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.

Sam Brannan, Gold Rush Capitalist

Posted on January 19, 2021 by nancyleek

When news of the gold discovery on the American River reached Sutter’s Fort, John Sutter did his best to keep it quiet. He knew if word got out his sawmill would never be finished and his crops would never be … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

John Bidwell, Storekeeper

Posted on January 17, 2021 by nancyleek

A great many people have crowded upon this stream since you left. About 300 people have arrived from Oregon inpressly [sic] for Gold digging. I have heard of the arrival of several companies from the States – and have seen … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidwell's Bar | 2 Comments

A Wicked War

Posted on January 10, 2021 by nancyleek

I do not think there was ever a more wicked war than that waged by the United States on Mexico. I thought so at the time, when I was a youngster, only I had not moral courage enough to resign. … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Shopping at Sutter’s Fort, 1849

Posted on December 28, 2020 by nancyleek

Today in History — Courtesy of the Sacramento History Museum: December 28, 1848 On this day in 1848, John Sutter Jr., in an effort to raise capital to pay off his father’s looming debts, started to sell portions of Sutter’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Sutter's Fort, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

“The Best Land Under Heaven”

Posted on December 27, 2020 by nancyleek

On April 14, 1846, the Donner and Reed families set out from Springfield, Illinois, for Independence, Missouri, to commence their journey to a place that had been advertised to them as “the best land under heaven.” Around this core would … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Donner Party | Leave a comment

A Miserable, Merry Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2020 by nancyleek

Lincoln Steffens, notable muck-raking journalist of the late 19th and early 20th century, was born in San Francisco in 1866 and grew up in Sacramento, where his father owned a prosperous store. There in Sacramento he watched as the city … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Johnson of Johnson’s Ranch

Posted on December 21, 2020 by nancyleek

When Pablo Gutierrez died in 1845, John Sutter put his land grant up for sale. The ranch was bought by William Johnson. What do we know about Johnson? Not a lot — we don’t even have a picture of him. … Continue reading →

Posted in Mary Murphy Covillaud, William Johnson | 7 Comments

Christmas with the Bidwells

Posted on December 20, 2020 by nancyleek

Every December the Bidwell Mansion Association hosts a holiday event at Bidwell Mansion for members and guests. Although conditions are different this year, we couldn’t let 2020 go by without “Christmas with the Bidwells” so we put together a virtual … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The Founder of Johnson’s Ranch

Posted on December 17, 2020 by nancyleek

—was not named Johnson. On December 22, 1844, Pablo Gutierrez, one of John Sutter’s employees, was granted five square Mexican leagues (22,197 acres) along the Bear River by the governor of Alta California. He built an adobe house, acquired some … Continue reading →

Posted in Pablo Gutierrez, William Johnson | Leave a comment

Good News for Johnson’s Ranch

Posted on December 13, 2020 by nancyleek

We made a tortuous journey through the snow before we came to the headwaters of the Yuba river, where there were mules to carry us down to Johnson’s Ranch. . . . I stayed several days at the ranch, enjoying … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments