MECHOOPDA INDIAN TRIBAL TIMELINE
1849 Bidwell buys Mexican Land grant
1850 President sends commissioner out to treaty with Indians
1851 Treaties where concluded at Bidwell’s ranch.
1852 July 8 US Senate rejects Treaties. Secretly hides treaties until 1905
1944 Earl Warren as Attorney General of CA represents tribes vs. US regarding treaties.
17 Million judgment
-12 Million by the US for services rendered
5 Million distributed to Indians
1853 Jefferson Davis secretary of war Notify California Benica division that Reservation are to be made.
1854 Nome Lackee Reservation is established
1863 George Hanson Superintendent for Indian affairs in N. Cali wrote to Washington informing them that some Indians are better off not going to the reservation. They hold jobs. Bidwell didn’t let his Indians go cause of the agreement Mechoopda had with wozencraft.
1849-1868 Mechoopda Indians lived as they use to, even under Bidwell charge.
1863 Indians in Hills kill 3 children, group of 500 men met at Pentz Ranch. Men want all Indians removed or killed. Mechoopda Indians run to the river.
1868 Bidwell Marries Annie in Washington.
1909 Bidwell Deed trust of Indians to Presbyterian Board of home missions. mrs bidwell divided up the tracts of land to individuals. June 4th Santa Wilson was issued a certificate title from mrs bidwell.
1913 Marie Bain is born
1918 Mrs Bidwell dies
1934 No other certificates of deed where found except for Elmer Lafonso.
1933 guy Kennedy Bidwell’s nephew dies, he acted as executor over the estate. Issue of taxation occurred.
1923 California purchased Mansion and grounds as addition to Chico state college.
14 acres annexed to the city of Chico and became subject to sewer tax.
1934 Rev. Pillsbury learns of the delinquency and the sale of the tract(April 20th) and works to save it.
Undated plea from 15 members of the tribe to BIA for representation.
1935 Judge Harry Deirup, of the Superior court of the state of California and couinty of Butte. Indian trust is charitable and valid seeks to appoint a new trustee.
1935 March 25th Judge Dierup appoints Harris Pillsbury trustee.
1935 May25th trustee was transferred to Pillsbury.
1937 sum total of 2,041.39 was spent to clear title of sewer tax.
1939 February 16th Presbyterian Board of home missions signed a indenture relinquishing all interest of the trusts.
1939 Oct 19th BIA notifies Pillsbury of the ability of the BIA to make final payment for the Chico lands.
Oct 21 Pillsbury relinquishes trustee and Mechoopda become wards of the federal government.
1934 14 acres was assessed for taxation.
1955 Federal government withdrawal trust trusteeship for the tribe
1958 federal budget recognizes responsibilities to the Chico Indians
1955 Tribe elects first board
Carl Delgado(president)
Sherman Wilson(vice president)
Genevieve Lafonso(Secretary)
1955 December in a Mass meeting Tribe request the US government to give them fee patent to their Rancheria.
1957Bidwell Rancheria
by Anne Currie
1957 Clair Engle introduce a Bill in the House of representative to distribute lands and assets in his district. Resends Bill
1986 Tribal Member organize an seeks federal recognition.
1994 Federal recognition is restored.
1998 Tribal Constitution is adopted.
Signers: 2-1-98
Chairman Election Committee: Carol B. Rogers-Davis
Member Election Committee: Patricia Mc Henry
Member Election Committee: Pam Wilcox
Some Dates and Information derived from a 1957 eassay on Mechoopda Indians by Ann Currie
