Author Archives: nancyleek

Mrs. Likins, the Bancroft book agent, took pride and comfort in her membership in the Rebekah order of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and she mentions this several times in her memoir. The Odd Fellows were founded in the … Continue reading →

Amy Likins (or as she preferred, Mrs. J. W. Likins) was soon selling books as well as engravings. She usually took two or three new titles in her basket. Mark Twain’s The Innocents Abroad came out in 1869 and was … Continue reading →

You never know what will fascinate people, especially 150 years later. I have read lots of accounts of women on the trail and in mining camps, and I enjoy those, but I especially liked this story of Six Years Experience … Continue reading →

How did a lady book agent go about her business? To start, Mrs. J. W. Likins (Amy) was given an engraving of “Grant and His Family” and told to go out and get subscriptions. If she could be successful with … Continue reading →

Here we are, halfway through the month of March, Women’s History Month, and I have written nothing on women in California. I’ve been very busy with other projects — several presentations (Chico History Museum on March 29 is the next … Continue reading →

Want to meet a real pioneer woman? Meet Nancy Kelsey, a woman who could drive a team, cook over a campfire, sew a shirt, shoot and dress a deer, tan the hide and make moccasins, and anything else she needed … Continue reading →

My grandmother used to sing this song in the car. My grandparents had migrated from cold old Rochester, New York, to sunny Southern California in the 1920s, just when this song was at the height of its popularity. They were … Continue reading →

An ode to “the spring that obtains but one month in the year” by Bret Harte. California Madrigal (On the Approach of Spring) Oh, come, my beloved, from thy winter abode,From thy home on the Yuba, thy ranch overflowed;For the … Continue reading →

On January 29th, 1851, George Murrell wrote from Long Bar on the American River: My Provision speculation this winter did not come up to my expectation. And I had to be very industrious with my mules to save myself. I … Continue reading →