Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-01-29
JOHN FREMONT
BORN 100 YEARS
Ago IN GEORGIA

The wear now begun. During the en-
suing twelve months there will occur
the centennial anniversary of the
births of such notable figures III
American history as stephen A Doug
las. the democratic candidate for pres
ident against Lincoln; Admiral David
ID Porter, one of the celebrated naval
commanders in the civil war; Henry
Ward Beecher. the famous pulpit ora
tor: Allen G. Thurman, Ohio senator
ane one of the noted leaders of the
democratic party; General John Sedg-
wick. one of the ablest and brayest Off
GERS of the Army of the Potomac,
Zachariah Chandler. United States SEN
ator and secretary Of the interior and
Stephen R. Mallory, who is best re-
membered as the secretary of the nag
of the Confederate states
He Was Born in Savannah.
OF the men named in the fore
going list, however, there is none
whose career was half so picturesque
as that of John C. Fremont, who
was born one hundred years ago to-
day in Savannah, Ga. Soldier, explo-
rer, civil engineer, governor of Cal
ifornia and Arizona and first candi-
date of the republican party for
president, General Fremont for many
years was a conspicuous and at times
a very romantic figure in the pubIi2
eye.
General Fremont's father was
Frenchman, who, coming to the Uni
ted States. married into Virginia
family, and died when John was
FIVE years old. After leaving college
the future soldier and political leal-
er lived for some years teaohin :
mathematics, in which occupation h.
made long cruise on United
States warship When he returned
he obtained a position in the Unitei
States typographical corps, and ex-
pIored the mountain passes of North
Carolina and Tennessee
In 1841 Fremont met in Washing
ton the young daughter of Sen
ator Benton, of Missouri, and they
were married secretly. The couple
afterward were accepted by the
brides father, who subsequently had
Fremont placed in command of the
expedition to explore the western
United States territories, and FIRE.
mont began the work which gave %
him the title of the Pathfinder and
resulted in his candidacy for the
presidency of the United States.
He Staked on The West.
He made five expeditions in all
In the first he gathered much need
ed and accurate knowledge of the
Indians in Nebraska, Wyoming AMI
the south pass to Oregon and plant
ed the American flag on the highest
reak of the Rocky mountains The
little band suffered terrible hard
ships and encountered many dangers,
but the results Of the expedition were
so valuable that Fremont started on
another one the following year. He
explored Utah this time, and it was
his report of the resources of the
salt Lake region that attracted the
Mormons.
On the third expedition to Cali
fornia Fremont got into complica-
lions and on charges was found
guilty and sentenced to be dismissed
from the army, in which he had risen
10 the rank of colonel. President
Polk. while approving the verdict
RENTED che penalty, but Fremont
resigned This was in 1S4S, and he
conducted his Iast two explorations
at his own expense He had settled
in California and had come TO the
/ nited States senate ia 1850. but
lie could not be reelected on at
count of his hostility to the exten-
son Of slavery In 1856 he was
nominated for president by the new
republican and National American par