Category Archives: Uncategorized

More about Sutter and the Mormons

Posted on February 9, 2018 by nancyleek

At the same time that Captain Sutter was bragging to General Vallejo (in Spanish), about his wheat fields and his new saw mill and flour mill, he was also writing to Thomas O. Larkin (in slightly awkward English) on the … Continue reading →

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Sarah Pellet’s Philanthropic Scheme

Posted on January 31, 2018 by nancyleek

According to the Butte Record for December 23, 1854, Sarah Pellet had a brilliant plan for promoting temperance among the California miners. Five thousand young ladies! Miss Pellet certainly did not think small. The same item was also reported in … Continue reading →

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Sarah Pellet in the Mining Camps

Posted on January 29, 2018 by nancyleek

Sarah Pellet came to Bidwell Bar to lecture in the Fall of 1855. The Butte Record of November 3rd noted her plans for a tour of mining camps: Miss Pellett delivered a lecture at the Court House in Bidwell, on … Continue reading →

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A Sketch of California Life in the Waverley Magazine, 1856

Posted on January 27, 2018 by nancyleek

After reading the article on Chico in the Waverley Magazine, Nelson Blake wrote “I don’t understand it and await an explanation from you.” I don’t know if he ever got his explanation from John Bidwell, since Bidwell’s letters to Blake … Continue reading →

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Major Bidwell and the Lady Reporter

Posted on January 25, 2018 by nancyleek

Last Monday (Jan. 22) Nick Anderson and I presented our historical program to SIRs, Bidwell Branch 110, at the invitation of past “Big Sir” Keith Johnson. (SIRs is an organization for retired men who like to get together for a … Continue reading →

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Sarah Pellet in California

Posted on January 19, 2018 by nancyleek

In Gold Rush California, Miss Sarah Pellet was an item of interest, receiving considerable attention from the newspapers. The first notice of her arrival, in the Sacramento Daily Union of September 20, 1854, stated: Miss Sarah Pellet, a graduate of … Continue reading →

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Sarah Pellet, Lady Reformer

Posted on January 17, 2018 by nancyleek

I haven’t been able to find a picture of Sarah Pellet. I wish I had one to show you, because I wonder what she looked like. Newspaper reports sometimes refer to her as “fair” (as in “the fair lecturer”), but … Continue reading →

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Bear Story

Posted on January 13, 2018 by nancyleek

While searching old newspapers online looking for something else (isn’t that always the way), I came across this entertaining story in the Butte Record of December 23, 1854. Bear Story The little town of Hamilton, a few evenings since, was … Continue reading →

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More Shameless Book Promotion

Posted on January 12, 2018 by nancyleek

  My picture book biographies, Nancy Kelsey Comes over the Mountain and John and Annie Bidwell: The Long and the Short of It, are both available on Amazon. But I need to some reviews! If you have bought or read … Continue reading →

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This Date in California History

Posted on January 9, 2018 by nancyleek

Today, January 9th, is the date of the final battle of the California Campaign of the Mexican-American War. The Battle of La Mesa occurred one day after the Battle of Rio San Gabriel and brought an end to hostilities between … Continue reading →

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