John Coumbe, a native of England, was the first Euro-American settler in Richland County. After first settling with his family in Ohio, Coumbe arrived in 1838 and built a small, log cabin. Coumbe named his farm "Tippesaukee" after the Ho-Chunk village he found on the site. Having established himself as a successful farmer, in 1849 Coumbe married Sarah Ann Palmer.

In 1863 Coumbe constructed the present gabled-ell form farmhouse. The wood frame house rests on a foundation built of stones collected in the nearby fields. The narrow clapboard siding was sawn at a nearby mill from basswood trees that grew on the farm. The interior is finished with white ash floorboards and black walnut trim and doors.

With minor exceptions, the exceptionally intact interior retains much of the original floorplan and finishes. Wallpaper, drapery and carpeting dating to the 1880s adorn the interior.

Also located on the property are a three-seat privy and smokehouse, dating to 1863, an 1861 timber-framed barn, and an early corncrib. Other buildings on the property are of mid-twentieth century construction and reflect the farmstead's continued use.

Coumbe died in 1882. His wife, Sarah, and children continued running of the farm. It remains in the Coumbe family to this day.

The farm is private property and is not open to the public. Please respect the privacy of the owners.