Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-05-08
Gen. Fremont's Family i'm Destitution.

Gen. Fremont's Family in Destitution.
The New York World of April 80 saws
that the most positive statements are
made to the effect that Gen. John G..
Fremont, who, with his wife and son
Frank, has been for some months in
straitened circumstances, has been in
actual personal suffering, through des-
titution and lack Of food. This is prob
ably in exaggeration, although since the
sale of Gen. Fremonts library, some
months ago by the sheriff, it is true that
he has been without income, and has
sought employment in vain. He has
been In Washington frequently, and a.
dispatch from that city received tonight
says that Speaker Randall saw him to-
day though it was impossible to find
his quarters. For the past two years
Gen. Fremont had lived at No. 924
Madison avenue. One Of his nearest
nelghbors, Gen. James Grant Wilson, a
distinguished cavalry officer during the
war, told a reporter what he knew of
Gen. Fremonts late life.
Ten Or twelve years ago." said this
intimate friend, "'Gen. Fremont was sup
posed to be millionaire His family
then lived at the fine villa formerly
owned by Gen. Webb, on the Hudson,
between Tarrytown and Sing Sing. They
had also fine city residence on Ninth
street. At the country villa the family
received the first society, not of New
York only, but of the nation, as the
generals notoriety Of having been the
most successful candidate for the
presidency In 1856 made him
conspicuous character in social life, if
not politics. Besides, Mrs. Fremont, as
is we'll known, is highly accomplish
ed lady, and was always most charm
ing in the social circle. For the last
five Or six years Gen. Fremont's, re-
sources have rapidly declined, and two
years ago he was obliged to give up
both his city residence and his villa On
the Hudson. With what remained Of
the furniture in the country residence
a house on Madison avenue, near 74th
street, was fitted up, and there the fam
lily resided until about two months ago.
1t was in the latter part of December,
or the early part of January, that the
sheriff entered the house and hung out
the red flag, the sign that the house
hold goods were to be sold out at auc-
ton. Well, as Gen. Fremont's friends
and neighbors knew that he was in
straltened circumstances, we never
dreamed that he was so utterly wreck
ed. A natural pride caused the mem
| bers of the family to keep their troub-
les to themselves and when actually
driven out of the house and home, Mrs.
Fremont Miss Fremont and Frank &C.
fol tot. II, ~
and visit them, and remain as long as
they choose. Gen. Fremont suddenly
disappeared from the city Some thought
it was on account of his lack of courage
to face old friends after the humiliation
of being sold out under the
sheriff's hammer. while others said he
had been obliged to leave to escape a
. warrant for his arrest, which, if it had
been served, would have resulted in
his being taken into the sheriff7s Gus
tody. At the sale which took place all
the furniture. all the pictures, books,
and even the family portraits were
sold, with the bare exception of
a large oil portrait of Mrs.
Fremont and q marble bust of her
| father, Col. Benton. These were saved
through the kindness of some friends,
who bid them in, thus preventing their
being sold to strangers for almost moth
ing. [ heard about three weeks ago that a
gentleman had called on Mr.. Thurlow
Weed and asked for assistance in res
cuing Gen. Fremont. who was in New
Jersey destitute. It was said that he
had been without food for two or three
days. [ understand that some gentle
men put together and got him some of
kind Of an appointment which would
enable him to earn living at least.
His family consists of his wife, two
sons and daughter The eldest son is
in the navy, and the other. Frank,
being sickly has never entered any
/ kind of business ~ so5 2n
HAS Gen. Fremont, asked the wri-
ter, "been doing anything from which
he could derive an income during the
past two years?'' q Esi4.s. ifa
"He has been engaged with some
kind of a nickel-plating firm, but what
firm it is or to what extent he was IN
terested, I do not know" n
Mrs. John D. Townsend, whose fami-
| ly mas been on very intimate terms with
the Fremonts for several years, said the
starvation story was untrue, and Gen.
and Mrs. Fremont, she added, had
spent the winter on Staten Island Gen.
Fremont is now in Washington doing,
| she did not know what. Mrs. Fremont
had spent Sunday With her, and was
going on to join her husband in Wash
ington. While they were very much
reduced in circumstances, the FIRE.
monts, she said, were not in actual
want sIE.zSs &C
- Shad IN Georgia Rivers. &c a'@-
The Atlanta Constitutional says: "Gen-