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.

The Fate of the Fraeb Party

Henry Fraeb and his party of about 20 trappers left the rendezvous on the Green River on July 25th. The Fraeb Party headed east, toward Fraeb’s trading post on the Little Snake River, hunting for buffalo. The beaver trade was … Continue reading

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July 27-29, 1841

Tuesday, 27th. Advanced upstream about 12 miles. Wednesday, 28th. do [ditto] do. 12 do. Thursday, 29th. do do. 12 do. Nothing exciting going on here, so Bidwell just “dittos” his entries. They were in the southwest corner of what is … Continue reading

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July 26, 1841

Monday, 26th. Left Green river – moved off in a W. direction – distance 12 miles — encamped on a branch of Green river called Ham’s fork. Land high, dry, and barren, except upon the streams, which afford grass in … Continue reading

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Mountain Prices

John Bidwell recorded some prices in his entry for July 25, 1841. I will not omit to state the prices of several kinds of mountain goods. Powder which is sold by the cupful (pint) is worth $1 per cup. Lead … Continue reading

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July 25, 1841

Sunday, 25th. Left the rendezvous this morning, 6 of the company, viz., John Gray, Peyton, Frye, Rogers, Jones, and Romaine, started to return to the United States. Baker stopped in the mountains to trap; crossed Green river and descended it … Continue reading

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July 24, 1841

Saturday, 24th. Remained at this encampment and continued our traffic with the hunters. Chiles sold his oxen, 2 yoke, and wagon, another also was left. The hunters, or fur trappers, bought all the alcohol brought by Bartleson and others, as … Continue reading

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July 23, 1841 — Mountain Men

Friday, 23rd. Went to Green river — distance 8 miles — spent the remainder of the day trading with the hunters. I don’t imagine John Bartleson had any problem selling the whiskey he brought with him to Fraeb’s hunters.

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July 22, 1841 — The Return of John Grey

Thursday, 22nd. Descended Big Sandy about 12 miles and stopped where we found plenty of grass — this was very acceptable as our teams were already much jaded for the want of grass. Gray returned this evening having found Trapp’s … Continue reading

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July 21, 1841

Wednesday, 21st. Descended Big Sandy about 15 miles and again encamped upon it — no grass, had a little rain this evening but not enough to lay the dust. There’s a little grass in this picture, but you can see … Continue reading

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July 20, 1841

Tuesday, 20th. Traveled about 18 miles in a circuitous direction, first west and then south. Country was extremely dry and dusty — no game seen but a few antelope — encamped on Big Sandy, having come about 18 miles. Or, … Continue reading

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