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John Bidwell is born with an adventurous spirit
John Bidwell was born in Chautauqua County, New York in 1819. His family moved to both Pennsylvania and Ohio when he was young. Later in John's 20s he moved to Missouri as a schoolteacher.
http://factcards.califa.org/exp/bidwell.html
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000447 -
Bidwell in Sacramento
Bidwell arrives in Sacramento in 1841 and secures employment with John A. Sutter. He also endevours as a miner, served in the War with Mexico as a General, and became a member of the State senate.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000447 -
Bidwell arrives in California
Chico's founder moves to California as a young schoolmaster in 1841. He passes through the Chico area while working for John Sutter. He discovers a picturesque place to settle down.
https://www.downtownchico.com/history-timeline.htm -
John Bidwell buys Rancho Arroyo Chico
John Bidwell uses his riches to buy half of Rancho Arroyo Chico (the Dickey Grant), where he erects a cabin near the old Hudson's Bay pack trail. Two years later he buys the remainder of the Grant from Dickey, extending his holdings to the east, into the foothills.
https://www.downtownchico.com/history-timeline.htm -
California to become a state
John travels to Washington DC where he helps lobby for California to be a state.
[http://bidwellmansionpark.com/history/bidwell-mansion-timeline/] -
Founding of Chico
The City of Chico, CA was founded by General John Bidwell in 1860 http://www.chico.ca.us/about/ -
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Bidwell for Agriculture
John serves in Congress for California and is put in charge of the Committee on Agriculture.
http://bidwellmansionpark.com/history/bidwell-mansion-timeline/ -
Bidwell Mansion is built
Bidwell is now a Congressman and has married Annie E. Kennedy. Annie has traveled across the country from Washington D.C. to join John. For his blushing bride John builds Bidwell Mansion which has become the center for his agriculture business. https://www.downtownchico.com/history-timeline.htm -
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The State Normal School is established
in 1887 Annie Bidwell establishes the first teachers school.
https://www.downtownchico.com/history-timeline.htm -
John Bidwell dies
John Bidwell the founder of Chico dies at the age of 81. http://factcards.califa.org/exp/bidwell.html -
Bidwell Park is endowed to the city
After John Bidwell passes in 1900, Annie gives the City of Chico a large tract of land and an area that she called "Vallombrosa," to preserve its natural beauty. It is called Bidwell Park, the third larges municipal park in the nation. The Park entrance is located at the eduge of downtown and leads to 2,400 acres of creekside and canyon beauty on Chico Creek. https://www.downtownchico.com/history-timeline.htm -
Chico Normal School Burns
The original building burns to the ground, but the teaching and educating spirit of Chico continues on through the State Teacher's College, Chico State College, and California State University, Chico. https://www.downtownchico.com/history-timeline.htm
