The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-23
One Splendid Woman's Devotion to
Man Who Early Won Her Heart.
HER HERO WAS LATE ! c. FREMONT.
She Upheld and CuunsslIed Him Through
Thick and Thin Until He Was Finally
vIndlcated BY U. S. Congress.

In far away Los Angeles, Cal, beside
land her lover and lifetime hero addei to
our national domain, the most famous
st. Lo his girl. now seventy-six years Old.
is passing her declining days.
The life story OF Jessie Benton FREE
mont is a priceless heritage to the nation.
rows. and above all supreme love. It's
the story of one splendid woman's death
less devotion to the man who won her
heart I'm girlhood.
Her story is one OF great national ro-
nance of America. In the ancient ro-
lady loves favor by doughty deeds. In
this story the lady was won in the sim
Pile, everyday manner, when the hero
was young and poor and without great
prospects and afterward. inspired by the
heroine's fine faith in him as a man OF
destiny, he went forth and made new
maps of his continent. became the ex-
ploring Columbus OF the new worlds un-
known interior. made pathways over
trackless mountains and added to the do
main of his country the empire or Cali
fornia and the matchless harbor of the
Golden Gate.
The hero was John c. Fremont. the
first candidate OF the Republican party
for president, and In character the Roose-
Welt of his day.
Jessie Benton was the second daughter
of Thomas Hart Benton, for thirty years
United States senator from Missouri.
Her childhood was passed at the family
home In ST.. Louis. at the senatorial
abode in Washington. and at the family
seatof her maternal grandfather I'm Vir-
Rinia, where she was born May 81, 1924.
She was only fifteen when she first met
Fremont In Washington, just returned as
civil engineer. with the rank of second
lieutenant I'm the United States army.
Fremont was the girls senior by twelve
years. handsome man who had travel
ed on perilous Journeys. n soldier OF his
country. a man who talked OF national
trade expansion. Was IL any wonder
that the daughter Of the great senator
who pointed westward and exclaimed.
There Is the east: there lies the road TO
India" should fall In love with this
young man who already had explored
and mapped part of that westward
road?
But Senator Benton. while admiring
Fremont, objected to the match. So also
did Mrs. Benton. who had waited seven
years until Benton resigned from the
army and established himself i'm pro-
fession before she would marry him.
Jessie apparently was dutiful. but love
was not to be overcome by these unes-
sential criticisms In the meantime Ere
mont had been called away on another
exploring expedition. and few months
later. when he returned to Washington.
he and Jessie Benton slipped quietly
away and were married.
When Senator and Mrs. Benson were
informed Of their marriage they relented.
and thereafter Benton was almost as
faithful believer In the manifest destiny
bf his son-in-law as was his daughter
Shortly after the marriage Mr.. and Mrs
Fremont went to st. Louis and with a
party OF st. Louisans. the lieutenant set
put upon more important expedition
nto the wilds than hitherto he had un-
lertaken. ms
Fremont was absent for eighteen
months In the wilds OF the Rockies, dur
ng which time he placed the United
states flag on the top OF the highest peak
n the system. never before trodden by