Author Archives: nancyleek

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About nancyleek

Nancy is a retired librarian who lives in Chico, California. She is the author of John Bidwell: The Adventurous Life of a California Pioneer.

Indian War on the Klamath River

Posted on June 28, 2015 by nancyleek

On February 7, 1854 James C. Callen wrote John Bidwell about an “Indian ware on the clammoth river.” A ’49er, Callen had been residing in Butte County in 1850, but by 1854 he was living on the Klamath River “ten … Continue reading →

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Across the Isthmus of Panama with Mary Jane Megquier

Posted on June 27, 2015 by nancyleek

Mary Jane Megquier, known to family and friends as Jennie, came with her husband to California in 1849, leaving her three children behind in Maine with relatives. At first the plan was only for her husband to go — many … Continue reading →

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A Visit to Vina

Posted on June 10, 2015 by nancyleek

What do a 12th century Spanish monastery, Peter Lassen’s ranch, Stanford University, and New Clairvaux Vineyard have in common? They all come together at Vina. I have been planning to take the short (19 miles from Chico) drive north to … Continue reading →

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Public Reaction to the Lemm Ranch Murders

Posted on June 1, 2015 by nancyleek

The murders of four Chinese men at the Lemm Ranch near Chico in March 1877, plus several cases of arson against the Chinese and their employers, put Chico on the map as a locus of anti-Chinese agitation. Even though most … Continue reading →

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More Fun with Demographics

Posted on May 30, 2015 by nancyleek

In 1850, two years after John Bidwell discovered gold in the Feather River, the population of Butte County was 3574 (according to figures in Mansfield’s History of Butte County). Ten years later, the population had quadrupled to 12,106. 20% were … Continue reading →

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Fun with Demographics

Posted on May 26, 2015 by nancyleek

I have been looking at the 1860 Federal Census for Butte County. I accessed it at a website called fold3.com, a division of ancestry.com. Fold3 focuses on military records, but for some reason it is the only place I found … Continue reading →

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The Lemm Ranch Murders

Posted on May 21, 2015 by nancyleek

An attack on six Chinese workers on the Lemm Ranch shocked the citizens of Chico and brought infamy to the town. The Lemm Ranch was located near today’s intersection of Highway 32 and Forest Avenue. On the night of March … Continue reading →

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Chinese Workers Strike

Posted on May 19, 2015 by nancyleek

John Bidwell always had a need for workers — lots of workers, both skilled and unskilled. He had a diverse workforce — whites predominated, but he also had Indians, Mexicans and the occasional African-American.  Bidwell was willing to employ anyone … Continue reading →

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The Chinese in Chico

Posted on May 18, 2015 by nancyleek

The attitude toward the Chinese in California was one of ambivalence. Employers liked getting labor at low cost. Middle-class families that employed Chinese domestic servants could hardly do without them. And everyone in town turned out to watch the colorful … Continue reading →

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The Chinese in Butte County — and a Correction

Posted on May 15, 2015 by nancyleek

Correction:  In reading the census tables, I thought Butte County had the highest percentage of Chinese residents in the state, but that honor goes to Trinity County. Although small in population, Trinity County had the largest proportion of Chinese miners … Continue reading →

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