True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-07-16
Geographical,
.. .s From the Life Illustrated.
JOHN CHARLES FREMONT.

JOHN CHARLES FREMONT.
Colonel Fremont, who has just b,en
nominated for the presidency by the Re-
publican Convention at Philadelphia, was
born at Savannah, Ga, on the 2lst jan,
1913. The family residence, however,
was in Charleston, S. g., where he was
bred and educated. ......... r.. .,..
-, He is ofFrencl descent on the fathers
side, and the mother was Virginan,
who was early left widow, with the. care
ofihree children, and with extreme ly. limi,
ted means. Being the eldest, he was
surrounded by prIvations which early
called forth all the strength Of his indomi.
table courage, will, and heroism. r
In 1928 he entered the junior class Of
Charleston College, and on leaving which
he engaged in teaching mathematics as a
means Of support for his widowed moth.
er and Two younger children. s..s
III 1888 he obtained post on the sloop
Of war Natchez, and served on board. of
her two years and a half. . .-,,u,.l5 -,.
On returning he adopted the profession
of surveyor aud railroad engineer, and
was employed in lhe survey Of a route
from Charleston TO Cincinnati, Shortly
after. at the Recommendation of Mr.. Poin
sett, then secretary Of The navy, he was
appointed chief assistant surveyor under
M. Nlcollet, a distinguished French savan
IN the United States service, in an ex
plorng expedition over the North wes-
tern prairies, during the year 1888 and
1889. While absent he received the ap
pointment ofsecond lieutenant in the Corps
ofTopographical Engineers. -,,1s
%. On his return 70 Washington, and while
preparing ma IS and report OF this sur
vey, he furmed the acquaintance of the
family of Col. Benton. winch resulted in
the marriage Of one Of his daughters in
l64l. THIS, however, required Ol the
gallant young officer about as much hero
ism as any acl of his life, for it is under
stood that Col. Benton, the BRIDES father,
WAS opposed to The maleh-for, Fremont
was almost unknown, and had nothing
but his commission and his talents to rec.
ommend him. But he who had in him
the spirit to brave the sleeps and SHOWS
of the Rocky Mountains, was not to be
dsunled in an affair where youth and beau
ty btckoned him onward. So he sought
in Washington clergyman of his own
profession, viz, that of the Protestant /
Episcopal Church 10 unite them iu mar
riage; but they all refused. because Col.
Benton, then being in his palmy DAYS of
power in The Federal city, no Episcopal
or other leading clergyman thought iii 10
risk his disapproba'ion by soIemnizing the
marriage OF his daughter in opposition to
his will. Iii this dilemma lady, who
was Catholic, offered 10 find the priest
who would knn the knot aud ask no
questions. This offer being accepted, she
brought IN pres. OF the Catholic Church
called father Horselgh, who performed
the ceremony.
The daring young lover, who thus
braved the etevan senator of Missouri,
soon taught his venerable father-in,law
to respect HIM for his talents and noble
deeds. and 10 look upon him with pleas
ure and pride. She, whose grace and
beauty could thus tempt our hero, has
proved herself worthy Of The risk he run,
aud evInced that her Judgment and dis
criinlnalloilin respect u ncr own choice
were moi interior 10 her destinations,
In May, lS42, the Uniled STATES. hav-
ing approved his plan, and accepted his
proposition to penetrate the Rucky Noun
tains, he sci out with a mere handful of
men on the first OF his three great explor-
ing expeditions. Tins lasted i've months
and resulted In the exploration of the Ia
nous South Pass, one Of Tie great high
,wayslto California and Oregon. Heck
ahmed with great care and, skill its geo.
logical, geographical, botanical. and other
pecnliarites, and STOOD on the Wind Rv-
erPesk. the highest summit Of The Rocky
HIS report Of this expedition was read
The world over will the highest interest,
and at once established The character Of
its author as . man 1f science, bold ad
venture, and nnpre,endlng modesly.
10 Not vel satisfied, Fremont was. eager
TO explore the vast tract OF, wilderness
over which the white man s foot had new
er roamed, which lay between. his first
route and the. explorations of Commodore
Wilkes on the Pacific coast, and thus. to
layiOpen 10 civilized man the unknown
expanse on both SIDES Of the Rocky Moun-
tains. 1850 Il tlW busf aq'+tns p 3u
: On The 524.h May, ls43, Fremont, with
hisparty of thirty nine persons, started
from the village Of Kenzas, andlwere oc-
cupied IN, this exploration ill August oi
the next year. 2 He approached the Noun
tains,by a,newalInef scaled their SUBMITS
south of, the South Pass, obtained the
first accurate Information relative ~ the
Great Salt Lake, the great basin Of Utah,
and first brought .ollgh., asit were, the
region now constituting the Territory oi
Utah and The State Of California, and es'