Author Archives: nancyleek

The first newspaper published in California, the Californian, appeared on August 15, 1846, 170 years ago today. The publishers were Walter Colton and Robert Semple.The first issue announced the declaration of war against Mexico by the United States. Walter Colton, … Continue reading →

Traveling southward on the Bear River, toward the Great Salt Lake: Saturday, 14th. Left the river on account of the hills which obstructed our way on it; found an abundance of choke cherries, many of which were ripe. Road uncommonly … Continue reading →

Coloma is the site of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, where James Marshall in January 1848 first found flecks of gold in the tailrace of the sawmill he was building for Captain John Sutter. My husband and I took … Continue reading →

After traveling 6 miles the morning of August 11th, the company halted at the parting of the ways. Father DeSmet and his missionaries, along with their guide Tom Fitzpatrick were going on up into Idaho. Half the the emigrants in … Continue reading →

Traveling through the Bear River Valley: Saturday, 7th. This morning we were obliged to make an inland circuit from the river, the bluffs approaching so near the river as to rend it impossible to continue along its banks. We, however, … Continue reading →

John Bidwell was born on August 5th, 1819 in Chautauqua County, New York, near the shores of Lake Erie. Today is his 197th birthday. As he noted in his diary in 1898: BIRTHDAY (79th) – Florence had an extra good … Continue reading →

From John Bidwell’s Journal: Wednesday, 4th. Did not travel. Well, that’s succinct. They had just struggled over a high divide to get from the Green River to the Bear River. They had come to a valley with water and grass … Continue reading →

Wedding bells on the Oregon Trail! Friday, 30th. Traveled about 5 miles and encamped. Guess what took place; another family was created! Widow Gray, who was sister to Mrs. Kelsey, was married to a man who joined our Company at … Continue reading →

Monday, 26th. Left Green river – moved off in a W. direction – distance 12 miles — encamped on a branch of Green river called Ham’s fork. Land high, dry, and barren, except upon the streams, which afford grass in … Continue reading →

John Bidwell and friends did some trading when they met with Fraeb’s company of hunters and trappers at the Green River rendezvous. In his journal Bidwell records some of the prices for goods: I will not omit to state the … Continue reading →