Health & Fitness
Hidden Histories: Lily Fremont Finds Respite in Early Long Beach
Although not as well-known as her father, Lily Fremont was a fairly famous resident of early Long Beach. That she graced us with her presence here for nearly 5 years may have been a testament to the restorative powers of our seaside town.
It happens so frequently I’m rarely surprised anymore.
Time and again, Long Beach was a way station for those of certain celebrity.
H. Gaylord Wilshire (of Wilshire Boulevard fame) lived here briefly; one of California’s most famous governors, Frank Merriam, and one of California’s most famous philanthropists, Dorothy Buffum (wife of Norman Chandler of the L.A. Times), also lived here; don’t forget Snoop Dog, Nicholas Cage and Billie Jean King in more recent years.
But, my native Californian roots were really tickled when I learned several years ago about Elizabeth “Lily” Benton Fremont’s brief stay in our seaside town. Born in 1842, Lily was the daughter of the (in)famous Captain John C. Fremont and his well-bred wife, Jessie Benton Fremont. She accompanied her parents on their many treks throughout United States and Europe. She never married, continuing to travel over the course of her life, living for a few months in one place before moving on.
Find out what's happening in Long Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
By all accounts, Lily was smart, stalwart and fiercely proud of her parents. She was her mother's constant companion and kept her father on the straight-and-narrow during his stint as governor of the Arizona Territory. In reading about her, I found myself admiring her quiet determination - a trait shared by many women of the west during the late 19th century.
In 1890 John Fremont died. Jessie died in 1902 in Los Angeles. At that point, Lily was fairly destitute. Her father’s numerous ventures rarely resulted in stable monetary success. After a trip or two to the unyielding family goldmines in the Yosemite and Bear Valleys in 1903, Lily came to Long Beach, ostensibly for her health upon the advice of her physician.
Find out what's happening in Long Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Another reason may have aided her decision to settle here: a branch of her mother’s family, the Bentons, were established here. Arthur Benton, and his more well-known son, Ira Benton – both architects - lived and worked in Long Beach. The Bentons were related to the fiery Senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton, who famously dueled with Andrew Jackson.
In 1905, Lily purchased two lots in what was still the Alamitos Beach Townsite, not yet annexed to the City of Long Beach. By some accounts she paid about $350 for them each. One was at 338 Junipero, near Carroll Park. She settled into this little wooden bungalow from 1905 to 1907. It is still there, the front porch not much different than it would have been over 100 years ago.
In 1908 she moved into her other property, located at the southeast corner of Temple and Second (now condos).
According to Long Beach historian, Roberta Nichols, Lily left her seaside Long Beach home in 1909 at age 67, residing in six houses in L.A., Hermosa Beach and Warm Springs, Georgia. She was part of the dedication of the Southwest Museum, donating some of her famous family’s artifacts to this endeavor. She died in 1919 at the age of 77. To Long Beach’s credit, her time in this city was one of the longest she spent in one place during her life.
