An American pioneer and agriculturist, John Bidwell (1819-1900) was instrumental in the settlement of California and remained active in its politics for half a century.

John Bidwell was born in Chautauqua County, N.Y., on Aug. 5, 1819. When he was 10 years old, the family moved to Pennsylvania; 2 years later they settled in Drake County, Ohio. At 17 Bidwell wanted an education so badly that he walked 300 miles to enter Kingsville Academy; after receiving his education he taught school until 1839.

Bidwell decided to seek his fortune in the West and spent time in Missouri and Kansas before joining a wagon train bound for Oregon in 1841. At Fort Hall, in Idaho, half the group, Bidwell among them, decided to go instead to California--making the first major overland trek to California.

In the Mexican province of California, Bidwell worked for John A. Sutter for 3 years before being naturalized and receiving a land grant...