The "meanest man in California" as described by John Bidwell receives his chance at redemption thanks to this reprint of John Marsh, Pioneer by George Lyman as originally published in 1930. Here we discover an 18th Century Massachusetts native, born of English immigrants moving west with the nation. Marsh is a colorful man influencing people and events throughout his life and location. The first overland emigrants from the United States, the Bartleson-Bidwell Party, came to California specifically with Marsh's adobe home destination in mind. "The meanest man in California" stuck to Marsh's...