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.

August 4, 1841 — Bear River

Posted on August 4, 2020 by nancyleek

Wednesday, 4th. Did not travel. Well, that’s succinct. They had just struggled over a high divide to get from the Green River to the Bear River. They had come to a valley with water and grass for the livestock. It … Continue reading →

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August 3, 1841

Posted on August 3, 2020 by nancyleek

Tuesday, 3rd. Ascended a high divide and passed down by a most difficult route into the valley of the Bear river. The course of this stream was marked out as it wound its way through the vale by the willows … Continue reading →

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August 2, 1841

Posted on August 2, 2020 by nancyleek

Monday, 2nd. Retraced about 2 miles of yesterday’s travel, and went up another defile, in order to find a practicable route across the divide between the waters of the Green and Bear rivers; plenty of grass, good spring water, distance … Continue reading →

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August 1, 1841

Posted on August 1, 2020 by nancyleek

Sunday, August 1. Ascended Black’s fork about 12 miles. They are now in the present-day southwest corner of Wyoming, near the border with Utah. Black’s Fork is a 175 mile-long tributary of the Green River. It was here in 1843, … Continue reading →

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July 31, 1841 — This Lonesome Part of Creation

Posted on July 31, 2020 by nancyleek

Saturday, 31st. Left Ham’s fork this morning. A distance of 14 miles, over an uncommonly hilly road, took us to Black’s fork of Green river, on which we encamped. Here we found a little grass and no wood. The hills, … Continue reading →

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July 30, 1841 — “Guess what took place?”

Posted on July 30, 2020 by nancyleek

Friday, 30th. Traveled about 5 miles and encamped. Guess what took place; another family was created! Widow Gray, who was a sister to Mrs. Kelsey, was married to a man who joined our Company at Fort Larimie. His right name … Continue reading →

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The Fate of the Fraeb Party

Posted on July 28, 2020 by nancyleek

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

Posted on July 27, 2020 by nancyleek

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

Posted on July 26, 2020 by nancyleek

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

Posted on July 25, 2020 by nancyleek

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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