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.

The First Overland Letter to California

Posted on August 20, 2021 by nancyleek

I thought I knew a lot about the 1841 Bidwell-Bartleson Party — the first group of emigrants to leave the United States on the overland trail. But I didn’t know about the letter carried by Elias Barnett to John Marsh, … Continue reading →

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More Vegetables by Stage

Posted on August 12, 2021 by nancyleek

When Mrs. B.M. Evoy asked John Bidwell to supply her with fresh vegetables for her boarding house (See “Send a Basket by the Stage”), she wasn’t the only one. As she said in her letter, she heard about this source … Continue reading →

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Mrs. Evoy Leaves Briggsville

Posted on August 4, 2021 by nancyleek

Two months after the conviction of Col. John H. Harper for the theft of $1800 in gold from Mrs. Bridget Evoy, she decided to sell the California House in Briggsville. What motivated her to give up running (as it says … Continue reading →

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Who Robbed Mrs. Evoy?

Posted on August 1, 2021 by nancyleek

Colonel John H. Harper was convicted of the crime of robbery against Mrs. B.M. Evoy on the stage near Neal’s Ranch in Butte County in May 1853. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, but was pardoned by the governor … Continue reading →

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The Trial of Colonel Harper

Posted on July 30, 2021 by nancyleek

After being arrested for the theft of Mrs. Evoy’s gold, Col. John H. Harper of Trinity County languished in the Hamilton (Butte County) jail for the next six months. He was unable to raise the bail, which was set at … Continue reading →

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Mrs. Evoy Robbed

Posted on July 27, 2021 by nancyleek

On Wednesday, May 25, 1853, Mrs. Bridget M. Evoy was traveling by Hall & Crandall stagecoach from Shasta to Marysville. When the stage stopped at Dry Creek House she discovered that the gold she was carrying in a carpetbag was … Continue reading →

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“Send a Basket by the Stage”

Posted on July 24, 2021 by nancyleek

Mrs. Bridget M. Evoy was an enterprising woman of the Gold Rush. She came to California with her family on the Lassen Trail in 1849. She earned her gold by successfully running a hotel or boarding house called the “California … Continue reading →

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Sierra or Sierras? You Decide

Posted on July 21, 2021 by nancyleek

I had to sympathize with the writer of this item on SFGate about the argument over whether to say “the Sierra” or “the Sierras” when referring to the mountain range between California and Nevada. (SFGate is the online media outlet … Continue reading →

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The Stars and Stripes Forever

Posted on July 4, 2021 by nancyleek

My idea of a fabulous 4th of July includes eating a hamburger, corn on the cob, and watermelon, singing the Star Spangled Banner, watching fireworks, and listening to a live band play The Stars and Stripes Forever. I would like … Continue reading →

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A Chico Fourth of July — Centennial Version

Posted on July 3, 2021 by nancyleek

Our celebrations of Independence Day are pretty tame compared to the way they enjoyed the Fourth in Chico in 1876. Here’s the July 4th entry from Bidwell’s diary in 1876: Tues. July 4Warm, very – no wind. = Bells rang … Continue reading →

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