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.

Nancy’s Bookshelf

Posted on May 20, 2016 by nancyleek

This bookshelf is not my bookshelf. This Nancy is Nancy Wiegman, interviewer extraordinaire. Back in November Nancy interviewed Steve Ferchaud and myself about our new picture book biography of John and Annie Bidwell, and also a bit about The Miner … Continue reading →

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And They’re Off!

Posted on May 19, 2016 by nancyleek

On May 19th the Bidwell-Bartleson Party started for California. John Bidwell, as secretary of the group, kept a journal. Later, while at Bodega Bay, he tidied up his journal entries and sent them back to a friend in Missouri, who … Continue reading →

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The Journey Begins

Posted on May 18, 2016 by nancyleek

From A Journey to California, 1841, by John Bidwell: May, Tuesday 18th 1841. Having waited at this place (2 miles W. of Kanzas river) 2 days, and all the Company being arrived, except those heretofore mentioned, the Company was convened … Continue reading →

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A Chico History Weekend

Posted on May 15, 2016 by nancyleek

This has been a weekend full of Chico history events. Saturday morning I gave a talk at the Chico Museum on “Early Days at Rancho Chico,” all about John Bidwell’s activities during the 1850s. I crammed as much history as … Continue reading →

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Wagons West

Posted on May 11, 2016 by nancyleek

The Chico Enterprise-Record today published a full-page color feature marking the 175th anniversary of the “first organized wagon train that left Missouri for California.” I can’t find it on the E-R webpage, but you can find it at the Orange … Continue reading →

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Ghost Town

Posted on May 10, 2016 by nancyleek

I love reading old books about California history, tales of “The days of old, the days of old, the days of ’49.” And here is just such a book. Ghost Town, by G. Ezra Dane, is a collection of incidents, … Continue reading →

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Join Me at the Chico Museum

Posted on May 6, 2016 by nancyleek

What was happening at Rancho Chico in the early 1850s? Who was here and what were they doing? Find out when I interview Major John Bidwell at the Chico Museum on Saturday, May 14th. Enjoy the program at 10 a.m. … Continue reading →

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May Garden Journal continued

Posted on May 5, 2016 by nancyleek

1853 Rio Chico May 6: Planted Watermelons and Cantaloupes May 11: Hoed Sweet Corn Planted Lima Beans Irishmen dug Ditch Heavy Shower this evening Sowed a few Marrowfat Peas Rained all night May 12: Rained hard this forenoon Sund[ay] 15: … Continue reading →

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More on The Esplanade

Posted on May 2, 2016 by nancyleek

In 1979 Helen Sommer Gage was interviewed in an oral history project about her memories of early Chico. The interview is called Chico Changes: The Bidwells, the Park, First Street, the Esplanade, 1888 to 1979, and the interviewer was Insu … Continue reading →

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May Garden Journal

Posted on April 30, 2016 by nancyleek

May Mon 2: Transplanted Cabage Sowed Onion Seed rain storm slight Shower Tues 3: Made Beds drived home Mr. Bidwell Sowed Onion Seed Sowed Buck Wheat Weed peas. passed Stage passed up The note “drived home Mr. Bidwell” is an … Continue reading →

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