Author Archives: nancyleek

This advertisement appeared in the Californian on September 23, 1848: IMMIGRANTS. Immigrants wishing winter quarters for their families, can be accommodated with several small houses at HALO CHAMUCK, situated on the N. W. bank of the Sacramento river, near its … Continue reading →

Thursday, 9th. The part of the Company that remained yesterday went on and overtook the 2 wagons. Capt. Bartleson & Hopper returned, bring intelligence that they had found the head of Mary’s river — distance about 5 days’ travel. Distance … Continue reading →

My first book, John Bidwell: The Adventurous Life of a California Pioneer, has been reprinted. The initial print run was 1000 copies. All are gone, except for those that wait to be sold on store shelves. The book is published … Continue reading →

The Company was a little north and west of the Great Salt Lake, and near to Pilot Peak, as they made their way slowly across a region inhabited by only a few Shoshone Indians. View of Pilot Peak from Leppy … Continue reading →

From John Bidwell’s journal: Saturday, 28th. Company remained here. A Shoshonee Indian came to our camp; from him we learned that there were more Indians not far off who had horses. Several men and myself went in search of them. … Continue reading →

  Thursday, 26th. Traveled all day over dry barren plains, producing nothing but sage, or rather, as it ought to be called, wormwood, and which I believe will grow without water or soil. Two men were sent ahead to search … Continue reading →

The Bidwell Mansion Association invites you to a PARTY! Help us celebrate John Bidwell’s 197th birthday. Tickets are $5 for adults and teens, $2 for children, and kids under 4 are free. Enjoy a concert by the Chico Community Concert … Continue reading →

On August 22 the men who had gone to Fort Hall returned. They had been unable to obtain a guide to take them across the desert. (Cue the ominous music.) They reported on the emigrants who had opted for going … Continue reading →

Saturday, 21st. Marched off in a NW direction, and intersected our trail of Thursday last, having made a complete triangle in the plain. At this intersection of the trails we left a paper elevated by a pole, that the men … Continue reading →

John Bidwell and friends were traveling slowly southward through Cache Valley, in what is now northern Utah. Sometimes they followed the Bear River, other times they had to leave the river and “journey over hills and ravines, going to almost … Continue reading →