Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bidwell’s Journal: Sunday, May 23rd: All the oxen were gone this morning excepting nine. There was considerable complaint among the company, some saying at this slow rate of traveling we would have to winter among the Black Hills, and eat … Continue reading →

Friday, 21st. Our oxen left us last night, and it was 9 o’clock before we were all ready to start, passed a considerable stream called Vermillion, a branch of the Kanzas. On its banks were finer timber than we had … Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →