Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-07-25

Death Of JOhn q. Fremont.
In the removal by death from peritonitis
of General John Charles Fremont at
his home in New York, at the age of near
ly 7S years, there disappears one in whose
life there was much of romance and ad.
venture, whose name is closely connected
with the early history Of the Republican
party and its assaults upon the slave pow
er, with the exploration and settlement of
the great West and the securing of Cali
fornia to the United States
Fremont was born in Savannah, Ga, his
father being Frenchman and his mother
Virginian. On the death of his father
his mother removed to Charleston, S, c.,
where Fremont entered Charleston college,
from which he was afterward expelled,
though he later received his degree from it.
He was made professor of mathematics in
the navy, but soon left the sea and became
assistant engineer in the United States to-
biographical corps, making explorations in
the mountains between North Carolina and
Tennessee, and in 1893 80 accompanying
Nicolet on his exploration of the country
between Missouri and the British frontier
In lS4l occurred his romantic marriage
with Jessie Benton, daughter of Senator
Thomas II. Benton, and in the year follow
ing that series of explorations was begun
which made him one of the interesting fig
ures Of the times. Fremonts first work
was the exploration of the south pass of
the Rocky mountains and the Wind River
range, followed the next year by his ex-
pedition to the unknown region between
the Rocky mountains and the Pacific ocean,
securing on the way the first definite knowl-
edge of the Salt Lake region, then explor-
ing the upper Columbia river country. On
this expedition, without guides, he made
his way across the Sierras with his few
men, starting back after few days rest,
and reaching Kansas July, 1874. after an
absence of IA months, In 1845 he was
on his way again to explore the great basin
and the coast of Oregon and California, in
the course of which tour he deiied the Mex
lean authorities and took possession of
northern California for the United States,
afterward concluding with the Mexicans
articles of capitulation, closing the war
and making the province United States
territory. Another expedition in lS4S, to
discover a practicable route to California
by the way of the Rio Grande sources, was
undertaken at his own expense, and through
the route then discovered a railroad is now
built. He soon settled in California, be
coming very wealthy, and was elected to
the United States Senate, where he did his
state good service. In 1858 another trip
hardships, and in 1855 he removed to New
York The first Republican national con
vention nominated him for President in
| 1855, but he was defeated by Buchanan
After the breaking out of the war Fremont
was made major general Of volunteers in
charge of the western department, and
conducted several important engagements
resigning his command in 1852. In 1854
he again received the nomination for Pres
ident, but Withdrew for the sake of the
success of the party, and since that time
has appeared little in politics, though he
was governor of Arizona from 1873 to 1881
Several business enterprises we're entered
into, with small success, aud it is probable
that he died poor man In the death OF
Gen. Fremont the country has lost one oi
her remarkable men, whose life was one ol
marked variety and interest. His wife, I
brilliant and accomplished woman, promi
nent in social circles at home and abroad
survives him at the age of 60,