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A reconciliation occurred between Jessie and her father when he promoted Frémont's famous explorations of the West. Senator Benton had been persuaded by his ailing wife to accept the marriage, and the couple moved into the Benton home. Frémont left his pregnant wife behind in the spring of 1842 to
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Jessie was raised in
Washington, D.C., in a manner more typical of a 19th-century son than a daughter. Her father, renowned as the "Great Expansionist," oversaw her early education and introduced her to the prominent politicians of the era, an uncommon practice for the time. Jessie formed a strong
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of $ 2,000 a year. In 1891, she moved into a home at the corner of 28th and Hoover
Streets in Los Angeles that was presented to her by a committee of ladies of the city as a token of their great regard. She remained in good health until about two and a half years before her death when an accident
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321:. While the couple was visiting Paris, France, their fourth child, Anne Beverly Frémont, was born on February 1, 1853. Anne died five months later, on July 11, in Washington, D.C. Their fifth and final child, Francis Preston Frémont, was born on May 17, 1855, in Washington.
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and the northern frontier of the United States. They became engaged, but her parents objected to a marriage at that time because of her age. Probably through the influence of Col. Benton, Frémont then received an order from the War
Department to make an examination of the
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lead his first expedition to mark the trails West. He returned, however, days before the birth of their eldest child, Elizabeth Benton "Lily" Frémont, who was born
November 15, 1842, in Washington D.C. He then headed off again, and Jessie and the baby remained behind.
134:. She authored numerous stories that appeared in popular magazines of the time, as well as several historically significant books. Her writings, which helped sustain her family during times of financial hardship, primarily focused on memoirs of her experiences in the
301:, the Frémonts established a home and settled into San Francisco society. As a politically informed woman, Jessie was known to get involved in city politics and discuss with the men any issues that were of importance at the time. She became a member of the
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offering insights into the mind and heart of the author, across the span of her life, including her husband's presidential campaign, her role in the Civil War, her time as First Lady of the
Territory of Arizona, and her impressions of the late 1800s in
162:(1782–1858) and Elizabeth McDowell (1794–1854). Her birth took place in the home of her maternal grandfather, James McDowell. Despite her father, Senator Benton, desiring a son, he named her in honor of his own father, Jesse Benton.
343:, refused to endorse her husband's bid for the presidency. This did not stop the supporters of Frémont from continuing to refer to her as the "first lady in the land," a title her admirers continued to use throughout her life.
259:. Thus, she involved herself in her most happy life's work, interpreting her husband and his actions for a public eager for information about the opening of the West. Written during a time when the concept of
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Jessie Frémont served as her husband's unofficial aide and closest adviser. The two shared the belief that St. Louis was unprepared for war and needed reinforcements and supplies, and both pressured
908:, December 28, 1902, "Pathfinder's Widow Crosses The Divide --- Death Last Evening of Mrs. Jessie Benton Frémont, the Most Famous Woman in Los Angeles—Story of Romantic and Helpful Life," p. 7
920:, December 29, 1902, from Los Angeles, Dec 28, "Gen. Frémont's Widow Dead --- Had Been an Invalid for Two and a Half Years—Eloped with Lieut. Frémont at the Age of Fifteen ," p. 7
282:, Jessie gave birth to a son, Benton Frémont, on July 24, 1848, in Washington, D.C. The baby's death, within the year in St. Louis, she blamed on her husband's accuser, General
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to send more supplies and troops. She threw herself into the war effort, helping to organize a
Soldier's Relief Society in St. Louis and becoming very active in the Western
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521:. In the story line, the Frémonts, in California during the gold rush, become involved in a mining claim dispute; Mrs. Frémont stares down organized claim jumpers.
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bond with her father and remained by his side. He shared with her the numerous books and maps from the valise that accompanied him on their journeys between
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In 1849, Jessie and Lily made a harrowing and treacherous journey aboard ship to join Frémont in
California. After disembarking and crossing the
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Jessie Benton Frémont died at age 78 at her home in Los
Angeles. A huge box of fragrant and beautiful roses was sent on December 29, 1902, by
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138:. A staunch supporter of her husband, who served as one of the first two senators of the new U.S. state of California and as
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is a 1982 historical novel by David Nevin about
Charles and Jessie Frémont, which was adapted into a 1986 miniseries of the
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Passion and
Principle: John and Jessie Frémont, the Couple Whose Power, Politics, and Love Shaped Nineteenth-century America
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Her husband was involved tangentially in the conquest of California, the annexation of which occurred as a result of the
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were conducted at 10:30 a.m. on December 30, at Christ Church, on the corner of Pico and Flower Streets. She was
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466:. Three months after being allowed to resign from the Army with pension, he died in 1890 in a hotel in New York.
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One of the most impressive feats of her political career came shortly after Frémont lost his position during the
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Imperfect Union: How Jessie and John Fremont Mapped the West, Invented Celebrity and Helped Cause the Civil War,
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116:(May 31, 1824 – December 27, 1902) was an American writer and political activist. She was the daughter of
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appointed Frémont as the Commander of the Department of the West in 1861, they returned to St. Louis.
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The Frémonts would not live in St. Louis again, moving to New York and then California. In the
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In 1856, Frémont's antislavery position was instrumental in his being chosen as the first-ever
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on the western frontier. Shortly after their return they were married on October 19, 1841.
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The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature
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was becoming increasingly popular, these narratives were received with great enthusiasm.
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from California. Their third child, John C. Frémont Jr., was born on April 19, 1851, at
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In 1840 at age 16, while studying and living at Georgetown Seminary, she met Lieutenant
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made her an invalid, but she was able to use a wheelchair and enjoy the outdoors.
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In the years following, the couple moved several times, living in California,
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Territorial Women's Memorial Rose Garden: Elizabeth Benton (Lily) Fremont
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The New York Times: David Nevin, Author of Historical Novels, Dies at 83.
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expansion. It was this assignment that began the couple's rise to fame.
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John C. Frémont served from September 9, 1850, to March 3, 1851, as a
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was cast as Jessie Frémont in the episode, "The Gentle Sword" of the
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Territorial Women's Memorial Rose Garden: Jessie Ann Benton Fremont
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of Frémont, during which he attempted to defend his actions in the
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and various disciplines such as politics, history, literature, and
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For a while after their marriage, Jessie and her husband lived on
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The Journals of Corrie Belle Hollister: On the Trail of the Truth
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read, "Frémont and Jessie too." Her father, however, a lifelong
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who was in Washington preparing a report on explorations (with
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Immortal Wife: The Biographical Novel of Jessie Benton Frémont
451:(1878), a story about her journey to California in 1849, and
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for President. Jessie played an extremely active role in the
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Frémont became known as the "Pathfinder to the West", after
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A Year of American Travel: Narrative of Personal Experience
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A Year of American Travel: Narrative of Personal Experience
473:, in recognition of his valued services, granted Jessie a
811:"The Late Jessie Benton Frémont". Chronicle and Comment.
366:. Frémont was unable to carry the state of California.
335:, rallying support for her husband. One particular
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850:In her place: a guide to St. Louis women's history
589:(1993) edited by Pamela Herr and Mary Lee Spence,
752:"Jessie Benton Frémont: Missouri's Trailblazer"
630:Jessie Benton Frémont: A Woman who Made History
620:(1974) by Lois Rather, Rather Press, Oakland CA
531:The Story of the Guard: A Chronicle of the War
218:posts, until Frémont was assigned the task of
636:Jessie Benton Frémont: Missouri's Trailblazer
458:From 1878 to 1881, John C. Frémont served as
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797:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography
638:(2005) by Ilene Stone and Suzanna M. Grenz
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988:The Frémonts and Emancipation in Missouri
694:1856 United States presidential election
485:, a former first lady. The rites of the
27:American politician activist (1824–1902)
1156:Pacific Coast Women's Press Association
1126:People from Rockbridge County, Virginia
1121:People from Mariposa County, California
993:Works by or about Jessie Benton Frémont
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303:Pacific Coast Women's Press Association
983:1839 Portrait of Jessie Benton Frémont
650:(2020) by Steve Inskeep, Penguin Press
561:The Origin of the Frémont Explorations
431:Frémont sitting at home in Los Angeles
197:as commander) he had made between the
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1101:Burials at Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery
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669:Phillips, Michael and Judith Pella.
587:The letters of Jessie Benton Frémont
469:After the death of her husband, the
1066:19th-century American women writers
1056:19th-century American Episcopalians
853:. Missouri History Museum. p.
632:(1995) by Catherine Coffin Phillips
572:(1887) by John C. Frémont includes
624:Jessie Benton Frémont: A Biography
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1131:Spouses of California politicians
730:. Penguin Books. pp. 29–30.
1061:19th-century American memoirists
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1002:Works by Jessie Benton Frémont
847:Corbett, Katharine T. (1999).
828:Whitewashing Civil War History
350:votes but ultimately lost the
274:, in 1847. At the time of the
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1151:Writers from Washington, D.C.
791:"Frémont, John Charles"
618:Jessie Fremont at Black Point
226:and scouting land for future
1116:New York (state) Republicans
1086:American political activists
1081:American non-fiction writers
595:University of Illinois Press
555:The Will and the Way Stories
358:, though he did surpass the
1008:(public domain audiobooks)
439:, John C. Frémont, who had
130:, explorer, and politician
65:Rockbridge County, Virginia
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1161:Memoirists from California
1141:Writers from San Francisco
949:. Internet Movie Data Base
880:, July 26, 1891, from the
1091:American women memoirists
1071:Activists from California
833:February 9, 2012, at the
673:Bethany House Pub., 1991.
576:by Jessie Benton Frémont.
417:Emancipation Proclamation
319:Las Mariposas, California
158:, as the second child of
114:Jessie Ann Benton Frémont
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18:Jessie Ann Benton Fremont
1136:Writers from Los Angeles
800:. New York: D. Appleton.
574:Sketch of Senator Benton
270:. He served as the 3rd
82:Los Angeles, California
1146:Writers from St. Louis
1106:California Republicans
1076:American abolitionists
644:(2007) by Sally Denton
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346:Frémont garnered many
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1017:Jessie Benton Frémont
943:"The Gentle Sword on
817:: 535. February 1903.
726:Tarnoff, Ben (2014).
626:(1987) by Pamela Herr
510:syndicated television
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385:to her crusade. When
247:James Fenimore Cooper
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36:Jessie Benton Frémont
1111:Missouri Republicans
543:Souvenirs of My Time
464:Territory of Arizona
453:Souvenirs of My Time
443:heavily in railroad
268:Mexican–American War
144:Territory of Arizona
1096:Arizona Republicans
882:Los Angeles Express
398:Sanitary Commission
156:Lexington, Virginia
48:Photo taken in 1876
602:Collection of 271
570:Memoirs of My Life
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160:Thomas Hart Benton
154:She was born near
124:Thomas Hart Benton
945:Death Valley Days
930:Los Angeles Times
906:Los Angeles Times
894:Los Angeles Times
864:978-1-883982-30-0
549:Far-West Sketches
518:Death Valley Days
504:In 1960, actress
499:Rosedale Cemetery
483:Lucretia Garfield
379:Thomas Starr King
272:Military Governor
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75:December 27, 1902
58:Jessie Ann Benton
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487:Episcopal Church
364:Millard Fillmore
280:Bear Flag Revolt
261:Manifest Destiny
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814:The Bookman
612:Biographies
607:California.
423:Later years
381:and writer
362:candidate,
1040:Categories
953:October 5,
700:References
677:Dream West
663:(1944) by
655:In fiction
394:Washington
383:Bret Harte
326:Republican
299:gold mines
257:Kit Carson
249:'s novel,
150:Early life
786:Fiske, J.
766:April 13,
681:same name
568:The book
405:Civil War
377:minister
375:Unitarian
371:St. Louis
329:candidate
220:exploring
184:documents
180:languages
98:Signature
1006:LibriVox
831:Archived
688:See also
495:interred
491:cremated
471:Congress
460:Governor
455:(1887).
441:invested
352:election
348:Northern
341:Democrat
333:campaign
172:Virginia
168:Missouri
140:governor
118:Missouri
995:at the
604:letters
581:Letters
462:of the
387:Lincoln
315:Senator
291:Isthmus
142:of the
121:Senator
861:
734:
591:Urbana
563:(1891)
557:(1891)
551:(1890)
545:(1887)
539:(1878)
533:(1863)
295:Panama
284:Kearny
88:Spouse
525:Works
445:stock
955:2018
859:ISBN
768:2008
732:ISBN
224:West
222:the
216:Army
170:and
72:Died
54:Born
1019:at
1004:at
497:in
411:of
354:to
293:of
1042::
857:.
855:84
794:.
784:;
754:.
708:^
593::
515:,
501:.
305:.
286:.
186:.
957:.
947:"
867:.
770:.
740:.
683:.
597:.
20:)
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