"Peter Lassen: The True Story Of A Danish Pioneer In California"

Retired librarian Nancy Leek of Chico continues her series of Golden State Biographies for children with the story of one of John Bidwell's compatriots. Illustrated by the inimitable Steve Ferchaud, the book is called "Peter Lassen: The True Story Of A Danish Pioneer In California" ($15.95 in paperback from Goldfields Books, goldfieldsbooks.com). 

It's available locally at Bidwell Mansion, ABC Books, Made in Chico, and at anchr.org, the site of the Association for Northern California Historical Research.

His influence? Think of "Lassen County, Lassen Peak, Lassen National Volcanic Park, Lassen National Forest, Lassen College," Lassen Trail, and more.

Leek evokes a man always on the move. "Born in Denmark in 1800," she writes, Lassen "was thirty years old when he decided to travel to America. ... He didn’t speak English. He didn’t know where he would go or what he would do. But an independent spirit and a love of adventure took him ... to a land of beauty and opportunity called California." 

He first landed in Boston, but the crowds were too much. He wouldn't settle in Missouri, either, because the frontier called out. Eventually, with Mexico's permission, he plied his blacksmith trade at Sutter's Fort, where he met Bidwell. But he wanted his own ranch, so he "chose a piece of land along Deer Creek."

"Many of the Indians living in northeastern California were Paiutes. Peter had usually gotten along well with Indians. Numaga (also known as Young Winnemucca) was the chief of a Paiute band. He and Peter became friends. They trusted each other. Peter was successful in settling disputes between the Indians and the settlers."

Wanting to invite others from Missouri to join him, he found a new route to California. In the meantime gold fever was in full swing and when he returned most of the workers had left. By 1850 he had left, too, wandering the mountains.

Lassen then set out for Nevada in 1859 with two other men in search of silver. Peter and one of his companions were shot and killed under still-mysterious circumstances. 

Stubborn but good-hearted "Old Pete" was gone. But, as Leek's book attests, his legacy remains.