Political Influence

    Jessie Fremont was ahead of her time, shaped both by her father’s influence and her marriage to John C. Fremont. She did not conform to the societal expectations placed upon women in her era. She was an intellectual with grace and the ability to bring people together. Promoting the ideas of truth, morality and importance of the individual. Her charisma, intellect, and extensive political connections were tools she employed to benefit her family.¹ Her commitment to larger causes and her ability to impact others is what truly set her apart from the expectations of women in her time.

     Jessie Benton Fremont wrote a letter to Elizabeth Cady Stanton where she expressed her call to action for the Fremont Movement and voting for political leaders. Stanton believes they need to hold a “people’s mass meeting” in Cleveland, Ohio to affirm individuals of General John C. Fremont’s campaign and why he should be the chosen candidate. She also suggested a new method of political elections where the people should declare and vote for who they want voted into office.²

     In a letter Jessie Fremont wrote to Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1866, Jessie expresses that although the two may disagree on certain issues, she still holds respect for Stanton. She also explains her agreement with William Gladstone’s Bill. This bill would extend suffrage to working-class men in England. Although it wasn’t granting women’s suffrage, it would be a key component to opening those doors for women later on. Jessie ends her letter demonstrating sincerity and kindness towards Stanton.

     Shortly after Jessie Fremont’s death in 1902, an article was written to summarize and celebrate her many life achievements. The article describes her as “A character of heroic, physical, moral, and mental mould…”. It also goes on to tell the story of her elopement with her husband John, and their story. It describes John’s military and political careers and the instrumental role Jessie played, particularly in his political popularity. The article wraps up with a description of the last years of Jessie’s life, dominated by poverty and writing, and a glowing description of a woman who redefined the role of the political wife.⁴ 

    Additionally, instead of Fremont focusing on celebrating her life achievements, she mainly explored her experiences when she was a young woman. Particularly her relationship with her father, and how her elopement came about. Jessie’s father was Senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri. He and Jessie were both fans of a David Crocket quote, “Be sure you’re right, and then go on ahead”. It is also speculated that this life philosophy was what prompted the elopement. Jessie was also said to share her father’s intelligence and sense of humor.⁵

¹Spence, Mary Lee. “Jessie Benton Frémont: First Lady of Arizona.” The Journal of Arizona History 24, no. 1 (1983): 55–72. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41695701.

²Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, as Revealed in Her Letters, Diary, and Reminiscences, Vol. 2: Letter from Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Jessie Benton Frémont, May 04, 1864, edited by Harriot Eaton Stanton Blatch, Theodore Weld Stanton. New York, NY: Harper and Brothers. https://search-alexanderstreet-com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cdocument%7C4260369#page/219/mode/1/chapter/bibliographic_entity%7Cdocument%7C4260369

³Letter from Jessie Benton Fremont to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Apr. 22, 1866, Letter from Jessie Benton Fremont to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Apr. 22, 1866, 116-116 https://search-alexanderstreet-com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cdocument%7C2533643

⁴“Jesse Benton Fremont Dies 1903.” Newspapers.com, January 8, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-times-democrat-jesse-benton-fr/5040281/.

⁵“Jessie Benton Fremont in Her Childhood Days.” Press and Horticulturist. January 16, 1903.https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSozAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=Jessie+fremont&article_id=1819,779721&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi9lfSbqciJAxVyjokEHUS0Mp8Q6AF6BAgNEAI#v=onepage&q=Jessie%20fremont&f=false

  During the civil war John C. Frémont was a well known figure. He gained notoriety during the Mexican American War. When the civil war began he was appointed as major general by President Abraham Lincoln. He was given command of the union army in Missouri. In August of 1861 he issued the unauthorized Frémont's Emancipation Proclamation. This put the state into martial law and freed the rebel slaves of Missouri. This upset President Lincoln, because he had yet to make emancipation his central policy. Therefore Lincoln revoked the proclamation, which caused John to lose his standing. John Fremont was also relieved of his position as major general.¹

    In the early months of the Civil War, Jessie Frémont, wife of Major General John C. Frémont, exchanged letters with President Abraham Lincoln concerning her husbands leadership of the Unions Western Department. Tensions between Frémont and Lincoln grew, particularly after Frémont took bold actions that exceeded his orders, prompting Lincoln to dispatch investigators to evaluate his command.²

¹ St. Louis Historic Preservation. Accessed December 1, 2024. https://dynamic.stlouis-mo.gov/history/peopledetail.cfm?Master_ID=912.

² Lincoln, Abraham. Abraham Lincoln papers: Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833 to 1916: Abraham Lincoln to Jessie B. Fremont, Thursday,Reply to Mrs. Fremont's letters of September 12. 1861. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mal1160500/.