Shasta County CA Archives Biographies.....Bidwell, William J. 1844 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 22, 2007, 3:59 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

WILLIAM J. BIDWELL came to this State in 1852, when a lad eight years of age. He
was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 30, 1844, the son of John H. and
Elizabeth (Hayburn) Bidwell, the former a native of New York and the latter of
Pennsylvania. Grandfather Henry Hayburn was a native of the Emerald Isle, who
came to the United States when a boy.

  Upon their arrival in California, Mr. Bidwell's father settled at Horsetown,
Shasta County, and mined during the winter of 1852. He then engaged in the
blacksmith and wagon-making business, which he followed until 1858. In that year
they removed to the western part of the county and took up 160 acres of land.
After remaining on it three years he sold out, went to Shasta and worked at his
trade. William learned the trade with his father, after which he removed to
Millville and opened a shop of his own. His father died in 1875 and his mother
in 1877. After working at the blacksmith business in Millville for sixteen
years, Mr. Bidwell removed to Burney Valley, opened a store and also, in
connection with his brother, carried on blacksmithing. They afterward sold their
store and shop and purchased 600 acres of land and engaged in stock-raising. He
raises both horses and cattle. His ranch contains meadow, grain and pasture
land, and is also adapted for fruit, as he has a fine apple orchard on it.

  Mr. Bidwell was married, in 1871, to Miss Mary A. Harrington, a native of
Iowa. They  have had five children, all born in Shasta County, and all living,
namely: Elma, John N., William J., Burney and Nellie. Mr. Bidwell is a
Republican. In 1888 he was elected one of the Supervisors of the county, and
since he has been a member of the board lie has favored the many improvements
which have been made, such as building new roads and fine bridges and the
construction of the court-house and jail. These much needed improvements are of
great value to the county and reflect credit on the Board of Supervisors, who so
earnestly labored for the public benefit. A number of times Mr. Bidwell has held
the office of school trustee in his district. He is an active member of the
fraternity of Odd Fellows, having passed all the chairs of the order.

  In connection with his mining experience, Mr. Bidwell states that he has taken
out as much as $50 per day in placer mines.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/shasta/bios/bidwell882bs.txt

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