Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-01-01
ACOOD WOMAN DEAD.
Jessie Benton Fremont Suceumbsd
to an Attack Of Pneumonia.
SHE was THE "PA1HFlIDER'S" WIFE


Los Angeles. Cal, Dec. 29.-Mrs.
Jessie Benton Fremont widow of
Gen. Fremont, Is dead Of pneumonia
at her home, hot West Twenty
eighth street. In this city, at 7s years
Of age. The "Pathfnder's" widow
was . daughter of the late Senator
Benton, Of Missouri. Her home here
was house given her by the women
Of California.
Mrs. Fremont was crippled and un-
able TO walk. Several years ago she
fell, dislocating her hip. Since then
she was helpless, 90 far Is walking
was concerned, and had required the
constant attention of q trained nurse.
Her general health, however, was
good. She was taken Ill on Christmas
morning. Mrs. Fremont received
from the government q pension Of
$4,000 a year, and this, together with
the comfortable home which the wo-
men Of California provided for her
some years ago, served very well for
herself and her daughter.
Mrs. Fremont was the widow Of
Gen. Fremont, the pathfinder" OF
the '40s Of the recent century, q
leader in the conquest Of California
in 1s4s, the republican party's first
candidate for the presidency and
commander of the department OF the
west carly in the civil war. M
Mrs. Fremont, at the time Of her
marriage, was the daughter Of Mis-
souri's senior senator, Thomas A.
Benton, for 80 years senator, leader
Of tho Jacllsonian element Of the ma
tional democracy. She married the
general, then Lieut.. Fremont, in 1St1,
when only II years Of age. The mar
rage advanced Fremont's fortunes
professionally and politically. 1t as
sisted in getting the young officer
tho assignments for the exploration
Of the Rocky mountain region and
the Pacific coast, for which his tai
ents and ambition conspicuously
fitted him. 1t gained him q reputa-
ton throughout the world a. the
pathfinder Of the Western Wilder
ness" and helped to get him the presi-
dental candidacy subsequently.
In 1S43 Mrs. Fremont's penetration
and courage hadSa decisive influence
on her husbands career and at the
same time had an effect on her coun-
try's history. She was then living
with her father in ST! Louis, also her
husbands residence city. Lieut.. Free
mont was then at Kaw landing, the
present site Of Kansas City. His
mail, however, was being received In
St. Louis by his wife. She opened
a letter from the chief of the topo-
graphical bureau, ordering Fremont
to Washington to explain why he was
carrying a howitzer. Knowing the
seriousness of the situation, she with
held the letter and warned her hus-
band to start at the earliest possible
moment across the plains.
Fremont started Immediately,
pushed across the prairies, went over
the Rockies, explored the great Salt
Lake basin, penetrated the region
around the Columbia's upper tribu-
taries, marched down the Pacific
coast into California, then Mexican
territory, retraced his way north and
east through gap in the sierra
Nevadas never penetrated by white
men before that time, made another
investigation Of Salt Lakes surround
ings and then, swinging eastward,
was back in st. Louis in midsummer
Of 1874. This was the expedition
which made Fremont's reputation all
over the world and reflected on the
government at Washington, which
had tried to prevent the expedition,
a credit which that government took
especial pains to appropriate.
This expedition had two sorts OF
political consequences of decisive in
fiuence on the country's history.
Fremont's report, published in 1s45,
sent Brigham Young and the Nor
mons to Salt Lake, then Mexican ter
ritory, which came to the United
States In the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo in 1s4s, the end of the Meu-
can war, and diverted them from
Lower California, where they orig
inally intended to locate. Lower Cali-
fornia remained in Mexico's hands
after the treaty and ever since. A
still more important consequence was
that II gave Fremont a knowledge
of the strategic points in California,
which he turned to decisive account
on his third expedition in 1886 when
he struck the first blow in the war
which made California and New Mex
leo United States territory. He be-
came one Of CALIFORNIA; first senator's
when that state entered the union In
1850.