William B. Ide

William Brown Ide (March 28 1796 - December 1852) was a California pioneer and president of the short-lived California Republic.

Biography
Ide was born in Rutland, Massachusetts to Lemuel Ide, a member of the Vermont State Legislature. Ide, a carpenter by trade, married in 1820. He and his wife Susan lived at first in Massachusetts, but soon began moving westward - to Kentucky, then to Ohio after converting to Mormonism, and finally to Illinois. They farmed in Springfield, with Ide supplementing his income by teaching school.

Ide in California
In 1845, after the death of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, Ide sold his farm and joined a wagon train in Independence, Missouri headed for Oregon. On the advice of a mountain man named Caleb Greenwood, Ide and a group of settlers split off and head to Alta California, then a province of Mexico. They arrived at Sutter's Fort on October 25, 1845.

The California Republic
In the summer of 1846, learning the Mexican government was threatening to expel all settlers who were not Mexican citizens, about thirty settlers conducted what was to become known as the Bear Flag Revolt. On June 10, after seizing the plaza of Sonoma and capturing the Mexican Commandante of Northern California, Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, who in fact also supported American annexation, the rebels raised the new California Bear flag, proclaiming the Mexican province to be the California Republic.

Ide was chosen to serve as president of the republic. However, he was never formally given the title nor did he ever claim it. The Bear Flag Republic lasted for just 25 days, when it was learned that the United States declared war on Mexico. Ide and the other "Bear Flaggers" joined John C. Frémont and the U.S. armed forces in taking possession of California from Mexico.

Last years
After the Mexican War, Ide returned to his home near Red Bluff, California, where he resumed his partnership with Josiah Belden at his rancho. He bought out Belden in 1849, and was successful in mining.

Ide died of smallpox in December, 1852, at the age of 56.

William B. Ide State Historic Park, comprised of a restored adobe house and other buildings near Red Bluff, commemorates his life.