GLENWOOD — Actress Van Ann Moore brings to life an amazing 19th century woman for her upcoming Chautauqua performance at Glenwood Community Center at 6 p.m. Saturday March 22. Chautauqua performers take on the persona of historical figures and recount their lives in a personal way and respond to questions in character.

Van Ann's previous program really impressed members of Glenwood Woman's Club, who in cooperation with the New Mexico Humanities Council, are sponsoring this event.

This time around, Van Ann is recreating Jessie Benton Fremont, who, along with her father, Senator Thomas Hart Benton and husband, John Charles Fremont, a famous American explorer known as the great "Pathfinder," helped to make manifest destiny a reality.

Jessie was vivacious and strong-willed and accompanied her husband on his ventures to map the West. She became a prolific writer and put John Fremont's Western Expeditions into print. She was also born for politics.

Her husband John became a Governor of Arizona, the first Senator of California, and the first Republican to run for President of the United States in 1856. Fremont campaigned as the "Pathfinder" who would lead the country out of the shame of slavery.

Throughout her life Jessie was in contact with ardent abolitionists, women's rights advocates and influential politicians. She had a one-on-one meeting with President Lincoln.

She spent most of her life traveling with her husband and writing about her experiences around the world.
In both dramatic and musical performances, Moore has brought numerous historical characters to life during her 15 year career. Among her individual recreations are Dolley Madison, Baby Doe Tabor, Jenny Lind, Lillie Langtree, Martha Washington, Molly Brown and Sarah Bernhardt, plus she presents multi-character programs including "Amazing Women of the Wild West" and "Sopranos and Six Shooters: Great Ladies of the Western Theatre."

For an evening that is both enlightening and entertaining, visit with Jessie aka Van Ann Moore this Saturday March 22 at 6 p.m. in the Community Center at 21 Mengas Lane off Highway 180.