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Finding Aid of the General John Bidwell Papers
C057713
C057713
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Table of contents
Title: Bidwell, Gen. John, Papers
Identifier/Call Number: C057713
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
1 Folder
Date (inclusive): 1851-1965
Abstract: The folder contains John Bidwell's letters to the Society of California Pioneers and articles about Bidwell and his house
in Chico.
creator:
Bidwell, John, 1819-1900
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research
There are no restictions on access
General John Bidwell Papers, The Society of California Pioneers
Donor and date of acquisition unknown
General John Bidwell was born in Ripley, NY in 1819 and grew up in Erie, PA and Darke County, OH. By 19, he was headmaster
of Kingsburg Academy, and by 22, he had left his job as a farmer in Iowa and Kansas and begun the journey west to California.
As part of the Bidwell-Bartleson Party, he was a member of the first organized band of settlers to enter California over the
Sierra Mountains. Once in California, he worked for Captain John Sutter as a surveyor near Bodega Bay and took a census of
the upper Sacramento Valley. Bidwell was present when the first American flag was raised at Sutter’s Fort on July 11, 1846.
Soon after, he staked his claim to the gold in the Middle Fork of the Feather River, making him very wealthy. Bidwell Bar,
a town now taken over by the Oroville Dam, was named after Bidwell. He obtained over 25,000 acres of land and laid out the
city of Chico, setting the foundations for many of the city’s parks, churches, and schools. An early producer of wheat, olive
oil, and raisins, Bidwell had 7,000 acres of land under cultivation and was on good terms with local Native Americans/Indians,
allowing them to live on his land and hiring them to work in his fields. He was the first postmaster of Chico and ran for
Governor of California and President of the United State of America. He was eventually elected to Congress and met Annie Ellicott
Kennedy while serving in Washington, D.C. Their marriage lasted 32 years until his death in 1900. Chico State College now
rests on one of his numerous donations of land.
The folder contains multiple letters to the Society of California Pioneers, a few personal letters written by John Bidwell,
numerous newspaper articles on Bidwell and his house in Chico, a report by the California State Park Commission on his house
in Chico, and various other documents relating to Bidwell’s life in California.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 101 Montgomery Street, Suite 150, Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94129.
Related Archival Materials note
Institutional records “Bidwell, John” Obituary Record (vol. 7, pg. 183) Autobiography Records (vol. 7, pg. 33) Mortuary Record
1892-1906 (pg. 126)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bidwell Mansion Association.
Powell, G.M.
Society of California Pioneers.
Chico (Calif.)--History.
Deeds--California
Society of California Pioneers