Dr. Joseph T. Breneman

Doctor Joseph T. Breneman

Dr. Joseph T. Breneman was born in Hancock County, Ohio on January 23, 1849 and had practiced in Kansas and in Oakland, California.He finally located in Martinez in 1892 to practice as a physician and surgeon and established a large practice and also served as the county's first health officer.In 1902, Dr. Breneman was appointed President of the County Medical Society.He also started a private hospital in Martinez in the year 1908.

He was married to Fannie Humphrey in 1883 and they had the following children: Fay, Hazel, George, Eula, Flint and Frances.

Then Dr. Breneman left Martinez and moved into Rust, California in the year 1911 and became the village's first doctor.

The above notes were taken from the History of Contra Costa County, book of 1917.

Dr. Breneman and family lived on the west side of San Pablo Avenue between Central and Avila Street and was the local doctor a number of years.A number of old timers still living in what is now El Cerrito were delivered into this world by Dr. Breneman.One could often see the doctor in his Model T enclosed two-seater Ford car coming up the muddy dirt streets to make his house calls.