Plumas County Biographies

Henry C. Bidwell

Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004 

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Mr. Bidwell was born in Middlebury, Vermont, June 9, 1831. He left Middlebury 
for Boston, at the age of thirteen years, and went to work in a store, remaining 
until 1847, when he joined the First Regiment of Mexican volunteers, and went to 
the war. He remained in Mexico until 1849, becoming familiar with the language. 
On the discovery of gold in California, he started for this coast, and arrived 
at San Francisco about the first of July of that year. For a while he was 
connected with the Sacramento Steamboat Company, after which he went to Chico 
with his father, Mr. Daniel Bidwell. From Chico he moved to Pescadero, where he 
engaged actively in mercantile pursuits. In 1860 he first came to Plumas county, 
and was engaged in mining in the county until the time of his death. For a few 
years before he died he was very successful, and at the time of his death was 
president of the Green Mountain G. M. Co., the Cherokee G. M. Co., the Gold 
Stripe M. Co., the Round Valley Water Co., the Rising Sun Co., and besides, had 
heavy interests in Idaho mines, which promised large returns. Mr. Bidwell was an 
old member of the Society of California Pioneers, and took a lively interest in 
the affairs of the organization. He left an invalid wife, a son and daughter, 
and a host of friends to mourn him. He was one of the most enterprising citizens 
of the county, and may be said to have been the father of Greenville, in which 
town he died November 28, 1880. His funeral was attended by hundreds from all 
over the county, all business in Greenville being suspended. The body was taken 
to Oakland for burial, where his family was residing at the time of his death.  
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. – Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 302-303