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.

The Scandalous Saga continued — in Federal Court

Posted on March 26, 2019 by nancyleek

No sooner was the divorce trial of Sarah Althea Hill and Senator William Sharon concluded in Sarah Althea’s favor, than the federal suit brought by Sharon against Allie began. It took up most of the year 1885 and went over … Continue reading →

Posted in Sharon v. Hill | Leave a comment

Sharon v. Hill Meets The Wasp

Posted on March 22, 2019 by nancyleek

The Wasp was a satirical weekly published in San Francisco from 1876 until 1941. Its editor from 1881 to 1885 was that acerbic wit, Ambrose Bierce. Here is the cover of the magazine for May 17, 1884. At this point … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The Scandalous Saga continued — Mrs. Sharon’s Triumph

Posted on March 21, 2019 by nancyleek

The trial came to a conclusion on September 16, 1884 and after due consideration, judgement was rendered by Judge J.F. Sullivan on December 24th. He concluded that under California law a marriage contract such as Sarah Althea Hill claimed she … Continue reading →

Posted in Sharon v. Hill, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The Scandalous Saga continued — Sharon Takes the Stand

Posted on March 20, 2019 by nancyleek

Ex-Senator of Nevada William Sharon finally took the stand to tell his story late in May of 1884. Sarah Althea Hill, he said, had first come to his office in August, 1880, ostensibly seeking investment advice. He told her that … Continue reading →

Posted in Sharon v. Hill | Leave a comment

The Scandalous Saga continued –Pistols in the Courtroom

Posted on March 15, 2019 by nancyleek

The San Francisco of the 1880s was still the Wild West and both men and women often went armed, even into Court. Mrs. Mary Shawhan was summoned to testify about her relationship with Sarah Althea Hill. She was described as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Dr. Poynter, One More Time

Posted on March 13, 2019 by nancyleek

Readers of this blog might recall that last year I did a series on the first novel written and published in California: Entewa, the Mountain Bird, by J.R. Poynter M.D., published in Marysville in 1852. I have one more little … Continue reading →

Posted in Entewa, J. R. Poynter | Leave a comment

The Scandalous Saga continued — Dirty Dealings in the Graveyard

Posted on March 11, 2019 by nancyleek

Sarah Althea Hill tried potions and charms from an assortment of fortune-tellers – they were numerous in old San Francisco – but she had not secured Senator Sharon’s affections to her satisfaction. Another of the mystic league gave her a … Continue reading →

Posted in Sharon v. Hill, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Scandalous Saga of Senator Sharon and Sarah Althea Hill — part 4

Posted on March 10, 2019 by nancyleek

But wait — it gets better! The counsel for the defense (William Sharon’s side) had a string of strange witnesses and bizarre testimony. Sarah, seemingly desperate to find and keep a sugar daddy, sought help from fortune tellers and charm … Continue reading →

Posted in Sharon v. Hill, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Scandalous Saga of Senator Sharon and Sarah Althea Hill — part 3

Posted on March 9, 2019 by nancyleek

While Sarah Althea Hill’s suit for adultery was still pending, ex-Senator Sharon filed his own civil suit in federal court against her for falsely alleging that they were married. He could sue in federal court because he claimed residency in … Continue reading →

Posted in Sharon v. Hill, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The Scandalous Saga of Senator Sharon and Sarah Althea Hill — part 2

Posted on March 8, 2019 by nancyleek

The court dismissed the suit against William Sharon for adultery on a technicality, so Sarah Althea Hill promptly sued for divorce. Of course, in order to obtain a divorce, she first had to prove that they had been married. Her … Continue reading →

Posted in Sharon v. Hill, Uncategorized | 2 Comments