The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-01-03
LIFE STORY OF JESSIE BENTON FREMONT
Daughter Of Mssours Greatest Senator and Wife of the
Nations Greatest Explorer.
ROMANTIC MARRIAGE AND ACTIVE LIFE.
Her Death at her California Home-the Gift Of the
People of that State.

Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, widow
Of General Fremont, died Of pneu-
menia at her home in Los Angeles,
California, last Sunday. The "Psth-
Rnder's' widow vas adaughter Of the
late Senator Benton, Of Missouri.
Her home was house given her by
the women Of California.
Mrs. Fremont was crippled and
unable to walk. Several years ago
she fell, dIslOcatiDg her hip. Since
then she was helpless, so far as walk
ing was concerned, and had required
the constant attention Of a trained
nurse Her general health, however,
was good. Mrs. Fremont received
from the government pension of
50, 900 a year, and this, together
with the comfortable home which
the women of California provided for
her some years ago, served very well
for herself and daughter.
Mrs. Fremont was the widow of
General Fremont, the "pathdnder" of
the '4Os of the recent century,
leader 10 the conquest of California
10 lS46, the republican party's first
candidate for the presidency and COM
mander of the department of the
west early 10 the civil war.
The marriage in lS4l Of the DASH
ing, ambitious and intrepid Lieu
tenant Fremont to the beautiful,
brilliant and popular Jessie Benton,
the l7.year-old daughter of Missouris
senior senator, leader OF the jack
sonian element OF the national democ-
racy, as distinguished from the
Calhoun faction, was an event which
! attracted almost as much attention
throughout the country as did the
contest then under way between
Tyler and the wing party, which
elected him vice president on the
ticket with Harrison. He went to
the presidency on Harrison's death.
The marriage advanced fremont's
fortunes professionally and politically.
1t assisted in getting the young officer
the assignments for the exploration
Of the Rocky mountain region aud
the Pacific coast, for which his talents
aud ambition conspicuously fitted
him 1t gained him a reputation
throughout the world as the "path-
finder of the western wilderness, -
and helped to get him the presden-
tial candidacy subsequently,.
On the second Of these expeditions,
that Of ls43, her penetration and
courage had decisive influence on
her husbands career and at the same
time had an effect on her country Is
history. Mrs Fremont, then in St.
Louis, her fathers and husband's s
residence city, was directed by hel
husband to open all the letters sent
to him, official aud personal aud tC
send him only those giving him In
structions necessary for him 10 ob
serve. Receiving a letter from Colone
Albert, chief Of the Typographical
bureau, ordering Fremont to TeturI
to Washington and explain why ht
was carving howitzer, which
Fremont wisely obtained in order t
arm his men against the hostile
Blackfeet knowing that return
would mean the end Of the expedition
for that year, and perhaps for a.
: time, Mrs Fremont withheld tn
letter and sent mounted messenge
10 Fremont who was then at Kav
Landing, the site Of the presen
Kansas city, beyond the verge 0
civilization, preparing TO start acros
the plaino She warned him 10 &c
under way at the earliest possibl
! moment
lie obeyed the injunction, plishe
across the pralries, went over tn
rockies, explored The great Salt LAX
baalu, peuctrated The region aroun
! the ColumbIas upper tributaries
marched down the Pacific coast int
= calIfornla. then Mexican ierrtor,
q retaeed bis way north and eai
y through a gap - the Sierra Nevada
d never penetrated by white men D,
y fore chat time, made another invests
gatlUn 81 salt Lakes surrounding