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.

A Leap Year Proposal

Posted on February 29, 2020 by nancyleek

Once upon a time, when the rules of courtship were strict, and a woman could only wait for a man to get a clue and propose marriage, tradition had it that during a leap year a woman could propose to … Continue reading →

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A Hike to Iron Canyon

Posted on February 21, 2020 by nancyleek

I went with an OLLI group on a hike to Iron Canyon today. Not too strenuous, about the right length for me. The weather was perfect, warm with a slight breeze. I wouldn’t recommend this trail in the summertime — … Continue reading →

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A Few Last Items About the Crosbys

Posted on February 7, 2020 by nancyleek

Just a few last tidbits about Elisha O. Crosby and Maria Crosby, to wrap things up. Elisha O. Crosby married in Fremont, Nebraska in 1874 and his son was born there in 1875. After having lived in California and Guatemala, … Continue reading →

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Rivals for Miss Crosby’s Hand

Posted on February 6, 2020 by nancyleek

John Bidwell took a liking to Helen Crosby during the five-week journey back to California, perhaps one reason for giving the admission documents into her care. Young ladies were few on board ship and in California, and he was an … Continue reading →

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The Crosby Puzzle Solved

Posted on February 4, 2020 by nancyleek

So why did Elisha Crosby have a daughter only 14 years younger than himself? Let’s go back to 1844, when Crosby was a young lawyer in Elmira, New York. Here is an excerpt from the Reports of Cases Argued and … Continue reading →

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The Crosby Puzzle Continued

Posted on February 3, 2020 by nancyleek

Mrs. and Miss Crosby came to California in October 1850 on the same ship that brought the news of statehood. They went to San Jose to be with Elisha O. Crosby, and within a few months Miss Mary Helen Crosby … Continue reading →

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The Puzzling Life of Elisha O. Crosby

Posted on February 1, 2020 by nancyleek

I am working on an article about John Bidwell’s activities during the year of 1850. It started with a short narrative I put together for Admission Day last year. During 2019 the Bidwell Mansion Association had a number of special … Continue reading →

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“Yours for Equal Justice”

Posted on January 19, 2020 by nancyleek

“Yours for Equal Justice” was Susan B. Anthony’s signature line, and this year it is the theme of the Bidwell Mansion Association’s Annual Meeting. Please join us next Sunday, Jan. 26 to celebrate women’s suffrage and to mark the 100th … Continue reading →

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Nikolai and Conchita in Literature

Posted on January 12, 2020 by nancyleek

Any romance novelists out there reading this? It is high time that Conchita Arguello and Nikolai Rezanov were brought to life on the pages of a romantic novel. Such a great love story deserves a new treatment. No happy ending … Continue reading →

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Nikolai and Conchita: The Opera

Posted on January 11, 2020 by nancyleek

I was just thinking that a revival in popular culture of the love story of Conchita Arguello and Nikolai Rezanov was long overdue, when I found out from my lovely daughter-in-law that the Russians have already taken care of the … Continue reading →

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