Author Archives: nancyleek

Another tidbit from the Pioneer Collection at the California State Library — a letter from Butte County Sheriff J.Q. Wilbur to John Bidwell: Hamilton, Butte Co. Cal.  July 4, 1851 Dear Major— I should like to come up this morning … Continue reading →

A nice example of a penmanship copybook  is in the Pioneer Collection at the California State Library. The Pioneer Collection consists mostly of letters and oddments that don’t fit into other collections, or don’t rate their own separate collection. This … Continue reading →

I went to the California State Library today. Here’s a little item from the John Bidwell Papers, which I find amusing: It reads: Lassen’s Ranch May 24, 1851 To the hombre in charge at Bidwell’s you will please deliver to … Continue reading →

California has a Humboldt County and so does Nevada. There is a Humboldt River and a Humboldt Bay and a Humboldt Current. At least eight towns in the United States are named for Humboldt. And then there is the Humboldt Wagon … Continue reading →

I got to take a tour up the old Humboldt Road today, thanks to Dave Nopel and the Chico History Museum (and Respect the Walls and the Chico Heritage Association.) I had been along parts of it before (much of … Continue reading →

Luzena and her husband and their two little boys are close to the end of the trail— The first man we met was about fifty miles above Sacramento. He had ridden on ahead, bought a fresh horse and some new … Continue reading →

Remember the Independence Company? That was the company of young men who set out, with flags flying and a brass band playing, at the same time as Luzena and Mason Wilson’s wagon train left Missouri. Luzena, afraid of the Indians, … Continue reading →