.P.                             piano cases, stools        Leominster       L-3

Lockhardt, William L.               caskets, undertaking supplies    E. Cambridge   L-4

Lord, Enoch                             upholstered furniture     Portland           L-5

Lowell, P.L.                             clothing                         Dexter              L-6

Lyman, C.W.                           furniture                        Boston             L-7

 

Mahoney, E.H.                         patent chairs                 Boston             M-1

Maine Manufacturing Co.         furniture                        Fairfield            M-1

Manning, Glover & Co.            curled hair                    New York       M-2

Marrett, Bailey & Co.               carpets                         Portland           M-3

May, Nash & Winslow             paints                           Boston             M-3

Mayall, A.P.                             spring beds                   Portland           M-3

Mayer & Loewenstein              varnishes                      New York        M-4

McArthur & Brown                  parlor suits                    Boston             M-4

McCrillis & Kendall                  feathers                        Boston             M-4

McCrillis, C.P.                         flour                             Dexter              M-5

McCully, N.                             furniture                        Boston             M-5

McLean R. & Co.                    looking glasses              Boston             M-5

McLean, Dickerman & Co.      cane seat chairs            Boston             M-5

Merrill, G.W.                            furniture, upholstery      Bangor             M-6

Messer, George E.                   walnut/holly fancy work            Boston             M-7

Meyer, Charles            looking glasses              Boston             M-7

Miller Bros.                              caskets                         Boston             M-8

[Miller & Lent]

 

 

Box 5: Receipts. Miller Bros. & Lent -- Stein Manufacturing Co. (files M-9 to S-4)

 

Miller Bros. & Lent                  undertakers hardware   Boston             M-9

            Minett & Co.                            varnishes                      New York        M-10

            Mores & Bridges                      marble, granite              Dexter              M-10

            Morse, L. & Sons                    patent furniture              Athol, MA        M-10

            Morton, W.E.              florist                            Portland           M-10

Muzzy Iron                                    iron                                  Bangor              M-10

 

Nashua Novelty                        bird cages                     Nashua             N-1

National Wire Mattress             wire mattreses              New Britain      N-2

Neagle, William            chairs                           Boston             N-3

New England Methodist Depository                  books               Boston             N-3

New Haven Folding Chair        chairs                           New Haven      N-3

New York Dollar Bracket Co.  fancy cabinet ware        New York        N-3

[see Clarke Bros.]

Newell, Charles           feathers, hair                 Chelsea            N-4

Newell, Hervey                        feathers, hair                 Chelsea            N-5

Newman, J. & Sons                 florists                          Boston             N-6

Novelty Rattan             rattan                            Boston             N-7

Noyes, W.B.                            dictionary/book holders            Chicago            N-8

Nutting, W.B.                           daisy pillow sham, furniture       Boston             N-8

 

Odiorne, Ryder & Co.              varnish                          Boston             O-1

Orpin Bros. & Pond                 furniture                        Boston             O-2

Osgood, Henry B.                    upholstery goods          Boston             O-3

 

Page & Coffin             saddlery                       Boston             P-1

Page, Louis J.                           photographer                Dexter              P-2

Page, Wilder & Co.                  floor oil cloths               Hallowell          P-3

Paris Mfg. Co.              sleds                             S. Paris, ME     P-3

[Paris Hill Mfg. Co.]

Patten & Wheelden                  stools                           Bangor             P-3

Peabody & Whitney                 wooden ware               Boston             P-4

Peabody, J. & Co.                   robes, habits, hardware Manchester      P-5

Pease, Charles F.                     shades                          Boston             P-5

Peirce, E.F.                              carpets, furniture           Boston             P-6

Pendleton, A.S.                        excelsior                       Unity,  ME       P-7

Pennington & Tibbetts              furniture                        Dexter              P-7

Perkins, John W. & Co.           drugs                            Portland           P-7

Perkins, N.M. & Co.                hardware                      Portland           P-7

Peters & Jones                         wooden and willow ware          Boston P-7

Pettingill & Pear            beds, cots, chairs          Boston             P-8

Pitkin Bros.                              upholstered goods, hardware, furniture  Boston P-9

Pray, John H., Sons & Co.       oil                                 Boston             P-10

Prescott, C.C.                          furniture                        Bangor             P-10

Putnam, John               spring beds                   Portland           P-10

 

Quinn Bros.                              furniture carvers            Boston             Q-1

[Quinn, John E. & Co.]

 

Rice & Miller                hardware                      Bangor             R-1

Richardson, Charles                  paints                           Boston             R-1

Roak, George M.                     florist                            Auburn, ME     R-1

Robbins & Herring                   plain & fancy job printers          Dexter  R-1

Roberts, A.H.                           curtains                         Bangor             R-1

Roberts, N.F.                           boots, shoes                 Dexter              R-2

Rollins, E.L. & F.S.                  window shades             Boston             R-3

 

Salem Spring Bed                     spring beds                   Salem               S-1

Sammet’s Sons, G.A.               mattresses                    Boston             S-1

Schloss, E.                               furniture                        New York        S-1

Sewall, A. P.                            spring beds                   Boston             S-1

Shaw & Applin             furniture                        Boston             S-2

Shorey Spring Bed                   spring beds                   Lowell              S-3     

Small, S.C.                               church & lodge furniture            Boston             S-3

Smith, B.F.                               Harwood chair seat      Boston             S-3

Smith, Gage & Co.                   groceries                      Portland           S-3

Smith, Tibbetts & Co.               hardware                      Portland           S-3

Sowle & Ward             mirrors                         Boston             S-3

            [cf. Ward, Joseph & Co.]

Sowle, John & Co.                   looking glasses  Boston             S-3

Stein Mfg. Co.                          funeral supplies Boston             S-4

 

Box 6: Receipts and miscellaneous files

 

Receipts. Strong Manufacturing Co. -- Zion's Advocate (files S-5 to Z-1):

               

Strong Mfg. Co.           undertakers’ supplies                Boston             S-4

Symonds, S.A.             harnesses                                  Dexter              S-6

 

Taylor, H.E.                 shrouds                                    New York        T-1

Tebbets & Clayton       coffins                                      Bangor             T-2

Tebbets, R.G.               furniture, feathers                      Bangor             T-1

Tibbetts, E.M. furniture                                    Dexter              T-3

Tucker Mfg.                 beds                                         Boston             T-4

Turner, G.W., & Ross firearms                        Boston             T-4

 

U.S. Spring Bed Company       beds                             Springfield        U-1

 

Vaill, Edward W.          folding chairs                            Worcester        V-1

Vermont Novelty          carriages                                   Springfield        V-1

 

Wadsworth Bros. & Howland              paints, supplies Boston W-1

            Wadsworth, George P. chairs                           Boston             W-2

Wakefield Rattan Co.                rattan                            Boston              W-3

Wakefield, G. & Co.                  lumber                          Boston              W-4

Ward, Joseph & Co.                  mirrors                          Boston              W-4

[cf. Sowle & Ward]

Watertown Spring Wagon          wagons                         Watertown, NY                        W-5

Watson & Howard                    bedding                         Lewiston           W-5

West Gardiner Furniture            furniture                        Augusta            W-6

White, R.T.                               cot bed                         Boston              W-6

Whitney, F.A.                           carriages                       Leominster        W-7

Whittemore & Arnold                furniture                        Foxcroft, ME    W-7

Wilder, Amos & Co.                  floor oil cloths                Hallowell, ME   W-7

Wingate, Simmons & Co.           carriages, sleighs           Union, ME        W-9

Winslow, A.C.                          blacksmithing                Dexter?                        W-9

Winslow, G.A.                          blacksmithing                Dexter?                        W-9

Winslow, S.A.                           painting, labor                Dexter?                        W-9

Witherell, J.F.                            printer, advertising         Dexter              W-10

Witherill, E.B.                           easy chairs                    Boston              W-10

Womans Rights Clothes Drier    clothes dryer                 Augusta            W-11

Woodbury & Latham                 groceries                       Portland            W-11

Woven Wire Mattress               mattresses                    Hartford           W-12

 

Zion’s Advocate                        subscription                   Dexter              Z-1

 

Unsorted receipts (dates / names unclear).

Barn rental, Pennington & Tibbetts.

Eastern Express Company.

Farm business.

Freight and transportation receipts, 1878-1886.

Methodist Church.

Post Office box rental receipts, 1870-1889.

Printing and advertising.

Tax matters.

Town business, ca. 1885-1886 (including library reports; Tibbetts was a selectman at this time)

Typewriter instructions

Undertaking business

 

 

Box 7:

 

Unsorted transportation receipts (for steamers and railroads, particularly the Maine Central Railroad), ca. 1876-1887.

Twenty roll books for the Methodist Sunday School, 1877-1882 (8 of the books were published as "A Roll Book for Sunday-School Superintendents, Class-Leaders, and Others." (New York: Nelson & Phillips, [1850].); while the other 12 were published as "The Sunday-School Teacher's Improved Class-Book." (New York: Phillips & Hunt, n.d.).)