At the end of her diary for the year 1904, Annie Bidwell listed the Christmas gifts she gave that year. She doesn’t record where she bought these gifts, but elsewhere she mentions shopping at Oser’s and at Hibbard and Sommer’s. Here is a sampling of her purchases:

She gave her sister Sallie a Spanish head scarf and an asparagus fork. Sallie’s husband Tom was given a music cabinet, and their son Willie $4 for an “electric water motor.” I’m not sure what that was, unless it was a motor for a toy boat.

The servants were given $3 each and $3 worth of candy, but some other employees were given more; $5 for Florence Proud (cook), a scarf pin for Fred Petersen (head gardener) and a sapphire ring for his daughter. $3 in 1904 is the equivalent of $90 today.

She doesn’t record what she gave Reuben Messinger, who was a jack-of-all-trades, who could drive her coach, fix her furnace, and put ducks on the table. But she gave “Reuben’s wife – blue silk embroidered jabot” and “Baby Ruby – gold necklace.” Annie was very fond of little Ruby Messinger.

Four favorite young ladies — Edna Canfield, Helen Sommer, Ruby Hart, and Mary Entler — were each given an embroidered collar and tie. Each of these accessories cost $1.50. Helen Sommer Gage, who was later interviewed about her childhood in Chico and her relationship with the Bidwells, was 16 years old at the time.

Maggie Lafonso received a “handsome jabot of blue silk and white lace.” Maggie, as Annie undoubtedly knew, was the granddaughter of John Bidwell and a Mechoopda woman. Annie relied on her as a liaison with the Indians on the rancheria and as a co-worker in Christian good works. I have told her story here.

Annie sent John Bidwell’s sister Laurinda Jay a “white silk shawl” and her husband Wesley a “muffler, black & red.”

Several friends, such as cousin Dr. Ella Gatchell and attorney Franklin Lusk, were given olive oil, no doubt Bidwell’s Olive Oil produced on Rancho Chico. Her friends in San Francisco, the Hirshfelders, received a half-dozen bottles of olive oil and a whole keg of olives.

The most generous gift listed was to “Mrs. Hobart,” who was given “a corner lot in our new Sub.Div on Esplanade.” Emroy Bidwell Hobart was the daughter of John Bidwell’s half-brother Daniel. In 1904 she was a widow and had lost her house in a fire, so giving her a lot to build on was a timely gift.