John Bidwell wrote to his mother-in-law, Catherine Kennedy, on December 31, 1868, striking a humorous note on the weather:
Much love to all. Annie and John are in the room – well as could be desired, and as cheerful as they would be if they were away from home in Washington!! But now to the weather. We will compare with you at any time. Our fall and winter, till within a few days, have been all that romance could paint or desire. Now, however, the war in the sky has begun. Already the aerial fountains have been broken up and pluvial blessings in abundance showered upon us. The rains of course produce mud – but where there is no mud there is no soil – and who would live in such a country? Our mud too is rich and deep in some places. But while making these frank confessions I beg a thousand pardons for alluding to the fact that if any country has a right to contest with us this claim to superiority Washington city can make a good showing if not win the prize!! – for mud pure and simple, not for fertility!
The other John here is Annie’s brother John Kennedy, who had come to California for his health. It looks like they had been having the same rainy week that we have just had, and Bidwell jokes that Washington has just as much mud in the winter, without the fertile growing conditions of California.
The next day, January 1 1869, Annie added her own letter, and give us a picture of life in the brand-new Bidwell Mansion.
Were you to look in on me today you would see a cheerful house, parlor with bright wood fire, velvet carpet, crimson reps furniture, bouquet of lovely flowers gathered by me this A.M. from the garden, handsome rose-wood marble centre table covered with books, stereoscope & views, folding-doors open into the large dining room, carpeted with a rich new “body Brussels” carpet, a lovely carpet; green rep carved walnut furniture, bright wood fire – centre table filled with fruit, almonds & raisins. As fine Muscat & Black Hamburg grapes as summer or Autumn vines produced, preserved in sawdust, enormous & delicious pears which I daily wish Papa could enjoy together with the figs and apples.
The carpeting and furniture had been purchased in San Francisco. By “rep” Annie is referring to the upholstery fabric. Rep was a woven fabric usually made of silk, wool, or cotton used for upholstery, drapes, and sometimes men’s clothing like waistcoats. According to Collins dictionary, a Brussels carpet was a worsted carpet with a heavy pile formed by uncut loops of wool on a linen warp. A body Brussels carpet had a woven pattern over the entire body, whereas on a tapestry Brussels carpet the pattern was printed.
Annie was justly proud of the delicious fruits grown on Rancho Chico: figs, grapes, pears, apples, almonds and raisins enjoyed well into the winter months.
So picture, if you can in these dismal days, Annie sitting by the fireplace in her new home, reading a book or viewing landscapes with her stereoscope, with a dish of luscious fruits ready to hand on the table, while outside the wind blows and the rain pours, but inside all is cozy and home-like.
goldfields 