Title:

Autobiography and Reminiscence of John Bidwell, San Francisco, 1904.

[Institutional Records Digitization Project: Reminiscences of Early Pioneers: 1900-1904]

Creator/Contributor:

Bidwell, John, 1819-1900, creator

Autobiographies and Reminiscences of California Pioneers, p. 33-60, Vol. 7. This is a typed transcript, bound into a volume, of the member's autobiographical reminiscence created as an institutional record for the Society of California Pioneers. This reminiscence includes a reference to a photograph of the member in a set of bound volumes. It appears that the photographs in this set were dispersed throughout the regular photography collection, but the photographs referenced in the related materials may or may not be these same photographs. This reminiscence details John Bidwell's impressions of California during the time period of 1841 to 1897. The primary focus of the reminiscence is the immigration to California and Bidwell's analysis of the state's growth and the people inhabiting California. He names fellow pioneers across the state and tells in what party they traveled. Mr. Bidwell also discusses the early government of California, describing its judicial system and methods used to punish those convicted of crimes.

Date:

1904 (issued)

Subject:

Bidwell, John -- 1819-1900

Sutter, John Augustus -- 1803-1880

Society of California Pioneers.

Pioneers -- California -- Biography

Gold mines and mining -- California, Northern -- History -- 19th century.

Justice, Administration of -- California -- History

California -- Gold discoveries

California -- History -- 1846-1850.

California -- Politics and Government -- History

San Francisco (Calif.) -- History

Fort Ross (Calif.)

Bodega Bay (Calif.)

Sutter's Fort (Sacramento, Calif.)

Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader

Autobiography & Reminiscence of John Bidwell, San Francisco, 1904. The Society of California Pioneers

John Bidwell was born in Chautauqua County, New York, on August 5, 1819. He arrived in California in 1841 and was hired by John Sutter to supervise his Russian possessions and property in Bodega Bay and Fort Ross. He became a part of the Bear Flag revolt and served as a major in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War. Bidwell had discovered gold at Bidwell Bar (on the Feather River) in 1848 and became a miner long enough to purchase the Rancho Chico in 1849. He was active in Democratic Party politics until 1861 but was elected to Congress on the Union ticket. He declined nomination for governor of California in 1867, became an unsuccessful candidate for the Independent Party in 1875 and in 1890 (for the Prohibition Party). In 1892, he was nominated for President by the Prohibition Party and received over 270,000 votes. From: Biography/History, Finding Aid - John Bidwell Papers, MS 2, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico

Type:

Autobiographies.

[28] p. ; 35 x 21 cm.

English

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Origin:

California

Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader.

Collection:

The Society of California Pioneers collection of autobiographies and reminiscences of early pioneers