I went to the California State Library today. Here’s a little item from the John Bidwell Papers, which I find amusing:

It reads:

Lassen’s Ranch May 24, 1851

To the hombre in charge at Bidwell’s you will please deliver to the bearer a single barrel shott gun left with you by some of the hands of the steamer California and oblige yours G.H. Messersmith

I don’t know a lot about Mr. Messersmith, other than that he was an associate of Peter Lassen, he later ran the Tehama House Hotel, and became a county judge. I hope he got his shotgun back from the “hombre” at Bidwell’s.