The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-01-03

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 gov
erument 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
influence on the country's history.
FremOnt's report, published in lSs !,
sent Brigam Young and the MormOns
to Salt Lake, then Mexican territory,
which came to the United States 10
the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo In
lS48, the end OF the Mexican war
and diverted them from Lower CalS
ifornia, where they originally intend
ed to locate. Lower California re-
mained in Mexico's hands after the
treaty and ever since. A still more
important consequence was that it
gave Fremont a knowledge of the
stategic points 10 California, which
he turned TO decisive account on his
third expedition In 1S46, when he
struck the first blow in the war
which made California and New
Mexico United States territory. He
became one of California; S first sena-
tors when that state entered the
union in 1850.
In 1853 lands belonging to Mrs
Fremont in the harbor OF Sdn Fran
cisco we're seized for military pur-
poses by order Of Secretary Stanton,
and though lands adjoining hers
whlcb 0sae taken at the sametim0
were afterwards restored 10 the
owners, hers were held, aud not a
cect was paid her therefor by the
government. Various committees
of congress in the last third of
century investigated her claim, and
reported fayorably, but no action has
beeu taken.
or the many "reminiscences, OF
which Mrs. Fremont had a store,
none were as interesting as the story
she told Of the courtship Of General
Fremont aud Of her romantic marriage
to the explorer. She met John O..
Fremont 10 the very late '3Os. FIRE.
mont was then second lieutenant Of
engineers in the United States army
and was engaged 10 survey OF the
territory that lay between the Mis-
sOurl aud upper rivers. The young
officer was introduced iuto the house
Of Colonel Thomas Ii. Benton, then
United States senator from Missouri,
and at first sight, according 70 his
confession to the young woman after
she became bis wife, fell deeply in
love with Miss jessie Beuton, the
second daughter of the senator, then
young girl only fifteen years old
The young lieutenant proved to be an
ardent wooer and at once began tC
press his suit. The object Of bi.
affections looked favorably upon hi
wooing, but the parents OF The young
LADY seriously objected TO his atten
tious to their daughter.
Colouei Benton was vehement aut
, outspoken in bis opposition 10 yount
Fremont's suit, He declared thai
his daughter should not wed an army
subaltern He declared that th'
army was not a pr0resMon; that al
oliicer's income was only y salary tha
ended with his life, leaysug BIZ
(, widow helpless ward Of the wa
department Mrs Bentou's objec
tion TO FremonJ's suit was baseC
4 upon The extreme youth II lie
daughter. Both father and mOthe
4 expressed the greatest personal resss.;;I
: Tor the young lieuteuant, but lhel
= were determined, for the reasons tie.
4 gave and which they considered al
sufficient, and that he should no
= wed their child- lletuld thcfatne
Of the young girl be loved ol hi
!, ambitions; how he Intended 0 ris
4 above the rank Of SIMPLE leutenan
!. Of engineers and MAKE ior ilnselI
name than should be Ilu,triva-i ba
+. to"all the young lovers p eaaiugs tn