Monthly Archives: March 2018

More from McKinstry

Posted on March 30, 2018 by nancyleek

Continuing George McKinstry Jr’s letter to Edward Kern, December 1851: Old Louis Keseberg,* the Donner Party Man-Eater, has made a fortune and is now running a restaurant on K street in Sacramento City. I would like to board there, I … Continue reading →

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Much Scattered by Death and Disaster

Posted on March 29, 2018 by nancyleek

One of the most entertaining letters on California history that I have seen is one written by George McKinstry Jr. to Edward Kern in December 1851. Kern was John C. Fremont’s cartographer and artist on his expedition to California in … Continue reading →

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New Diggings in Red Bluff

Posted on March 21, 2018 by nancyleek

Often when I am looking for a particular story in an old newspaper, I don’t find what I want, but something else catches my eye. This time it was the Red Bluff Beacon for May 11, 1859. I was looking … Continue reading →

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The Wildflowers of Table Mountain

Posted on March 19, 2018 by nancyleek

It is a tradition in our family to visit Table Mountain here in Butte County at least once in the spring, and I never feel that once is enough. Today was the day for our first visit — a perfect … Continue reading →

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More Time Traveling to Chico

Posted on March 17, 2018 by nancyleek

The Pacific Rural Press’s issue for July 3, 1886, continues with a description of “the famous Rancho Chico.” John Bidwell was known throughout the state for introducing new plant varieties and for innovative agricultural methods. The reader will notice the … Continue reading →

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Time Traveling to Chico

Posted on March 15, 2018 by nancyleek

The article on Chico in the Pacific Rural Press, published July 3, 1886, continues with a  description of Chico’s financial and manufacturing capacity: Chico has two solid banks—the Bank of Butte County and the Bank of Chico. Both are located … Continue reading →

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Visiting the Garden City

Posted on March 13, 2018 by nancyleek

I’ve been browsing online issues of the Pacific Rural Press. Look at their masthead — isn’t that a delight? They don’t make them like that anymore. Note the locomotive in the loop of the P and the horse’s head in … Continue reading →

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A Blog for History Buffs

Posted on March 12, 2018 by nancyleek

If you like history (and you must since you are reading this blog), The History Blog is a great place to get your daily history fix. “Livius Drusus,” the editor of the blog, faithfully posts a history news item every … Continue reading →

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A Tour of Rancho Chico, Part 2

Posted on March 9, 2018 by nancyleek

Dow devoted not one, but two chapters of A Tour in America to General Bidwell’s Rancho Chico. His next chapter is about “A Fruit Orchard of 1000 Acres.” The 1000 acres of orchard and vineyard are not all in one … Continue reading →

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A Tour of Rancho Chico in 1883

Posted on March 6, 2018 by nancyleek

In 1883 Thomas Kirkland Dow, Australian journalist, set out to visit the United States and report on agricultural practices to the readers of his magazine, The Australasian. His book, A Tour in America, was published in Melbourne in 1884. After … Continue reading →

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