He served in the California Senate in 1849 , supervised the census of California in 1850 and again in 1860 .
Bidwell obtained the rank of major while fighting in the Mexican -- American War .
Bidwell served in the California Senate in 1849 , supervised the census of California in 1850 and again in 1860 .
Bidwell obtained the rank of major while fighting in the Mexican -- American War .