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Sep 29
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During the Snake Indian War, Pvt. Charles A. Fonda was mortally wounded at the skirmish of Otseo’s Lodge on April 28, 1868 against hostile Northern Paiute and Shoshone Indians near Warner Lakes, Oregon. Private Fonda was shot in the knee and since his wound was serious, it was decided to amputate his leg in the field. He did not survive the operation, and was almost certainly buried in the field. The site of the skirmish is known, but Fonda’s exact burial place is not. A government-issued headstone was placed at the site in July 2013. A newspaper account describes it as “a little east and south of the stone bridge.” The headstone was placed within 200 yards of the site of the stone bridge, on land that is on the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge.
Photo by Heather VanDomelen.
The best description of the skirmish at Otseo’s Lodge is in the book ‘The Deadliest Indian War in the West: The Snake Conflict, 1864-1868‘ by Gregory Michno (p. 315):
A group of 18 soldiers and a few Indian scouts attempted to attack a group of Snake Indians at daybreak. The Indians heard the soldiers splashing as they crossed a creek, and retreated to high ground, The soldiers then attacked uphill across open ground, and suffered many casualties. Fonda was the only fatality. The skirmish occurred about 1/2 mile east of the site of Old Camp Warner, which had been abandoned the year before. (per John Griffin, Lakeview, OR)
A Report of Surgical Cases treated in the Army of the United States from 1865 to 1871 by George Alexander Otis (p. 206):
DXXXIX – Mention of a Primary Amputation of the Thigh By JM Dickson MD Acting Assistant Surgeon.
Private Charles A Fonda Co D 23d Infantry received a severe gunshot wound of the knee joint in a skirmish near Lake Warner Oregon April 29 1868. Amputation at the lower third of the thigh was performed on the next day. He died under the operation.
There are photos of Charles (as a boy) and his family on the Fonda Blog at Illinois Fonda’s.
Thanks to John Griffin of Lakeview, Oregon for ordering and placing the military gravestone.
References: Rootsweb, Find-A-Grave
National Historic Register: Stone Bridge and the Oregon Central Military Wagon Road
 Photo by Heather VanDomelen. |
 Click image for Google Map location. |
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Jul 26
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Fonda couldn’t resist playing Nancy Reagan
By Caitlin McDevitt, 7/25/15
Jane Fonda plays Nancy Reagan in “The Butler”
Jane Fonda just couldn’t say no to a Nancy Reagan role.
“The idea that I could play Nancy Reagan was just too much to resist,” the actress says in a new clip promoting “The Butler.” “I thought it would be fun to play her.”
Acknowledging their political differences, Fonda adds, “I know people say, ‘Oh my gosh, Jane Fonda is playing Nancy Reagan.’ But I don’t think that whatever difference there might be in our politics really matters. As an actor, I approach her as a human being.”
Plus, Fonda says, “I happen to know that she’s not unhappy that I’m playing her.”
Watch Fonda as the first lady in a preview of “The Butler” below. The movie, which follows the career of a long-serving White House butler, hits the big screen on Aug. 16.
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Jul 26
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Dolce & Gabbana hit back at Peter Fonda lawsuit
Italian label Dolce & Gabbana has revealed that it did seek permission to reproduce stills of Peter Fonda in ‘Easy Rider’ as the actor sues for $6 million in damages.
T-shirts by Dolce & Gabbana bearing Peter Fonda’s image and the Easy Rider film title.
by Olivia Bergin, 25 July 2013
In the world according to label Dolce & Gabbana, the brand only found out that Hollywood actor Peter Fonda was suing the brand after news broke in the press. The 73-year-old star of the 1969 cult film Easy Rider , which he also produced, filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles last week over the Italian label making and selling T-shirts with his name and photo without permission. Fonda is also suing high-end retailer Nordstrom for selling the tops, which feature him in a black and white still from the film, and retailed at around $295 a piece (£192).
But it was news to the Milan Fashion Week label, who today revealed it negotiated a legal contract with Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc., agent of Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., in which Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. stated to be the owner of all rights related to the images used on the Dolce & Gabbana Icon T-shirts. Fonda, brother of fellow Hollywood star Jane, claims he has “suffered injuries to his peace, happiness, feelings, goodwill, reputation, image, loss of fair market value of his services, and dilution of his current and future publicity value,” according to WWD.
Dolce & Gabbana claim that the use of Fonda’s image was through a contract made with Sony Pictures.
The $6 million sum (almost £4 million) he is seeking in damages accounts for punitive damages, legal fees and for Nordstrom and Dolce & Gabbana to surrender any profits they generated from the merchandise the actor claims they sold without his authorisation. The T-shirts were part of the brand’s autumn/winter 2013 collection, and featured stills and the logo from the film. In the past, the brand has emblazoned images of celebrity figures James Dean, Jonny Depp and Debbie Harry on it’s T-shirts, but it seems Fonda isn’t so flattered by the gesture.
Free Rider
by Ava Farshidi, July 26, 2013
When you put Peter Fonda’s image on a T-shirt and sell it for $295 without his permission, he’s going to come after you. Nordstrom learned this the hard way after selling nine different T-shirt designs by Dolce & Gabbana with images of the actor from his 1969 movie “Easy Rider,” which Fonda co-wrote, produced, and starred in. Particularly for Dolce & Gabbana the lawsuit could not have come at a worse time, as the Italian fashion duo is currently dealing with charges of tax evasion that have led them to close nine of their Milan stores in protest.
Easy Rider
Although Nordstrom has acknowledged that Fonda is pursuing a lawsuit against them, Dolce & Gabbana claim that they are unaware of any legal action taken against them. They claim that the use of Fonda’s image was through a contract made with Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc., which they believe would make them legally compliant.
Fonda filed his complaint on July 19th in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles citing reasons such as suffering, “injuries to his peace, happiness, feelings, goodwill, reputation, image, loss of fair market value of his services, and dilution of his current and future publicity value.” It is reported that he is seeking $6 million in compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and any profits that have been made from the T-shirt sales.
It seems that this lawsuit has turned the T-shirt into a fashion faux-paux as Nordstrom has removed the T-shirt from their website. Apparently this season’s most fashionable trends thus far are tax evasion and use of likeness.
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Jul 23
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Here’s a memorial from a while back…
Park Ranger John C. Fonda – United States Department of the Interior – National Park Service
End of Watch: Wednesday, March 9, 1960
Ranger John C. Fonda – drowned in Snake River
Park Ranger John Fonda and District Ranger Gale Wilcox, along with the Assistant Chief Ranger, were on back country patrol on cross-country skis in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. The three came upon the Snake River, which had frozen over, and judged that it was safe to cross. The Assistant Chief Ranger began to cross first, followed by Ranger Wilcox and Ranger Fonda.
Ranger Fonda had made it only 15-feet from shore when the ice broke and he fell into the river. Ranger Wilcox, who could not swim, immediately belly-crawled to Ranger Wilcox’s position to try to reach him with ski pole. The Assistant Chief Ranger also went to the location to help also. The ice then cracked and the other two rangers fell into the river. The Assistant Chief Ranger was able to remove his skis and then tried to remove the skis of the other rangers but was unsuccessful. He then climbed out of the water. He was able to pull Ranger Wilcox out of the water but Ranger Fonda, who was still treading water with his skis on, went under and did not resurface.
Snake River, Wyoming
Ranger Wilcox was suffering from severe hypothermia and was unable to move or speak. The Assistant Chief Ranger, who was also suffering from hypothermia, immediately set out for the nearest ranger station to radio for help and medical supplies. When rescue workers arrived at the scene they found that Ranger Wilcox had passed away from exposure.
Ranger Wilcox was posthumously awarded a Citation of Valor from the Department of the Interior and the Bronze Medal from the Carnegie Hero Commission for his efforts to save Ranger Fonda. The Assistant Chief Ranger was also awarded the Citation of Valor.
Ranger Fonda was a Korean War veteran. He had been a full time ranger for the Park Service for two years and had served as a seasonal ranger for six years. He was survived by his wife and daughter. His daughter is now a U.S. Marshal.
The Week in Wyoming (AP)
Pinedale Roundup, 1960-03-17
Cheyenne – Grand Teton Park Rangers die after icy plunge into Snake River – Only one man returned from a routine three-man patrol in Grand Teton National Park Wednesday. He was assistant chief ranger Stan Spurgeon, 48, who tried in vain to rescue his two companions from the icy waters of the Snake River. John Fonda, 27, and Gail Wilcox, 48, died. Fonda drowned in the Snake River and Wilcox died of exposure in a cabin Thursday night, Spurgeon said. Spurgeon has been released from a Jackson hospital where he was treated for shock and exposure. The men were crossing the Snake near the north end of Jackson Lake when Fonda went through the ice. The other two fell through attempting to rescue him.
Also see: Rootsweb, Find-A-Grave
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Jul 22
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St. Paul Woman on Honeymoon Killed in New Hampshire Crash
by Andy Greder – Pioneer Press – July 21, 2013
A newlywed St. Paul woman was killed on her honeymoon during a two-car crash with an apparent drunk driver in New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon, said family and New Hampshire State Police. Lea Fonda, 30, died at a hospital after being a passenger in a Kia Spectra driven by her husband Brian Preiss, also 30 and of St. Paul, police said.
Leah Fonda & Brian Preiss
The two were recently wed and went to the East Coast for their honeymoon, said Preiss’ brother Philip Preiss. The driver of the second car, Matthew Tsopas, drifted over the center line in his Infiniti G35SX and struck Fonda and Preiss. Preiss was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries, police said. Philip Preiss said he didn’t know the extend of his brother’s injuries.
Tsopas fled the crash scene, but was found a short time later, police said. “It appears that speed and driver impairment are factors in this crash, however, the crash still remains under investigation,” police said. Tsopas was arrested at the hospital and was charged with negligent homicide, felony driving under the influence of alcohol and felony conduct after an accident.
Hit-and-Run Claims Bride – Groom in Hospital after New Hampshire Crash
by Jack Encarnacao – Boston Herald – July 22, 2013
A heartbroken Minnesota groom is in intensive care in a Boston hospital in the wake of the senseless New Hampshire drunken hit-and-run that stole the life of his new bride, authorities and relatives said yesterday. “The two of them spent 10 years getting together,” said Jonnie Kunce, mother of bride Leah Fonda, “and they got to have eight days of being married.”
On Saturday at about 4:27 p.m., Brian Preiss, 30, of St. Paul, Minn., and his bride of one week, Leah Fonda, 30, longtime lovebirds and both Mall of America amusement park workers, were on their way to Niagara Falls when a car careened into their lane and struck them “in a near head-on fashion” on Route 4 in Rollinsford, said New Hampshire state police.
The driver, Matthew Tsopas, a 43-year-old man from Somersworth, N.H., then fled the scene. “He just left Brian and Leah to die,” Preiss’ uncle Chuck Czech said. “What kind of character does that?” Tsopas was eventually arrested and charged with negligent homicide, felony driving under the influence of alcohol and felony conduct after an accident. Fonda and Preiss were rushed to Wentworth Douglas Hospital in Dover, N.H., where she died. Preiss was then transported to Massachusetts General Hospital.
Preiss and Fonda were engaged in the fall and married July 12 in Bloomington, Minn., the culmination of a decade-long flirtation the two had at the amusement park where they both worked. “The wedding was wonderful,” said Kunce, Fonda’s aunt, who adopted her when she was a sophomore in high school. “It was small and elegant and perfect, just perfect. She was so beautiful.”
Kunce said Preiss, who took regular road trips, suggested a 17-day tour of New England for the couple’s honeymoon. “Leah had not traveled much, and it was something that he had set up and he had wanted to show her,” Kunce said of Preiss. “She had kind of an itinerary set up.” Czech said the couple had planned to spend the bulk of their time in Boston. Yesterday, Preiss, who Czech said suffered serious head injuries and internal bleeding, was listed in good condition at MGH.
After he was located by police, Tsopas was transported to a New Hampshire hospital for treatment before he was arrested and charged. “It’s just unbelievable to me that he could do so much damage and be able to walk away,” Kunce said. “There is no reason for people to drink and drive.”
Somersworth Man Charged with Negligent Homicide Following Rollinsford Fatal
Union Leader – July 21, 2013
ROLLINSFORD – A Somersworth man was charged with negligent homicide, felony driving under the influence and conduct after an accident following a fatal near head on collision on Route 4 Saturday afternoon.
According to New Hampshire State Police, Matthew Tsopas, 43, of Somersworth was traveling west on Route 4 in the area of Old Mill Road about 4:27 p.m. when the 2008 Infinity G35sx he was operating drifted into the oncoming lane. The Infinity struck a 2008 Kia Spectra headed west operated by Brian Preiss, 30, of Saint Paul, Minn. Also in the Preiss vehicle was Leah Fonda, 30, of Saint Paul.
“Tsopas fled the scene but was located a short time later and transported to Wentworth Douglas Hospital in Dover,” said state police. Fonda and Preiss also were taken to Wentworth Douglas where Fonda succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival. Preiss was transportated to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries.
“It appears that speed and driver impairment are factors in this crash however the crash still remains under investigation,” state police said. “Tsopas was arrested at the hosptial and charged with negligent homicide, felony driving under the Influence of alcohol and felony conduct after an accident. ”
Anyone with information regarding the crash may contact Trooper Christopher Storm at 603-223-8490 or email at Christopher.Storm@dos.nh.gov.
HONEYMOON CRASH: Drunk driver took away ‘one-of-a kind soul’
Posted: Jul 24, 2013 1:50 PM EST posted by Mike Durkin
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) -The family of Leah Fonda Preiss, the St. Paul woman killed in a crash with a drunk driver on a honeymoon road trip through New England, released the following statement Wednesday:
STATEMENT
We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken over the death of Leah and serious injury to Brian at the hands of an irresponsible driver. We all are left with a gaping hole in our lives, and there are no words to describe our sudden loss of an amazing woman. She was a woman who dearly cherished her family and friends, an aunt who treated her like a daughter, a sister who shared in many adventures, a sister in law who became a sister, and her dearly cherished nephews. She was a woman who fell madly in love with a man she had known for many years just as a friend. She was a kind loving person who had a quiet strength about her and would do just about anything to help someone. Leah is a one-of-a-kind soul who will be deeply missed.
It is especially tragic that Leah’s death comes a week after her wedding and a little more than a week before her 31st birthday at the hands of someone who acted carelessly and irresponsibly by drinking and driving. There are no words for our anger and disappointment at the driver’s decision to do so. It was at his hands that our beloved Leah was taken away from us and the life she had dreamed of for so long. It is unfathomable that within in a week Leah and Brian had both the best and worst days of their lives. There is no sense to this that we can see, but we hope that this is an eye opening event for many about the consequences of drinking and driving and that they will chose to act responsibly. During this very difficult time we would greatly appreciate that you respect our need for privacy. Thank you.
The family of Leah Fonda Preiss
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Leah Fonda Preiss Memorial Fund
c/o Wells Fargo Bank
809 10th Avenue North
Sartell, MN 56377
Contributions to the Leah Fonda Preiss Memorial Fund can also be made at any Wells Fargo Bank Branch.
THE CRASH
Near Head-On Collision
Accident Scene, Route 4, Rollinsford, NH
New Hampshire State Trooper Christopher Storm said 43-year-old Matthew Tsopas was driving west on Route 4 in Rollinsford, N.H. when his car drifted all the way into the eastbound lane and struck the car driven by the newlyweds.
Tsopas fled the scene but was located a short time later and brought to the hospital, where he was charged with negligent homicide, felony DUI and felony conduct after an accident.
Fonda, 30, died in the crash. Preiss, 30, was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is recovering from internal injuries and facial cuts with family by his side. He was in surgery Wednesday and his condition has been upgraded to good. The family hopes to have him home next week.
THE WEDDING
Fonda and Preiss, both Mall of America amusement park employees, were married during an intimate ceremony on July 12 in Bloomington. They were one week and one day into their honeymoon when the crash occurred. Just before the crash, the couple called Preiss’ parents to let them know they were on their way to Niagara Falls.