John Bidwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Bidwell
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 3rd district |
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| In office March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | James Johnson |
| Member of the California Senate from the Sacramento district |
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| In office 1849–1851 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Alonzo W. Adams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 5, 1819 Chautauqua County, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 4, 1900 (aged 80) Chico, California |
| Political party | Democratic (Before 1864) Republican (1864–1875) Anti-Monopoly (1875–1888) Prohibition (1888–1900) |
| Spouse | Annie Kennedy |
| Residence | Bidwell Mansion |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United StatesCalifornia Republic |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit | California Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War Bear Flag Revolt |
John Bidwell (August 5, 1819 – April 4, 1900) was a very important person in California's history. He was known as a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first people to explore and settle new lands. He was also a farmer, a soldier, and a politician. He helped found the city of Chico, California.
Bidwell led one of the first groups of emigrants (people moving to a new place) along the California Trail. This group was called the Bartleson–Bidwell Party. He became a Mexican citizen before the Mexican–American War and received large land grants. This helped him become a very wealthy rancher.
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John Bidwell's Early Life and Adventures
Bidwell was born in 1819 in Chautauqua County, New York. His family moved several times when he was young, first to Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and then to Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1831. When he was 17, he went to Kingsville Academy and soon became its principal.
In 1841, at age 22, Bidwell became one of the first people to travel the California Trail. When he arrived in California, John Sutter hired him to manage his business. In 1845, Bidwell and Sutter joined Governor Manuel Micheltorena to fight against a rebellion. They were briefly imprisoned but soon released.
Gold Discovery and Land Ownership
After being released, Bidwell traveled north and saw some early gold mining. This made him want to search for gold himself. Soon after James Wilson Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, Bidwell also found gold on the Feather River. He started a successful gold claim at Bidwell Bar, even before the famous California Gold Rush began.
Bidwell became a Mexican citizen in 1844 and received large land grants. He later bought Rancho Arroyo Chico on Chico Creek. This is where he built his ranch and farm, which would later become the city of Chico.
Military and Political Career
Bidwell became a major during the Mexican–American War. In 1849, he was elected to the California State Senate. He also helped with the federal census in California in 1850 and 1860.
In 1860, Bidwell was a delegate for the Democratic Party at their national meeting. In 1863, he was made a brigadier general in the California Militia. He later changed parties and became a delegate for the Republican Party in 1864. That same year, he was elected to the United States Congress, serving from 1865 to 1867.
Fort Bidwell and Protecting Trails
In 1865, General Bidwell supported a request from settlers in Red Bluff, California. They wanted protection for their trail to the Owyhee Mines in Idaho. The United States Army decided to build seven forts for this purpose. One of these forts, named Fort Bidwell, was built near Fandango Pass.
Fort Bidwell was built during a time of increased fighting with the Snake Indians. It served as a base for the U.S. Army during the Snake War and later the Modoc War. Even after the main trail was less used, the Army kept Fort Bidwell open until 1890 to help keep the peace. Today, a Paiute reservation and a small town still carry the name Fort Bidwell.
Family Life and Activism
In 1868, when he was about 49, John Bidwell married Annie Kennedy. She was 20 years younger than him. Annie's father, Joseph C. G. Kennedy, was a high-ranking official in Washington, D.C., who oversaw the United States Census Bureau. John Bidwell had met him while working on the California census.
Annie Kennedy was a very religious person and was dedicated to many social causes. She was very active in the suffrage movement, which fought for women's right to vote. She was also a strong supporter of the prohibition movement, which aimed to stop the sale of alcohol.
Life at Bidwell Mansion
John and Annie married on April 16, 1868, in Washington, D.C. Important guests like President Andrew Johnson and future president Ulysses S. Grant attended their wedding. After they moved back to Chico, the Bidwells often hosted friends and important guests at their home, the Bidwell Mansion.
Some famous visitors included President Rutherford B. Hayes, General William Tecumseh Sherman, Susan B. Anthony (a leader in the women's suffrage movement), and John Muir (a famous naturalist).
Later Political Career
In 1875, Bidwell ran for Governor of California as a candidate for the Anti-Monopoly Party. He was a strong supporter of the temperance movement, which encouraged people to drink less alcohol. He ran for governor again in 1880 as the candidate for the Prohibition Party.
In 1892, John Bidwell was the Prohibition Party candidate for President of the United States. He and his running mate, James B. Cranfill, received 271,058 votes. This was 2.3 percent of the total votes nationwide, which was the highest percentage ever received by a Prohibition Party presidential ticket.
Legacy and Death
John Bidwell wrote his autobiography, Echoes of the Past, which was published in 1900. He passed away from natural causes on April 4, 1900, at the age of 80. His family's important papers are kept at the Bancroft Library.
The actor Howard Negley played John Bidwell in a 1953 TV episode called "The Lady with the Blue Silk Umbrella." This episode was part of the show Death Valley Days.
Fraternal Allegiance
Bidwell was part of a group called the Freemasons for a time. However, he later left the group, saying it "was pointless" in a letter to Annie Kennedy in 1867. His name is still in the records of the Chico-Leland Stanford Lodge #111 in Chico, California.
Images for kids
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Fort Bidwell in 1877
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Annie and John Bidwell
See also
In Spanish: John Bidwell para niños
