JOHN BIDWELL Prince of California Pioneers

Biography of a gentle, modest, religious, loyal man who knew his adopted state through its Hispanic days, the pre-gold era, the boom years, and the subsequent development into its permanent place of importance. Born in New York state, he spent a short time in his youth as a teacher, and then headed west by immigrant train, experiencing all frontier adventures and finding work with Sutter on his arrival. He was friendly with the Indians, he had a hand in the gold discovery, acquired land of his own, and became a figure of importance, politically and locally. Laudatory biography, and not what you would call inspiring reading. Destined largely for local sale.