The Story of John C. Fremont for Young Americans

by Nellie Kingsley

Copyrighted 1902

The source book entitled, four American Heroes, was authored by Nellie Kingsley, and published by the The Werner School Book Company.

This book included the follow titles:

1) The Story of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark for Young Americans

2) The Story of John Charles Fremont for Young Americans

3) The Story of Elisha Kent Kane for Young Americans,

This review includes only Reviews of Antiquarian Books; the other two are covered in separate articles.

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This is an ideal book for the first time exposure to the American explorer John C. Fremont. Even though this publication is short it still does a good job of piquing the readers curiosity about the man and his exploits and will encourage readers to do further study.

The publication consists 66 pages of text andjust a few images.

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Review

Eventhough many of his later accomplishments far out distanced his early explorations and exploits and in the West, John Charles Fremont was poplularly known as the The Pathfinder for most of his life.

While brief, this book is not without many interesting facts and insights.

For example in describing the habits of the buffalo

The country was covered with herds of buffaloes and their manner of living was full of interest. The men noticed that when it was cold and snowy the herds kept moving.

This was because the buffaloes on the edge of the herd were trying to get into the middle where they would be kept warmer by the heat from one another's bodies. The buffaloes in the middle would fight to stay where they were and so the whole herd was kept from freezing by the continual struggle.”

I knew that buffalo were very adept at surviving the harsh winters of the plains however I’d never heard of these kinds of behaviors. (By contrast when herds of cattle were introduced to the harsh winters they would essentially freeze or starve to death without assistance from their caretakers).

Also though I’d probably read about it before I’d forgotten that his expeditions actually had rubber boats that they used to ford the rivers.

From explorer (”The Pathfinder”) to conqueror to military governor of California to presidential candidate to Civil War General his career was obviously wide and varied and deserves much more intense study. This publication will inspire the reader to pursuea more detail study of John C. Fremont.

Fun to read, and educational at the same time.

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Table of Contents:

I. A START IN LIFE II. FIRST WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT III. SECOND EXPEDITION WITH NICOLLET IV. MARRIAGE V. FIRST INDEPENDENT WESTERN EXPEDITION VI. THE PARTY DIVIDED VII. SECOND INDEPENDENT EXPEDITION VIII. IN THE FAR NORTHWEST IX. OVER THE SIERRA NEVADAS X. THE DESCENT INTO THE VALLEY XI. HOMEWARD XII. TROUBLES WITH THE MEXICANS XIII. A GOVERNMENT MESSAGE XIV. FREMONT'S WAR XV. THE FOURTH EXPEDITION XVI. THE LAST YEARS OF LIFE"

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Reviews of Antiquarian Books Website: American Era History www.ebookjoint.com

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