Author Archives: nancyleek

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.

Happening this Weekend

Posted on May 9, 2014 by nancyleek

There’s a lot going on the weekend of May 10-11, with events for every interest and taste, all in beautiful Butte County. Here are two of them: Feather Fiesta Days is the big event in Oroville. The Butte County Historical … Continue reading →

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Why Did President Hayes Visit a “Backwater” Like Chico?

Posted on May 5, 2014 by nancyleek

Larry commented on my previous post about bridges that “Someone asked me why these dignitaries came to a “backwater” place.” What was the president of the United States, the First Lady, Secretary of War Ramsey, General William Tecumseh Sherman, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Rutherford B. Hayes, Uncategorized, William Tecumseh Sherman | 3 Comments

Dmitry Zavalishin’s Bold Plan

Posted on May 4, 2014 by nancyleek

If Dmitry Zavalishin’s colonial visions had come to pass, Northern California would be New Russia, not the State of Jefferson or any other part of the United States. It’s pretty hard to imagine, but he certainly used all his charm … Continue reading →

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California through Russian Eyes

Posted on May 3, 2014 by nancyleek

Anyone interested in the Russian presence in early California can do no better than to read California through Russian Eyes, 1806-1848, compiled translated, and edited by James R. Gibson (Arthur H. Clark Company, 2013), the second volume in a series … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

What Ever Happened to Josiah Belden?

Posted on April 26, 2014 by nancyleek

From time to time I’ve written about other members of the Bidwell-Bartleson Party and followed up on their subsequent adventures. Many of them returned to the States after a short time, and very few of them were successful in California. … Continue reading →

Posted in Josiah Belden | 4 Comments

Bidwell and Bridges

Posted on April 24, 2014 by nancyleek

I have been puzzling over these two photos. Both come from CSUChico Meriam Library Special Collections, and both show John Bidwell standing with a group of people on a bridge. Where was the bridge? Who are the other people in … Continue reading →

Posted in bridges, Rutherford B. Hayes, William Tecumseh Sherman | 6 Comments

Rotchev and Bidwell (not)

Posted on April 15, 2014 by nancyleek

I was hoping that John Bidwell met Alexander Rotchev before the latter left California, but evidently not. Rotchev, having sold the assets of the Russian-American Company in California to John Sutter, departed for Sitka on January 1, 1842. Bidwell had … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Rotchev, Fort Ross, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Another Russian in California

Posted on April 13, 2014 by nancyleek

From 1838 to 1841 Alexander Gavrilovich Rotchev was the last manager at Fort Ross, the Russian-American Fur Company’s outpost in California. The Company sold the Fort and all its assets to John Sutter in 1841, and Rotchev was the man … Continue reading →

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Bidwell’s Diary, 1871

Posted on March 27, 2014 by nancyleek

Every so often I post an entry from John Bidwell’s diary on the Bidwell Mansion Association’s Facebook page, just to give folks a taste of what he was doing all those years ago. Here are three days from the end … Continue reading →

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Nikolai and Conchita, the Conclusion

Posted on March 10, 2014 by nancyleek

Sorry that it’s taken me so long to get around to the end of the story. But it is no where near as long as Conchita had to wait to learn the fate of her lover, Nikolai Rezanov. Rezanov left … Continue reading →

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