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Lebec in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
 

Peter Lebec

 
 
Peter Lebec Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 20, 2006
1. Peter Lebec Marker
Inscription. Although little is known about Peter Lebec, it is believed that he was killed by a grizzly bear, and buried under this tree. His epitaph was originally carved into the tree.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial SitesForts and CastlesSettlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 17, 1837.
 
Location. 34° 52.471′ N, 118° 53.667′ W. Marker is in Lebec, California, in Kern County. Marker can be reached from Lebec Road near Interstate 5. Marker is located on the grounds of Fort Tejon State Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lebec CA 93243, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fort Tejon (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Camel Trail Terminus (about 500 feet away); The Camels of Fort Tejon (about 500 feet away); Peter Lebeck (about 500 feet away); Camel Brigade (about 500 feet away); Don Pedro Fages (approx. 3.2 miles away); Interstate Highway 5 (approx. 3.6 miles away); El Camino Viejo (approx. 4.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lebec.
 
Regarding Peter Lebec. The town of Lebec is named in
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honor of Peter Lebeck or Lebecque, a French trapper.
 
Also see . . .  The Mystery of Peter Lebeck and the X Bear. "Peter Lebeck, the first recorded pioneer of Kern County, was killed by a grizzly bear — we think — on Oct. 17, 1837, at what is now Fort Tejon. (At the time is was just the wilds of the Tehachapi Mountains.) But how do we know this, and who was this Lebeck fellow?
Truth is, we don’t really know who he was, nor even how he spelled his name. It could have been Lebeck, Labeck, Lebecque or Lebec. There has been much historical speculation about Lebeck and what he was doing in this area that led to his violent death in 1837."
(Submitted on August 23, 2016, by James King of San Miguel, California.) 
 
Peter Lebec Marker, Headstone, and Tree image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Craig Baker, February 16, 2022
2. Peter Lebec Marker, Headstone, and Tree
Headstone of Peter Lebeck image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 20, 2006
3. Headstone of Peter Lebeck
“In memory of Peter Lebeck, killed by a X-bear, Oct 17, 1837. Dedicated April 15, 1936 by El Tejon Parlor 239 N.D.G.W. and Bakersfield Parlor 42 N.S.G.W.” (Note the difference in spelling - Lebec on the marker and name of town, and Lebeck on the headstone.)
Panoramic View image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Carey Pearce, August 21, 2016
4. Panoramic View
Marker is located by the fenced oak tree on the right. Fort Tejon buildings on the left.
Lebeck Tree image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 20, 2006
5. Lebeck Tree
Vintage Postcard of the Peter Lebeck Headstone and The Lebeck Oak Tree image. Click for full size.
Photo Color by Merle Porter, Published by Royal Pictures, Colton Ca.
6. Vintage Postcard of the Peter Lebeck Headstone and The Lebeck Oak Tree
Description on Postcard:
This marker is in memory of Peter Lebeck who was killed here by a Grizzly Bear on Oct. 17, 1837. Fort Tejon was established here by Lt. Col. E.F. Beale on Aug. 10, 1854 and lasted for 10 years. There were two events that took place here, the first a strange procession of an Army camel train that wound onto the clearing of the fort. Another event was the arrival of the first stage coach of the Butterfield Overland Mail on its way to San Francisco. The fort has been rebuilt and the bones of Lebecque, young voyageur of the Hudson Bay Company, was reburied near the spot where he died. M.P.
Peter Lebeck Tree Bark image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Denise Boose, March 14, 2010
7. Peter Lebeck Tree Bark
In 1889, lettering, in reverse, on the inside of the bark of the Lebeck Oak was discovered by a lady of the Foxtail Rangers. After the bark was stripped from the tree the entire inscription was found. Lebeck Oak inscription loaned by the Kern County Museum.
Peter Lebeck Tree Bark image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Denise Boose, March 14, 2010
8. Peter Lebeck Tree Bark
Display in Visitor Center image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Craig Baker, February 16, 2022
9. Display in Visitor Center
“Peter Lebec, killed by a X-bear, Oct 17, 1837.” (X-bear is short for Grizzly Bear).
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 6,490 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos:   1. submitted on September 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.   2. submitted on February 17, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.   3. submitted on September 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.   4. submitted on June 17, 2018, by James King of San Miguel, California.   5, 6. submitted on September 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.   7, 8. submitted on May 22, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California.   9. submitted on February 17, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 18, 2024