Bidwell, John

Bidwell, John

(1819–1900) pioneer, public official; born in Chatauqua County, N.Y. He moved to Missouri (1839) and then to California (1841). He worked at John Sutter's fort and was active in the short-lived Bear Flag Republic (1846). He found gold on the Feather River and became California's leading rancher. He was in the U.S. House of Representatives (Unionist, Calif.; 1865–67) and was the Prohibition Party candidate for the presidency in 1892.