From Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York, by John H. Selkreg, 1894
"TIBBETTS, Frank E., was born in Danby, November 9, 1846. He was educated in the common schools and Ithaca Academy, and in 1868 entered Cornell University, from which, in the fall of 1871, he entered the office of Judge Van VALKERNBURG, and after the death of the judge studied with Judge Marcus LYON. He was admitted to the bar in 1874, and immediately began a lucrative practice in Ithaca, which he has ever since held. He is a Republican, and in 1893 was as elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention to be held in 1894, chairman of the Republican City Committee for several years, and secretary of the County Committee for a number of years. While Mr. TIBBETTS is active in politics, and a believer in party organizations, he has always been an advocate of the highest and purest political methods. He is the only railroad lawyer of the city, and is the attorney for the Lehigh Valley and E. C. & N. railroads since 1878, and a director of the C. & N. Railroad. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted at the age of sixteen in Company I, 179th Regiment, N.Y.S. Volunteer Infantry, and served until July 4, 1865. He is past commander of Sidney Post, G.A.R., and has filled all the chairs of the order; he is one of its charter members. He married in 1876 Mary A., daughter of G. A. TODD, of Danby, and they have one son, Harland B."