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.

“Cheyenne” Dawson, Part 4

Posted on February 24, 2017 by nancyleek

“Cheyenne” Dawson’s account of his journey to California was written down many years after the event, but he had a clear and lively recollection of the expedition. Here he is, telling how the company fared after they abandoned their wagons … Continue reading →

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“Cheyenne” Gets His Nickname (Nicholas Dawson Part 3)

Posted on February 22, 2017 by nancyleek

There were two men in the Bidwell-Bartleson Party named Dawson: Nicholas and V.W. Almost nothing is known about V.W., including what the initials stood for, but he went by the nickname “Bear.” The two men were not related. It was … Continue reading →

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The Adventures of Nicholas “Cheyenne” Dawson, Part 2

Posted on February 20, 2017 by nancyleek

Nicholas Dawson was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania on January 22, 1819, making him just 6 months older than John Bidwell. He received a good education for the day, good enough to be employed from time to time, like Bidwell, … Continue reading →

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The Adventures of Nicholas “Cheyenne” Dawson

Posted on February 19, 2017 by nancyleek

A stand-out member of the Bidwell-Bartleson emigrant company, and almost the last surviving member of that band, was Nicholas Dawson. During his adventures on the trail he earned the nickname “Cheyenne” from an incident that typifies Indian encounters in the … Continue reading →

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A Kinder Man I Have Never Known

Posted on February 10, 2017 by nancyleek

In the 1880s Hubert Howe Bancroft asked John Bidwell if he could supply any information about several early California pioneers, Dr. John Townsend among them. On May 23, 1884 Bidwell wrote back with short recollections of the men he had … Continue reading →

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Bidwell to Townsend

Posted on February 9, 2017 by nancyleek

Here is a letter from John Bidwell to Dr. John Townsend, written on April 5, 1849. He congratulates Townsend and his wife on the birth of their son, John Henry Moses Townsend, born November 26, 1848. An indication of Bidwell’s … Continue reading →

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More from Dr. Townsend

Posted on February 6, 2017 by nancyleek

Another letter from Dr. John Townsend to his wife: Peyeys Ranch August 16th 1848 Dearest I embrace the opportunity of writing by Mr. Norris. Yesterday Moses arrived at our camp, He is in partnership with Larkin and Green. He has … Continue reading →

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Dr. Townsend in California

Posted on February 5, 2017 by nancyleek

Dr. John Townsend came to California in 1844 with the Murphy-Townsend-Stevens wagon train, the first to bring wagons all the way over the Sierras. He was the first qualified physician in California and the first non-Mexican alcalde of San Francisco. … Continue reading →

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Dickey’s Ranch Becomes Bidwell’s Ranch

Posted on February 3, 2017 by nancyleek

John Bidwell was not the only American (or other foreigner) in California seeking land. William Dickey and Edward Farwell were after grants, as were several other men. In October 1844 Bidwell and Sutter went to Monterey to discuss the matter … Continue reading →

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Dickey’s Ranch

Posted on February 2, 2017 by nancyleek

You might look at this advertisement from the February 6, 1851 Sacramento Transcript and wonder who was Justus McKinstry and why was he selling half of Rancho Chico, because didn’t that already belong to John Bidwell? Here is the story behind … Continue reading →

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