Butte
County
Biographies
WILLIAM E. TEBBE, M. D.
Among
the earliest settlers in Weed was the Tebbe family, of which the late Dr.
William E. Tebbe was the head. He
successfully practiced medicine and surgery here for twenty-five years, during
which period he gained a warm place in the hearts of the people among whom he
ministered. Having located here from
almost before there was a real town, he knew everyone and it is safe to say
that no resident of this community stood higher than he in public esteem. The Doctor was born at Yankee Hill, Butte county, this state, and was a son of Gerhardt and Ellen Tebbe. His father, who was a miner, came across the
plains in an early day and he and his wife died in Butte County. They were the parents of three children,
George, an attorney in Yreka, California; Dr. Frederick, who was for twelve
years associated in the medical practice with his brother William E., in Weed,
and now commands a large practice in Oakland,
California; and William E.
Dr.
Tebbe received his early education in the grade schools of Butte County and
attended the State Teachers’ College at San Jose, after which he taught school
for several years. He then matriculated
in the medical school of Stanford University, from which he was graduated with
the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1899.
He entered upon the practice of his profession at Montague, Siskiyou county, this state, where he remained for five years, and in
1904 he moved to Weed, where he continued in the practice of medicine and
surgery to the time of his death. He was
the first physician here, in fact, at that time this was nothing but a flag
station, but in Dr. Tebbe’s judgment was destined to
become a growing and thriving town, in the later development of which his
judgment was abundantly vindicated. Soon
after locating here Dr. Tebbe established the Weed Hospital, of which he was
the owner to the time of his death. He
built up a large practice in both medicine and surgery and ministered to
patients over a wide radius of surrounding country, until his death, which
occurred August 19, 1929.
In
1905 Dr. Tebbe was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Mugler, a daughter of
Peter and Mary (Wildermuth) Mugler, the latter having been a native of
Illinois, while both were of Alsatian descent.
To them were born seven children, namely: Albert, who resides at Vallejo, California;
Paul, of San Francisco; Peter, of San Rafael, this state; Nicholas, who
operates an ice plant at Mount Shasta; Philip; George, who lives near Oakland,
California; and Mrs. Catherine Tebbe.
Peter Mugler was for some years a brewer at Mount Shasta, but retired
from active business and he and his wife are now deceased. To Dr. and Mrs. Tebbe were both three
children: Stanley, who will graduate
from the University of California, after which he will take the medical course;
Dorothy Catherine, also a student in the University of California, where she is
majoring in botany and science, and also expects to study medicine; and Ruth,
who is a senior in the high school at Weed.
Dr.
Tebbe was a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Ben Ali Temple, A. A. O. N.
M. S., at Sacramento, of Ashland Lodge, B. P. O. E., at Ashland, Oregon; and
the American Legion at Weed, of which he was the first post commander. He was a veteran of the World War, in which
he served two years overseas, being connected with the navy base hospital. Mrs. Tebbe is a member of the Order of the
Eastern Star and the Auxiliary of the American Legion, and takes an active
interest in the civic affairs of the community.
The Doctor was a member of the Siskiyou County Medical Society, the
California State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and was
very highly respected among his professional brethren. Learned and skilled in medicine and surgery,
he was most successful in the treatment of human ailments and is today held in
grateful remembrance by the hundreds who were benefited by his able
ministrations, while throughout the community he is remembered as a man who was
loyal and true in every relation of life and who exemplified the best type of
citizenship.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3, Pages 228-231. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies