Who was Billy Simpson, the man found murdered just outside Bidwell Mansion?

There is no known photograph of Billy. He was a California Indian, but probably not Mechoopda. The opportunity for employment on Rancho Chico had brought members of other local tribes to the rancheria, so that the Mechoopda called their village Bahapki (“unsifted”), indicating its mixed population. Billy reportedly came from Tehama County. He first shows up in John Bidwell’s diary in 1880, so that by 1900 he had worked for Bidwell for twenty years.

He was a trusted employee. By the 1890s he shows up in the diary frequently as driver on Bidwell’s road-building expeditions to the mountains on the Humboldt Wagon Road. Here he is in 1891:

Tues. July l4. Chico to McGann’s. Wife, self & Cora set out at 3.45 a.m. for Big Meadows – Billy Simpson goes as driver –

Thurs., July l6. Big Meadows – Hamlin Place. Events: Billy Simpson and Guy went to Prattville to get new brake block on carry all – also some other repairs on same –

Fri., August l4. Hamlin Place > Big Meadows. Events: Guy & Frankie went with Billy Simpson to Prattville and brought a good supply of fruits, vegetables & melons which came up by stage yesterday – All (except Joey) drove West toward and along the mountain in carryall to the main stream, where wife remained with Billy Simpson & the carryall –

Wed., September 23. Hamlin Place > Big Meadows. Events: Sent Billy Simpson early to intersect Stage on the Chico road.

Here he is again in 1898:

Sat., August 6. Butte Meadows. Places: New Beartrap hill grade with Mr. Berdan. From there Billy Simpson & I brought home a load of wood –

He was a musician and played a horn in the Indian Brass Band. An article in the Chico Weekly Enterprise (30 December 1888) listed the Christmas program at the rancheria chapel. The long list of recitations and musical numbers included “Music by the band” and “Music (horn) Billy Simpson.”

Billy was about 42 years old at the time of his death. He lived by himself in a cabin on the rancheria. He had once been married, but his wife and step-child had died some twenty years previously, and he remained alone.

Although to John Bidwell he was a valued employee, to the other Indians he may have seemed stand-offish and unfriendly. The Chico Record reported that “His holding himself aloof from the others, caused him to be disliked, and those who were inclined to be worldly and enjoyed liquor, believed that he was a spotter who would tell General and Mrs. Bidwell whenever they did anything wrong.” (1 March 1900)

Annie Bidwell replied to this insinuation by writing a letter to the editor. She had a good opinion of Billy, even though he was not a devout church attendee. She wrote:

I hope the Enterprise will not state that Billy Simpson’s death was due to antagonism engendered by his virtue, which is unjustice to the Indians. It is true that Billy did refuse to come to church on the ground that there were those present who “were hypocrites” — a very usual excuse with white people, also. But Billy did not refuse — as some have of other color — to become a Christian because of “hypocrites” in the church. He said he could not stand it to see those sitting there who pretended to me to be good while they were hypocrites.

Chico Enterprise, 2 March 1900

The body of Billy Simpson was buried in the Mechoopda Rancheria cemetery.