Tewksbury

From its humble beginnings, the Township of San Pablo was a melting pot of immigrants and a transportation hub. Despite the varied origins of its settlers, patriotism was fairly strong in San Pablo residents as the country plunged into civil war. The Contra Costa Guard was organized in San Pablo for defense of the Union, and it performed as a cavalry led by Capt. Jacob Tewksbury at the 1865 county fair.

Tewksbury, a retired physician and surgeon, who had been living in Buenos Aires, South America, was reportedly brought to San Pablo in 1851 by Joaquín Castro to treat his mother, Doña Gabriela Castro, who was in declining health and nearing the end of an eventful life. Tewksbury practiced briefly in San Francisco where he spent most of his time before moving to the "Contra Costa" to get in on the land grab. He bought many acres of land in Rancho San Pablo along and between San Pablo and Wildcat Creeks and a large portion of what is now Point Richmond. It is reported "He gave up the practice of medicine in favor of cattle raising."

He built a large home close to Wildcat Creek beneath a huge pepper tree, then a local landmark near the present intersection of today's San Pablo Avenue and San Pablo Dam Road, and it's speculated he lived there the last two decades of his life, dying in 1877. However, records indicate he died at his Washington Avenue residence in San Francisco.

Unfortunately, in San Pablo, like many communities, most historic old homes have disintegrated or been demolished, like that of the Tewksburys.

Resources:

http://www.bradleyfoundation.org/genealogies/Roxbury/tobg09.htm 

Contra Costa Guard [Civil War Unit 1863-1866]

http://www.militarymuseum.org/Contra%20Costa%20Guard.pdf