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Immortal Wife
Chronicles the indestructible marraige of John C. Fremont and his strong willed wife, who helped aid him in his great accomplishments
450 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1944
14 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Irving Stone
153 books1,470 followersIn 1923, Stone received his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley. In the 1960s, Stone received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Southern California, where he had previously earned a Masters Degree from the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences.
When at home, Stone relied upon the research facilities and expertise made available to him by Esther Euler, head research librarian of the University of California at Los Angeles, to whom he dedicated and thanked, in addition to many others, in several of his works.
Stone enjoyed a long marriage to his wife and editor on many of his works, Jean Stone. The Stones lived primarily in Los Angeles, California. During their lifetime, Stone and his wife funded a foundation to support charitable causes they believed in.
Stone's main source for Lust for Life, as noted in the afterword, were Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo. It seems probable that Vincent's letters to and from his own brother Theo provided a foundation for Adversary in the House. Stone additionally did much of his research "in the field". For example, he spent many years living in Italy while working on The Agony and the Ecstasy. The Italian government lauded Stone with several honorary awards during this period for his cultural achievements highlighting Italian history.
From Wikipedia
When at home, Stone relied upon the research facilities and expertise made available to him by Esther Euler, head research librarian of the University of California at Los Angeles, to whom he dedicated and thanked, in addition to many others, in several of his works.
Stone enjoyed a long marriage to his wife and editor on many of his works, Jean Stone. The Stones lived primarily in Los Angeles, California. During their lifetime, Stone and his wife funded a foundation to support charitable causes they believed in.
Stone's main source for Lust for Life, as noted in the afterword, were Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo. It seems probable that Vincent's letters to and from his own brother Theo provided a foundation for Adversary in the House. Stone additionally did much of his research "in the field". For example, he spent many years living in Italy while working on The Agony and the Ecstasy. The Italian government lauded Stone with several honorary awards during this period for his cultural achievements highlighting Italian history.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 10, 2017
Another excellent book by Irving Stone who also wrote The Agony and the Ecstacy and Lust for Life. Immortal Wife is biographical historical fiction about the life of Jesse Benton Fremont, writer, and wife of explorer John Fremont. If you are interested in the history of the American west, it's exploration, and the people, you will enjoy this book.
July 8, 2015
I read this book in high school, and have remembered parts of it ever since. So I re-read it and was not at all disappointed. Not that this is high-brow literature. It is a historical novel, with some of the contrivances we expect sometimes in the genre (she looks at herself in the mirror and observes her features... yawn).
But that's not the appeal of this book. Rather, you follow the sweep of US history in the 1830's through the eyes of one of its most intriguing players, Jessie Benton Fremont and her husband, John Fremont. Yes, the same Fremont who mapped large sweeps of the West, was instrumental in California becoming a state, ran for president as the first Republican and almost won, paved the way for a transcontinental railroad, etc. The Fremont that a town and peak in California are named for, the one who discovered Carson Pass and was one of the first white people to see Lake Tahoe, who issued the first Emancipation Proclamation. Fremont and his wife were millionaires and paupers, one of the most famous couples of their times. She was an early feminist. Their marriage reminds me in a lot of ways of the Clintons -- two very ambitious people with their eyes on the prize.
This is a really painless way to learn your history. Even better if you're a California history buff, and enjoy learning the amazing story of how this state became what it is today.
But that's not the appeal of this book. Rather, you follow the sweep of US history in the 1830's through the eyes of one of its most intriguing players, Jessie Benton Fremont and her husband, John Fremont. Yes, the same Fremont who mapped large sweeps of the West, was instrumental in California becoming a state, ran for president as the first Republican and almost won, paved the way for a transcontinental railroad, etc. The Fremont that a town and peak in California are named for, the one who discovered Carson Pass and was one of the first white people to see Lake Tahoe, who issued the first Emancipation Proclamation. Fremont and his wife were millionaires and paupers, one of the most famous couples of their times. She was an early feminist. Their marriage reminds me in a lot of ways of the Clintons -- two very ambitious people with their eyes on the prize.
This is a really painless way to learn your history. Even better if you're a California history buff, and enjoy learning the amazing story of how this state became what it is today.
Read
February 18, 2012Don't let the cover fool you - this is not a bodice-ripping romance. It is an interesting book about John & Jessie Fremont. He was an explorer of the western half of the United States, crossing the Sierra's in the winter of 1844 and living to tell the tale. This book details their personal and public lives as they live through the tumultuous decades of the 40's, 50's, and 60's.
One thing that struck me about these people is the enormous amounts of traveling they did, from Washington D.C. to St. Louis, and across Panama and on to California, all before railroads. These people were hardy, and lived the opening of the west. It was a great read and makes me want to go on to all of Irving Stone's other works.
One thing that struck me about these people is the enormous amounts of traveling they did, from Washington D.C. to St. Louis, and across Panama and on to California, all before railroads. These people were hardy, and lived the opening of the west. It was a great read and makes me want to go on to all of Irving Stone's other works.
April 21, 2009
Another facinating biographical novel. There were two things I really appreciated about this book. One-it explored the inner struggles of a wife trying to maintain her sense of self as a woman, her ambitions and desires while standing by her man, which in this case was incredibly hard to do. Two-it revealed a tantalizing slice of pre-civil war america and the expansion west. Well worth my time to read, and how did they ever do what they did?
April 23, 2019
Jessie je bila jedna strašna, sjajna, neuništiva žena.
March 13, 2008
Jesse Anne Benton always knew she would marry a man who respected her, and excepted her help in his work. Enter the world of Jesse as her loving husband leads her through termoil, love, hate, expulsion and other things. Definetly one to read!
June 19, 2015
The life of Jessie Benton—though this has been largely forgotten—is the story of early American California.
Her father was the primary cheerleader for U.S. expansion to the Pacific. Her husband is credited with creating the trails through the former wilderness between Missouri and the Pacific, which later allowed the wagon trains and then the Railroads. When the Gold Rush era replaces the Age of Exploration--John is at the center of that era as well. As the owner of a deeply rich gold mine in the Mariposa he arranges for machinery and high tech mining to bring millions out of the ground. Later, with Jessie's help he becomes one of the first senator's from California and is the first nominee for president on the Republican ticket. When the Civil War overtakes the country, he is integral by taking control of the Army of the West and attempts Emancipation of the slaves years before Lincoln is ready to do it. When, post Civil war, railroad fever is in full sway, he becomes president of a railroad.
Below is a time line of Jessie's life--which I needed for keeping track of all the things happening to her, all the moves she and Fremont made, against the backdrop of the explosive growth of the country during the late 1800's.
Jessie was born May 31, 1824 in Virginia. Her father Thomas Hart Benton [not to be confused with the 1930's American painter of the same name] was one of the U.S. Senators from Missouri. At the time, Missouri was the western frontier and—therefore—the jumping off point for further exploration. (It is on “the frontier of freedom” and the “capitol of the west.”)
THB’s passion was the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny—i.e. having Americans settle, so that the United States can then take it over, all the land to the Pacific Coast.
In order to get Americans out in that frontier wilderness to settle it, maps of the area needed to be made and distributed. To make the maps, the U.S. Army sent out soldiers in its “Topographical Division” on Expeditions. Each Expedition needed to be funded by Congress, however, for the money to pay salaries and for food and supplies during the Expeditions.
When Jessie first meets John C. Fremont (born January 21, 1813) , she is a smart, ambitious, well-educated largely by her father—16 year old. Already she has determined that she wants a professional life, similar to the life she is living with her father as she works as his secretary and even advisor. Since it is the 1800’s any life she will have depends on who she marries. Therefore in order to have a life as a secretary and advisor she must marry a man who needs a secretary and advisor.
When she meets JCF she feels she’s found someone who will provide her with the type of life she wants. It also does not hurt that Fremont is handsome—and the Army uniform adds to this—about ten years older and seemingly established on a path with a bright future as an “important man.”
At the time JCF has been serving as the assistant to the primary explorers for the Government. As they are courting, John is assigned his first Expedition for which he will be the leader. This assignment prompts John and Jesse to elope—on October 19, 1841, so that they will be married before John leaves.
In the Spring of 1842 John goes off on the Expedition leaving Jessie pregnant. He returns in November just in time for the birth of the couple’s first child, Lily.
Jessie then gets to work as John’s secretary and advisor as the two prepare his report of the expedition which will be published and become a best-seller of sorts.
The success of the first expedition encourages Congress to approve money for a second one. John leaves for this expedition in March of 1843 and does not return until August of 1844.
Jessie has to endure more than a year without her husband. However, once he returns she helps again with the Report, which—when published in March 1845—is even more popular than the report for the First Expedition. A pleased Congress then appropriates funds for a third Expedition on which John will leave in June 1845.
There is something different about this expedition, however. The United States is ready to get serious about taking possession of western lands—including the land that will later become Texas and California. Trouble is, this land is then owned by Mexico. To march into either place with U.S. troops would be to start a war with Mexico which the U.S. would like to avoid. In Texas, a group of private citizen Americans had helped things along by creating a Republic back in March of 1836. If the U.S. wished to annex Texas then all it needed to do was to recognize the Republic and then negotiate with the Republic for it to become part of the U.S. (And Texas becomes part of the U.S. in February 1846.)
In California, no Republic exists. If one should arise, however, that would really help the U.S. to get the land, or so many high government officials believe. These officials then talk to both Jessie and John to strongly suggest that while John is in California on his third Expedition that if the need arises that he and his men might help the private U.S. citizens take California from Mexico, that he should do so. However, no official record of the request will exist and if things go badly John will be blamed and unable to say he was following the requests of others.
In February of 1846, Fremont is told by the Mexicans to leave California. Instead he raises the U.S. flag on a hill overlooking the Santa Clara Valley where he is camped. (Luckily the Mexicans, who out number him, decide to ignore him and retreat.)
His action prompts President Polk to promote him to Lieutenant colonel.
A few months later in Sonoma on June 14, encouraged by Fremont (who has since resigned from the Army and is working with them) the Americans in California stage the Bear Flag Revolt. The War with Mexico—which began in February 1846 in Texas now spreads to California.
John participates in several battles ending up in Los Angeles in January 1847 when the war with Mexico ends. At this time the most senior military official in California is Commodore Stockton. He puts John in the Navy and then designates him as the acting governor of California.
Shortly thereafter General Kearny of the Army arrives and declares that he is in charge. John disagrees, saying that he must continue to act as governor because he is now a member of the Navy and was ordered to do so by Stockton.
Kearny’s position is: Stockton is of the Navy so he is charge in the water but I am with the Army and the Army is in charge on land. Therefore, people on land—including John—need to listen to him and if they don’t they are committing mutiny.
Meanwhile, no one in the East, including the President, wants to step in to say who is actually in charge—preferring to let the people in California work it out themselves.
The result is that John is arrested, brought back to Washington as a prisoner, arriving August 1847, and is court-martialed. His trial begins November 2, 1847 and ends in March 1848.
Jessie becomes pregnant during the time between John’s return and the start of the trial. She also works with John on the report of the Third Expedition.
In March of 1848, John is found guilty on all counts, however, President Polk issues a pardon of sorts saying that John need not leave the Army. Being proud and stubborn, John refuses to stay in the Army.
In May 1848 the Report of the Third Expedition is published and a fourth Expedition is planned. Since John is no longer in the Army, this will be a privately funded expedition by men who want to build a railroad to California.
In July 1848, Jessie has a son Benton Fremont. In September, this child dies a few weeks before John heads off on the Fourth Expedition.
Also in September, Jessie and Lily head to San Francisco via Panama to meet John in California and to begin farming land in the Santa Clara Valley. John has given Thomas Larkin (the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico) the couple’s savings of $3,000 to buy land John has picked out.
It takes Jessie and Lily until June of 1849 to reach SF. In part, because word of the Gold Rush has now spread. They spend several months stranded in Panama City waiting for a boat to SF. Ironically the boat they eventually take is the same one they departed before crossing Panama. It had gone back to NY, then sailed out around the Horn.
When John and Jessie finally meet he explains that Larkin did not buy the Santa Clara land but, rather, some rocky unusable land in the Mariposa. He soon realizes, however, that there is gold on the land, lots of gold. He then sets Jessie up in Monterey (the more established city) while he leaves her again to go for gold on the Mariposa land.
In September 1849 Jessie has a front row seat for the Colton Hall constitutional convention. John does stop in for a few days to watch as well.
At the end of November 1849, John is elected one of the first two senators from California. Therefore, on January 1, 1850—the family heads back to New York.
By June they are back in Washington and Jessie gets pregnant.
On September 10 John is presented to the Senate and passes a bunch of bills. However, since he drew the short straw his Senate term will end soon so he must return to California to stand for reelection.
So on January 3, 1851 the family is sailing back to California.
They arrive in SF around April 1 and quickly buy a small house overlooking Portsmouth Square. Jessie has a son John Charles Fremont, Jr.—on April 15.
John goes off to the Mariposa.
While John is gone fires on May 1 and in June destroy SF and the Fremont home. The Fremont belongings, however, are saved by Australians who want to purchase land from the Fremonts (which they are later allowed to do.)
John finally returns from the Mariposa in mid-June 1851 and announces the family is now going to Europe. The family arrives in London, stays awhile enjoying the social whirl then travels on to France to stay 14? months.
Februaryish 1853, baby Anne is born.
John gets the chance to participate in another Expedition so takes the next boat back to the U.S.. When that does not pan out, he decides to fund the Expedition himself.
In June of 1853 Jessie and children arrive in Washington D.C. In July, Anne dies.
John spends the early part of the fifth expedition nursing a leg that had been frostbitten on the Fourth Expedition. Meeting up with the group on the other side of the Rockies around February 1854.
In January 1854, Jessie knows Jon is starving.
On February 6, 1854, at the exact moment John is writing a letter to her describing how he and his party had been starving but now some Mormons in Utah have taken them in and he is safe—and wishing he could tell her he was safe—she hears him say “Jessie” and knows he is safe.
Mrs. Benton dies.
March—the Benton home burns down.
Mid-May, John returns from the Fifth Expedition. Two days later, Jessie has Frank.
Summer—move to NY to avoid the slavery arguments roiling Washington.
1855—Late Spring, the family takes a cottage in Nantucket and Jon goes to the Mariposa to protect the claim.
September, John returns from California.
John is nominated for president by the Democrats but will have to renounce his opposition to slavery. Dems think—of course he will do it because Jessie will be unable to give up being First Lady. But she does give it up, easily.
October 1, family returns to NYC.
1856 Early, John plans to be the first presidential nominee of the new Republican party. Tom Benton says he will oppose a Republican win because he knows it will cause Civil War and, therefore, destroy the Union.
June 16 in Philadelphia, Jessie is there to watch John nominated. “Free Speech, Free Press, Free Soil, Free Men, Fremont and Victory.”
November—lose, in part because of the fears of many that to elect an anti-slavery president would guarantee civil war. In part, because John refused some to the slandering e.g. refused to make a statement that he was not a Catholic because that would mean he agreed that one’s religion makes a difference—and his view is that it does not make a difference in this freedom-of-religion country.
THE Choice:
1. Great material benefits; or
2. Being true to one’s convictions.
1857—can now travel from St. Louis to SF via stage coach in three weeks. Live in a White House on the Mariposa.
Because California law allows anyone to take a claim that has been left even for 5 minutes, the Hornitos League tries to starve out Fremont’s miners. Fifteen year old Lily saves the day by riding out to get help.
December, in two weeks for less than $1000 Jessie builds and decorates a bigger Mariposa home.
1858 Horace Greeley visits, Tom Benton dies, Lincoln debates Douglas.
July, family pays $42,000 for SF coastal land at Black Point and build summer home there.
1860 Fremont Campaigns for Lincoln. Lincoln wins only because the Demo part is split. Actually, Fremont did better against Buchanan than Lincoln does against the two Dems together.
1861 Jessie and John about to go to Europe when Jessie breaks her arm. John goes alone.
Jessie mentors a poor printer’s assistant named Bret Harte.
April 12, Fort Sumter fired upon, Civil War starts.
John is commissioned as one of four major generals of the regular army. He is in charge of the Army of the West and will be stationed in St. Louis.
July, the family leaves Black Point to go to St. Louis. Kids sent to Jessie’s sisters. Jessie sets up Jon’s headquarters and will help to run them.
August--Guerilla attacks can be stopped only by freeing the slaves of the attackers—but then Lincoln rescinds the order. Jessie travels for 24 hours to go directly to Lincoln to tell him not to rescind the order. He says—“you’ve brought the Negro into this fight and it is not about him; it is about saving the Union.” When Jessie disagrees he gets so upset he fears he will be rude to her.
Later she is attacked in the press for showing up before Lincoln in an unkept appearance and for making him angry.
Fremont appoints Grant as one of his under-Generals (after Grant failed to get a meeting with McClellan.)
November, John is on the verge of a major attack when he is relieved of command. Jessie tried to get him to attack before the official order arrives but he does not want to be charged with mutiny again.
1862, Spring—a Congressional Investigation prompted by Fremont enemies, exonerates John.
1863, January 1 Lincoln finally understands the value of emancipation.
Black Point is taken by the U.S. Government—guns can be placed there across from guns at Alacatraz to prevent entry into the Bay.
Sister Eliza dies.
June—John now president of a RR to be built across Kansas.
Popular support for John to run for President again.
1864—early support still growing.
September—Jessie gets John to withdraw from the election so that the Repub party will not be split.
Perhaps, she tells him, it is his role in life to lay the ground work which allows later, greater success—even if that success is experienced by others.
November Lincoln elected.
Spring 1865, John invests their $200,000 savings in the RR. Everything about building the RR, though, is harder and more expensive than planned.
1865-1870 The quiet years. Buy a Hudson River Estate with 100 acres called Pocaho. Do the Grand Tour of Europe.
Try to get the $42,000 they paid for Black Point from the U.S. Gov.
1870—The RR fails.
1873 Lose Pocaho. Move to Staten Island.
John gets pneumonia. To get $1000 to take him to a warmer clime, Jessie writes stories from her life and sells to a newspaper.
Jessie and John continue—after John is well--to support themselves via writing.
1878—Fremont is appointed the governor of the Arizona territory at $2,000 per year. They move to Prescott and supplement their salary with writing.
1880 The altitude makes Jessie ill and she must leave Lily and John and return east.
1883 John resigns as governor and returns east to Jessie.
1885 move to Washington to be near the Library of Congress so John can write his memoirs.
1886—volume one fails to sell so no point in doing volume 2
John again has pneumonia. Doctor says they should move to warmer weather. Move to Los Angles with RR tickets provided by Huntington as pay back for the trails Fremont once explored now used by Huntington’s RR.
1889 early, John heads East. Jessie can’t afford to go.
April-- in Washington, John gets Congress to vote him a $6,000 per year pension.
July--Fremont dies.
Her father was the primary cheerleader for U.S. expansion to the Pacific. Her husband is credited with creating the trails through the former wilderness between Missouri and the Pacific, which later allowed the wagon trains and then the Railroads. When the Gold Rush era replaces the Age of Exploration--John is at the center of that era as well. As the owner of a deeply rich gold mine in the Mariposa he arranges for machinery and high tech mining to bring millions out of the ground. Later, with Jessie's help he becomes one of the first senator's from California and is the first nominee for president on the Republican ticket. When the Civil War overtakes the country, he is integral by taking control of the Army of the West and attempts Emancipation of the slaves years before Lincoln is ready to do it. When, post Civil war, railroad fever is in full sway, he becomes president of a railroad.
Below is a time line of Jessie's life--which I needed for keeping track of all the things happening to her, all the moves she and Fremont made, against the backdrop of the explosive growth of the country during the late 1800's.
Jessie was born May 31, 1824 in Virginia. Her father Thomas Hart Benton [not to be confused with the 1930's American painter of the same name] was one of the U.S. Senators from Missouri. At the time, Missouri was the western frontier and—therefore—the jumping off point for further exploration. (It is on “the frontier of freedom” and the “capitol of the west.”)
THB’s passion was the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny—i.e. having Americans settle, so that the United States can then take it over, all the land to the Pacific Coast.
In order to get Americans out in that frontier wilderness to settle it, maps of the area needed to be made and distributed. To make the maps, the U.S. Army sent out soldiers in its “Topographical Division” on Expeditions. Each Expedition needed to be funded by Congress, however, for the money to pay salaries and for food and supplies during the Expeditions.
When Jessie first meets John C. Fremont (born January 21, 1813) , she is a smart, ambitious, well-educated largely by her father—16 year old. Already she has determined that she wants a professional life, similar to the life she is living with her father as she works as his secretary and even advisor. Since it is the 1800’s any life she will have depends on who she marries. Therefore in order to have a life as a secretary and advisor she must marry a man who needs a secretary and advisor.
When she meets JCF she feels she’s found someone who will provide her with the type of life she wants. It also does not hurt that Fremont is handsome—and the Army uniform adds to this—about ten years older and seemingly established on a path with a bright future as an “important man.”
At the time JCF has been serving as the assistant to the primary explorers for the Government. As they are courting, John is assigned his first Expedition for which he will be the leader. This assignment prompts John and Jesse to elope—on October 19, 1841, so that they will be married before John leaves.
In the Spring of 1842 John goes off on the Expedition leaving Jessie pregnant. He returns in November just in time for the birth of the couple’s first child, Lily.
Jessie then gets to work as John’s secretary and advisor as the two prepare his report of the expedition which will be published and become a best-seller of sorts.
The success of the first expedition encourages Congress to approve money for a second one. John leaves for this expedition in March of 1843 and does not return until August of 1844.
Jessie has to endure more than a year without her husband. However, once he returns she helps again with the Report, which—when published in March 1845—is even more popular than the report for the First Expedition. A pleased Congress then appropriates funds for a third Expedition on which John will leave in June 1845.
There is something different about this expedition, however. The United States is ready to get serious about taking possession of western lands—including the land that will later become Texas and California. Trouble is, this land is then owned by Mexico. To march into either place with U.S. troops would be to start a war with Mexico which the U.S. would like to avoid. In Texas, a group of private citizen Americans had helped things along by creating a Republic back in March of 1836. If the U.S. wished to annex Texas then all it needed to do was to recognize the Republic and then negotiate with the Republic for it to become part of the U.S. (And Texas becomes part of the U.S. in February 1846.)
In California, no Republic exists. If one should arise, however, that would really help the U.S. to get the land, or so many high government officials believe. These officials then talk to both Jessie and John to strongly suggest that while John is in California on his third Expedition that if the need arises that he and his men might help the private U.S. citizens take California from Mexico, that he should do so. However, no official record of the request will exist and if things go badly John will be blamed and unable to say he was following the requests of others.
In February of 1846, Fremont is told by the Mexicans to leave California. Instead he raises the U.S. flag on a hill overlooking the Santa Clara Valley where he is camped. (Luckily the Mexicans, who out number him, decide to ignore him and retreat.)
His action prompts President Polk to promote him to Lieutenant colonel.
A few months later in Sonoma on June 14, encouraged by Fremont (who has since resigned from the Army and is working with them) the Americans in California stage the Bear Flag Revolt. The War with Mexico—which began in February 1846 in Texas now spreads to California.
John participates in several battles ending up in Los Angeles in January 1847 when the war with Mexico ends. At this time the most senior military official in California is Commodore Stockton. He puts John in the Navy and then designates him as the acting governor of California.
Shortly thereafter General Kearny of the Army arrives and declares that he is in charge. John disagrees, saying that he must continue to act as governor because he is now a member of the Navy and was ordered to do so by Stockton.
Kearny’s position is: Stockton is of the Navy so he is charge in the water but I am with the Army and the Army is in charge on land. Therefore, people on land—including John—need to listen to him and if they don’t they are committing mutiny.
Meanwhile, no one in the East, including the President, wants to step in to say who is actually in charge—preferring to let the people in California work it out themselves.
The result is that John is arrested, brought back to Washington as a prisoner, arriving August 1847, and is court-martialed. His trial begins November 2, 1847 and ends in March 1848.
Jessie becomes pregnant during the time between John’s return and the start of the trial. She also works with John on the report of the Third Expedition.
In March of 1848, John is found guilty on all counts, however, President Polk issues a pardon of sorts saying that John need not leave the Army. Being proud and stubborn, John refuses to stay in the Army.
In May 1848 the Report of the Third Expedition is published and a fourth Expedition is planned. Since John is no longer in the Army, this will be a privately funded expedition by men who want to build a railroad to California.
In July 1848, Jessie has a son Benton Fremont. In September, this child dies a few weeks before John heads off on the Fourth Expedition.
Also in September, Jessie and Lily head to San Francisco via Panama to meet John in California and to begin farming land in the Santa Clara Valley. John has given Thomas Larkin (the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico) the couple’s savings of $3,000 to buy land John has picked out.
It takes Jessie and Lily until June of 1849 to reach SF. In part, because word of the Gold Rush has now spread. They spend several months stranded in Panama City waiting for a boat to SF. Ironically the boat they eventually take is the same one they departed before crossing Panama. It had gone back to NY, then sailed out around the Horn.
When John and Jessie finally meet he explains that Larkin did not buy the Santa Clara land but, rather, some rocky unusable land in the Mariposa. He soon realizes, however, that there is gold on the land, lots of gold. He then sets Jessie up in Monterey (the more established city) while he leaves her again to go for gold on the Mariposa land.
In September 1849 Jessie has a front row seat for the Colton Hall constitutional convention. John does stop in for a few days to watch as well.
At the end of November 1849, John is elected one of the first two senators from California. Therefore, on January 1, 1850—the family heads back to New York.
By June they are back in Washington and Jessie gets pregnant.
On September 10 John is presented to the Senate and passes a bunch of bills. However, since he drew the short straw his Senate term will end soon so he must return to California to stand for reelection.
So on January 3, 1851 the family is sailing back to California.
They arrive in SF around April 1 and quickly buy a small house overlooking Portsmouth Square. Jessie has a son John Charles Fremont, Jr.—on April 15.
John goes off to the Mariposa.
While John is gone fires on May 1 and in June destroy SF and the Fremont home. The Fremont belongings, however, are saved by Australians who want to purchase land from the Fremonts (which they are later allowed to do.)
John finally returns from the Mariposa in mid-June 1851 and announces the family is now going to Europe. The family arrives in London, stays awhile enjoying the social whirl then travels on to France to stay 14? months.
Februaryish 1853, baby Anne is born.
John gets the chance to participate in another Expedition so takes the next boat back to the U.S.. When that does not pan out, he decides to fund the Expedition himself.
In June of 1853 Jessie and children arrive in Washington D.C. In July, Anne dies.
John spends the early part of the fifth expedition nursing a leg that had been frostbitten on the Fourth Expedition. Meeting up with the group on the other side of the Rockies around February 1854.
In January 1854, Jessie knows Jon is starving.
On February 6, 1854, at the exact moment John is writing a letter to her describing how he and his party had been starving but now some Mormons in Utah have taken them in and he is safe—and wishing he could tell her he was safe—she hears him say “Jessie” and knows he is safe.
Mrs. Benton dies.
March—the Benton home burns down.
Mid-May, John returns from the Fifth Expedition. Two days later, Jessie has Frank.
Summer—move to NY to avoid the slavery arguments roiling Washington.
1855—Late Spring, the family takes a cottage in Nantucket and Jon goes to the Mariposa to protect the claim.
September, John returns from California.
John is nominated for president by the Democrats but will have to renounce his opposition to slavery. Dems think—of course he will do it because Jessie will be unable to give up being First Lady. But she does give it up, easily.
October 1, family returns to NYC.
1856 Early, John plans to be the first presidential nominee of the new Republican party. Tom Benton says he will oppose a Republican win because he knows it will cause Civil War and, therefore, destroy the Union.
June 16 in Philadelphia, Jessie is there to watch John nominated. “Free Speech, Free Press, Free Soil, Free Men, Fremont and Victory.”
November—lose, in part because of the fears of many that to elect an anti-slavery president would guarantee civil war. In part, because John refused some to the slandering e.g. refused to make a statement that he was not a Catholic because that would mean he agreed that one’s religion makes a difference—and his view is that it does not make a difference in this freedom-of-religion country.
THE Choice:
1. Great material benefits; or
2. Being true to one’s convictions.
1857—can now travel from St. Louis to SF via stage coach in three weeks. Live in a White House on the Mariposa.
Because California law allows anyone to take a claim that has been left even for 5 minutes, the Hornitos League tries to starve out Fremont’s miners. Fifteen year old Lily saves the day by riding out to get help.
December, in two weeks for less than $1000 Jessie builds and decorates a bigger Mariposa home.
1858 Horace Greeley visits, Tom Benton dies, Lincoln debates Douglas.
July, family pays $42,000 for SF coastal land at Black Point and build summer home there.
1860 Fremont Campaigns for Lincoln. Lincoln wins only because the Demo part is split. Actually, Fremont did better against Buchanan than Lincoln does against the two Dems together.
1861 Jessie and John about to go to Europe when Jessie breaks her arm. John goes alone.
Jessie mentors a poor printer’s assistant named Bret Harte.
April 12, Fort Sumter fired upon, Civil War starts.
John is commissioned as one of four major generals of the regular army. He is in charge of the Army of the West and will be stationed in St. Louis.
July, the family leaves Black Point to go to St. Louis. Kids sent to Jessie’s sisters. Jessie sets up Jon’s headquarters and will help to run them.
August--Guerilla attacks can be stopped only by freeing the slaves of the attackers—but then Lincoln rescinds the order. Jessie travels for 24 hours to go directly to Lincoln to tell him not to rescind the order. He says—“you’ve brought the Negro into this fight and it is not about him; it is about saving the Union.” When Jessie disagrees he gets so upset he fears he will be rude to her.
Later she is attacked in the press for showing up before Lincoln in an unkept appearance and for making him angry.
Fremont appoints Grant as one of his under-Generals (after Grant failed to get a meeting with McClellan.)
November, John is on the verge of a major attack when he is relieved of command. Jessie tried to get him to attack before the official order arrives but he does not want to be charged with mutiny again.
1862, Spring—a Congressional Investigation prompted by Fremont enemies, exonerates John.
1863, January 1 Lincoln finally understands the value of emancipation.
Black Point is taken by the U.S. Government—guns can be placed there across from guns at Alacatraz to prevent entry into the Bay.
Sister Eliza dies.
June—John now president of a RR to be built across Kansas.
Popular support for John to run for President again.
1864—early support still growing.
September—Jessie gets John to withdraw from the election so that the Repub party will not be split.
Perhaps, she tells him, it is his role in life to lay the ground work which allows later, greater success—even if that success is experienced by others.
November Lincoln elected.
Spring 1865, John invests their $200,000 savings in the RR. Everything about building the RR, though, is harder and more expensive than planned.
1865-1870 The quiet years. Buy a Hudson River Estate with 100 acres called Pocaho. Do the Grand Tour of Europe.
Try to get the $42,000 they paid for Black Point from the U.S. Gov.
1870—The RR fails.
1873 Lose Pocaho. Move to Staten Island.
John gets pneumonia. To get $1000 to take him to a warmer clime, Jessie writes stories from her life and sells to a newspaper.
Jessie and John continue—after John is well--to support themselves via writing.
1878—Fremont is appointed the governor of the Arizona territory at $2,000 per year. They move to Prescott and supplement their salary with writing.
1880 The altitude makes Jessie ill and she must leave Lily and John and return east.
1883 John resigns as governor and returns east to Jessie.
1885 move to Washington to be near the Library of Congress so John can write his memoirs.
1886—volume one fails to sell so no point in doing volume 2
John again has pneumonia. Doctor says they should move to warmer weather. Move to Los Angles with RR tickets provided by Huntington as pay back for the trails Fremont once explored now used by Huntington’s RR.
1889 early, John heads East. Jessie can’t afford to go.
April-- in Washington, John gets Congress to vote him a $6,000 per year pension.
July--Fremont dies.
November 11, 2017
Zanimljivo štivo, lagano za čitanje.
Volim Stounova dela, no ovo je na mene ostavilo nešto slabiji utisak nego prethodna dva koja pročitah.
Verovatno je do mene, ne do njega :)
Volim Stounova dela, no ovo je na mene ostavilo nešto slabiji utisak nego prethodna dva koja pročitah.
Verovatno je do mene, ne do njega :)
April 25, 2024
This is an inspiring biographical novel about the self-sacrificing life of the wife of John Fremont, Jesse Ann Benton. Set in the pre Civil War west, she and her marriage faced insurmountable hardships. This woman knew herself and her calling both individually and as the wife of a man who made great impact on America and the world. I was engrossed in this story!
February 23, 2009
I marked this one up like my scriptures. Every wife should read it. There a re several times in the story when John Fremont's wife must cnoose her husband over her father. Good read.
May 21, 2017
I first read this book in September 1971 in Minot, North Dakota. It has stuck in my mind ever since. I had already lived in Fremont for almost a year previously. I was fascinated by Jessie Benton Fremont and from that time on I said that in my mind my town was named for her not for John. I remembered from the book her crossing at Panama in 1849 overland and sleeping with the snakes in the jungle. I especially thought of that as I rode through the canal on a cruise ship in 2012. California for Jessie in 1849 was much different than for me in 1970 when I first came. But we were both young wives and that is what this book is about, marriage. Since my marriage was still so young in 1971, I didn't get all the meanings that come up. Also I was surprised to see that it was published in 1944 and the copy I got online has the date 1953 and someone's name written in the front. It was kind of cool because that meant this book I am reading today is probably the same "library" kind of book that I read in 1971 and certainly that I read in my early library readings. It has that feel and smell! Jessie was the beloved daughter of Senator Thomas Benton from Missouri who served 30 years in Congress. She grew up with the politics and connections of Washington DC and also the wilderness west of St. Louis. So John Fremont who would explore the west and map it for future settlers was a good match. There was much tumult in their marriage with his travels, the politics, the gold rush, presidential run in 1856, money problems, etc. Yet marriage meant more to Jessie than anything and they did truly seem to be in love and there doesn't seem to have been any of the cheating that happened with the Hamilton's even though John and Jessie, all told were only together in the same place about half of their marriage. But toward the end in discussing with her only daughter why she wasn't getting married, the daughter, Lily, replied that she had seen how hard marriage was for her parents and she didn't want any part of it. Funny how our kids do that since being a mother was so important to me and my mother but my daughter wants no part of it. I have to give this book 5 stars because I read it so long ago and yet could never forget it. I have read several other books by Stone and they are classified as biographical fiction which doesn't quite make them up to the academic status of Chernow. However easier to read in some cases. The fact that it is dated (1944) is also interesting to see how view points change over the years, although Jessie was pretty liberated and that was acceptable to Stone in 1944 and to Fremont in the 1840's. I don't see a hip hop play coming out of this but I will hold an affectionate spot for Jessie in my town named for her (and John)! BY THE WAY I hate the photo on the copy of new edition or whatever Goodreads uses. There is no way that chick is Jessie!
January 6, 2022
© Purchased at second hand bookstore
I usually like Irving Stone's work, but this one bogged down and I did not finish it. I settled for reading a Britannica synopsis of the Jessie Benton Fremont, John Charles Fremont, and Thomas Benton lives. That's enough history on their lives for me. JCF lost a presidential bid to Buchanan and eventually decided not to run against Lincoln's 2nd bid for election. (JCF was also, interestingly, an ineffectual leader in the Civil War on more than one location/opportunity. He also became a multimillionaire during the gold rush in CA, but he ultimately lost his fortune. What a man of contrasts throughout!!)
I usually like Irving Stone's work, but this one bogged down and I did not finish it. I settled for reading a Britannica synopsis of the Jessie Benton Fremont, John Charles Fremont, and Thomas Benton lives. That's enough history on their lives for me. JCF lost a presidential bid to Buchanan and eventually decided not to run against Lincoln's 2nd bid for election. (JCF was also, interestingly, an ineffectual leader in the Civil War on more than one location/opportunity. He also became a multimillionaire during the gold rush in CA, but he ultimately lost his fortune. What a man of contrasts throughout!!)
May 11, 2020
I read this book carefully, trying to understand the full comprehension of the historical benefits that got put into place. I did like the full independent thinking as a woman at that time. But I did think it was really interesting and intriguing, but not quite romantic, only in a few spots of the book. It's more historical in retrospect of woman in a man's woman especially in business and politics. Very well written but a bit long. I did enjoy it. And the historical facts were fascinating as well.
March 21, 2024
I found this biographical novel at my library book sale. My copy has a 1954 copyright - Irving Stone & Lavinia Davis and is a shortened version (just 199 pages) of the original 1944 edition with 450 p[ages. A bit of American History pre-civil war and a fascinating read about Jessie Benton Fremont wife of John Fremont, Topographer and first presidential candidate for the Republican Party. An interesting read.
November 2, 2016
Not Irving Stone's best but an interesting book, if a bit floridly written. As the story of this controversial couple unfolded, it occurred to me that the writing was similar to their lives, high highs and low lows, a dramatic roller-coaster ride. It inspired me to research Jessie Benton Fremont and to realize how many of John Fremont's footsteps still echo in the West.
December 31, 2024
Životopis Jessie, ktorá bola na svoju dobu príliš vzdelaná a príliš odvážna. Napriek nespočetným pádom stála 50 rokov pri manželovi - priekopníkovi, baníkovi, generálovi, staviteľovi železnice - v dobrom aj zlom, v bohatstve aj biede, pretože manželstvo bolo pre ňu cieľom aj prostriedkom k naplneniu svojho osudu.
January 16, 2023
Incredible book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was challenged and inspired in so many ways to be a better wife and to value my husband and marriage in a new way. Amazing to read this narrative and perspective on a period of American history with which I thought I was already familiar.
November 20, 2019
The story of Jessie Benton Fremont. Excellent writing and fast reading as are all of Irving Stone's books.
January 24, 2020
I read this in high school and remembered it. Now I am about to read Steve Inskeep's non fiction account of the Fremonts, "Imperfect Union."
January 21, 2021
Great piece of history Id never heard before.
A fast interesting read of quite a woman.
A fast interesting read of quite a woman.
April 2, 2021
Loved this book!
January 6, 2023
Irving Stone’s “Immortal Wife” exemplifies outstanding courage and achievement demonstrated by the roles of women during the 19th century in pioneer America. A truly wonderful read.
June 14, 2016
The Immortal Wife of Irving Stone's biographical novel is Jessie Benton Fremont. Although she was one of the most famous American women of the 1800's, her name is known only to devout students of American history. She did a lot of writing in order to support her ailing (and possibly mentally ill) husband. A lot of Stone's research for Immortal Wife (1944) came from Jessie Benton Fremont's writings as well as a popular biography from her daughter, Elizabeth Fremont.
Most of the historical characters in this novel will later be judged as racists by history. They were proponents of "manifest destiny". Although the Fremonts were at the forefront of the abolition movement, their concern for blacks did not extend to Native Americans. This reviewer happens to be part Native American, so I was prepared to chuck the book across the room when I discovered her views on manifest destiny.
But Stone manages to not only make the characters engaging and complex, but also makes a detailed portrait of a little known time in American history.
About Jessie Benton Fremont
Jessie was the favourite child of Senator Thomas Benton. She had an unusual childhood, because she was given an education by her father and allowed to engage in political debates. However, she did not seek a woman's right to vote and found suffragettes insufferable. This already shows the reader that she was a self-contradictory but interesting protagonist. She is at turns admirable and pathetic.
Jessie married John Fremont, who would not only become the first governor of California, but the first Republican presidential nominee. But John refused to take part in political campaigning, leaving it all up to Jessie. Stone repeats several times in the book that Fremont's failed campaign of 1856 was the first time a potential First Lady made any difference in a presidential campaign. After Jessie, all wives of politicians had to stump for their husbands.
Jessie's main driving force is to keep her marriage going. John is not depicted as a cheater, addict or scoundrel, so why Jessie was so anxious does remain a mystery. However, John had wanderlust and would leave Jessie for years in order to travel or find trails across country to California. Jessie spends an inordinate amount of time trying to be the ideal wife. Although her ideals do not match the ideals of a modern wife, they do give an interesting glimpse into the social standards of the time.
In Conclusion
Immortal Wife is an interesting read, but should not be taken as an accurate view of history because most of Stone's sources were written by the protagonists. Are they really going to make themselves out to be anything but heroic? Feminists will not like the book. Fans of Abraham Lincoln will be incensed because their hero is made out to be a spineless opportunist.
Most of the historical characters in this novel will later be judged as racists by history. They were proponents of "manifest destiny". Although the Fremonts were at the forefront of the abolition movement, their concern for blacks did not extend to Native Americans. This reviewer happens to be part Native American, so I was prepared to chuck the book across the room when I discovered her views on manifest destiny.
But Stone manages to not only make the characters engaging and complex, but also makes a detailed portrait of a little known time in American history.
About Jessie Benton Fremont
Jessie was the favourite child of Senator Thomas Benton. She had an unusual childhood, because she was given an education by her father and allowed to engage in political debates. However, she did not seek a woman's right to vote and found suffragettes insufferable. This already shows the reader that she was a self-contradictory but interesting protagonist. She is at turns admirable and pathetic.
Jessie married John Fremont, who would not only become the first governor of California, but the first Republican presidential nominee. But John refused to take part in political campaigning, leaving it all up to Jessie. Stone repeats several times in the book that Fremont's failed campaign of 1856 was the first time a potential First Lady made any difference in a presidential campaign. After Jessie, all wives of politicians had to stump for their husbands.
Jessie's main driving force is to keep her marriage going. John is not depicted as a cheater, addict or scoundrel, so why Jessie was so anxious does remain a mystery. However, John had wanderlust and would leave Jessie for years in order to travel or find trails across country to California. Jessie spends an inordinate amount of time trying to be the ideal wife. Although her ideals do not match the ideals of a modern wife, they do give an interesting glimpse into the social standards of the time.
In Conclusion
Immortal Wife is an interesting read, but should not be taken as an accurate view of history because most of Stone's sources were written by the protagonists. Are they really going to make themselves out to be anything but heroic? Feminists will not like the book. Fans of Abraham Lincoln will be incensed because their hero is made out to be a spineless opportunist.
December 6, 2009
I'm a huge fan of biographies (although I think it's technically historical fiction). I wasn't thrilled at first that's it's about a woman, written by a man; but the author came through with a strong image of this woman.
The story of Jessie Benton Fremont (1800s), the daughter of a senator (THomas Hart Benton, and the wife and partner of John Fremont (a topographer and eventual politician who helped found the Republican party and actually ran for PResident the term before Lincoln.) It includes accurate American history, the life of a woman of privilege choosing to "stick by her man" when it means traveling overland, while pregnant, before the Panama canal, in order to get to California (which wasn't a state as yet). She was a brilliant woman -- a great read!
The story of Jessie Benton Fremont (1800s), the daughter of a senator (THomas Hart Benton, and the wife and partner of John Fremont (a topographer and eventual politician who helped found the Republican party and actually ran for PResident the term before Lincoln.) It includes accurate American history, the life of a woman of privilege choosing to "stick by her man" when it means traveling overland, while pregnant, before the Panama canal, in order to get to California (which wasn't a state as yet). She was a brilliant woman -- a great read!
August 18, 2009
Actually, I didn't finish this book. Having read several of Irving Stone's other biographical novels, I began this one with great anticipation. However, after getting more than 50% through it, I couldn't take any more of the sadness, hardship, and demoralizing experiences of the Fremonts. I know that hard times hit us all, but I don't have to trudge through a book I'm not enjoying. Stone is true to his style -- facts well researched, beautiful writing, elegant characterizations. This one just wasn't one I could finish.
February 10, 2015
This book was the classic "don't judge a book by its cover" experience for me. I borrowed a copy from a friend and the cover was a picture that looked like it was straight off of a steamy romance novel. I had a hard time convincing my husband that it wasn't at all about that. I enjoyed the strength of the main character Jessie and her devotion to her husband and her marriage. In our book group, we had an interesting discussion on how Jessie viewed her marriage and how her views affected her actions. It was a challenging read, but I am glad I buckled down and read it.
October 10, 2021
The story of Jessie and John Fremont as a historical biography. It discusses how the western U.S. was mapped out by John Fremont's expeditions and how he traveled and found his way to California. How he fought under Navy command and how he rose in the ranks. He, along with his wifes' support, and encouragement, and his Senator father-in-law help he became active in politics as a Governor, and Senator. He ran for president, and had a very narrow defeat. If you enjoy the history of the U.S. you probably would like this book.
March 15, 2009
Wow! It turns out I've read two books by this author. I read this book years before I ever heard of the author. I didn't like it. It was a good story, and a good history. However I felt like we only saw the good side of Jessie, and none of her faults. People have multiple sides to them. This book was more a praise and worship of the Immortal Wife of a senator, it made her seam unrealistic, non-human, and I began to resent her.
October 28, 2014
This was no where as good as THE PRESIDENT'S WIFE. Stone tried to cover too much too quickly. A woman's book in my opinion Too much about the feelings of the people, etc. The important parts were covered in a paragraph sometimes , Just skimmed over. MORE FICTION THAN FACT IN MY OPINION. Author just wanted to sell his book. I am done with Mr. Stone's works.
June 14, 2021
Excellent! Exciting, deeply emotional. Not just a woman's book, for it details the lives of both husband and wife, who had an extraordinary relationship, especially for the nineteenth century! After reading Lust for Life, The Agony and the Ecstasy, and Immortal Wife, Irving Stone has become one of my favorite authors.
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