When Kentucky champions Robert and Zerelda (Zee) James were born, they built their home on the Missouri border, never dreaming that their children would one day rank among the nation’s most criminal outlaws. When his son Jesse James was born on September 5, 1847, at his home near Kearny, Missouri, he was welcomed into the growing family.
The James’ log home was like the neighbors – simple and unadorned. Robert James the Baptist was the minister of a church near Kearny. Unlike his neighbors, Robert James was well educated in reading books and preaching. And when Jesse was only two years old, he went home with hope. to make his fortune in the California Gold Rush of ’49. He planned to bring his family but he never had any gold. He died of pneumonia before he could even be tested.
His widow was married twice in eight days, as was the child Jesse. Along with his siblings – two brothers, a sister, two step-nephews and two stepsons – Jesse learned early on that he learned many of the tasks necessary to complete farm life in these years. Samuel’s second stepfather brought up his son as a teacher. The family fought in the Civil War and owned four slaves at one time.
A small farm grew but when the nation entered the civil-war years, everything changed. Because Missouri was the border state — who declared neither for the Union nor for the Confederacy — had flown into their neighbors as though they were factions.
In the spring of 1863 Union cavalry troops arrived in the village. Because the Samuels were known to be poor southerners, the Union soldiers were harsh and threatened to burn down their home. Sixteen-year-old Jesse challenged the soldiers and tried to fight. He was slain in the tumultuous time, and his house and all his valuables were burnt.
Up until this time, Jesse and his older brother Frank had been average children. They worked hard on the farm and their siblings, especially the younger ones, slowed down their stepmother. An attack on the town by Union soldiers changed everything. When Jesse recovered, the Quantrill raiders, a radical group with strong Southern sympathies, who were as bloody and vicious to Union supporters as to the Yankee Samuel Civil War ended, Isai saw an opportunity to restore the family’s money that had been stolen from the banks. Because many banks had foreclosed on landowners who could not pay their mortgages during the war years, James developed a special hatred for banks. The gang’s first attempt to rob a bank in Liberty, Missouri in 1866 failed but later succeeded in the robbery. Jesse James was reported to be a genius who planned each robbery and placed it in a safe with each bank success.
The gang soon expanded their crimes to include train robbery and for nine years the gang wreaked havoc across several states. When the lawyers harassed his mother and the family home on the farm, Jesse was consumed by hatred. After losing his mother’s arm from a law officer, he killed several times, vowing revenge.
Rumors spread that he had robbed the rich to give to the poor like Robin Hood, and made him a popular outcast. Jesse married his cousin Zerelda for nine years before marrying her on April 18, 1875. It is not known whether his life was preceded by the crime before the marriage. He soon had two children, Mary and Jesse.
The gang’s long record of successful robberies was broken by a crushing defeat in Northfield, Minnesota in 1876. Citizens small towns are bonds against crime. When the citizens realized that a bank robbery was in progress, shopkeepers, woolmen, blacksmiths and other residents became armed. These robbers attacked and drove James’ gang out of town before the bank robbery could be completed. Several members of the band were killed, others were wounded, and the band was dispersed for cover.
During this time, Jesse James moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he lived a quiet life for several years. He sent for his house those who were with him. By 1879, however, they wanted to return to Missouri and did so.
When Jesse returned, the robberies began again and unleashed a new reign of terror on the city.
Between “jobs” as the gang called their crimes, James moved to St. Joseph, Missouri. The town was buzzing with railroads and other industries. He placed his family in a small house in a quiet neighborhood and began a double life under another Lord Howard. The Howard family lived among neighbors and no one in Lord City knew Howard’s other identity until his death.
The death of Jesse James came after a Missouri governor issued a large money award to anyone who could rescue him from the law, dead or alive. Governor Crittendon thought that the public affairs were as frequent a business in a state of emergency as bank robberies and robberies. There came a member of James’s gang, a young man named Robert Ford who had gained the faith of Jesse. Ford was promised a reward of money in the delivery of James.
In the bright spring of April 3, 1882, Howard went about the family’s daily business. Upstairs, Jesse planned another robbery with Robert Ford and his brother. Bob Ford noticed that Jesse’s guns weren’t in him as he expected the opportunity.
When Jesse James turned to correct the pattern that read “Bless This House” on the wall, Ford fired four shots and killed him. By the time Jesse’s wife rushed out of the kitchen, she saw the Ford brothers fleeing the scene and the man dead on the floor in a pool of blood.
When news of the murder spread, Mr Howard’s true identity became known. Robert Ford was awarded prize money and was strongly judged by the entire nation. Photographs of the dead were sent around the world. The outlaw was placed in his hometown of Kearny, Missouri. His body was later transferred to another location.
Stories and rumors abounded for more than a century. The story of Jesse James was not circulated and the grave was exhumed in 1990 but determined to be the remains of James. Many Western-movie and stories have been created in the life of Jesse James. Other transcribed readings of James. When Charley Floyd lived incognito with his family, he often used other names about Howard. Herds like Newton’s Boys robbed trains, inspired by the successes of James.
A year after his brother’s death, Francis James turned himself into the authorities. He saved his time in prison and after his release he lived a quiet life. Robert Ford, the man who became his friend and brother, used his salary to open a mine in Colorado. He was often embarrassed by those who mentioned the “Ballad of Jesse James” and called him “a dirty little coward who shot Mr. Howard and laid poor Jesse in his grave.” In 1892 she died a violent death when she was shot to death by a customer.
Today the house in which Jesse James lived and died can be visited in St. Joseph. Now located on the grounds of the Patee House Museum at 12th and Penn streets, the house is open to the public. The wall where James tried to fix the sampler for many years in search of grids is now covered with protective glass to prevent further damage.
In the vicinity of Kearney, in the Kansas City area, visitors can locate the Jesse James Museum on site. James farm where Jesse was born. The guides offer stories and facts about the nefarious robberies.
The name of Jesse James will remain famous as long as the rest of the fans of the heritage of the West nation and the famous outlaws.
