While mayor, a series of murders, horse thievery, and lawlessness caused locals to organize The Vigilantes to keep the peace.

When Tebbetts' horse was stolen, the thieves were caught, paraded around town with nooses around their necks, and lynched.

During an Indian war at Warner Springs in the early 1850s, Tebbetts served as ensign with Fitzgerald's Volunteers.

The uprising was caused by an 1844 Mexican land grant that included Cupa, the village of the Cupeňo people, and surrounding homelands.

George Derby immortalized them in his satirical book Phoenixiana referring to Tebbetts and Hoof as "Two bitts" (because of his small size) and "Cloven Hooff".

Tebbetts married twice, with four children (Horace, Stella, John, and Maria Virginia De Los Reyes) from his first marriage with Delorez Rodríguez (Maria Delos Reyes Osuna Y Rodriguez), daughter of Juan Rodríguez, and three children from his second marriage to Mary Jones.