Image via WikipediaJesse's family was on the side of the Confederacy in the Civil War. Jesse's older brother Frank joined a local militia immediately, then later became a member of Quantrill's Raiders. When Jesse turned 16, he joined Frank in another guerrilla fighting group led by Fletch Taylor.
After the war ended, Jesse and Frank began a life of crime, including the first daylight bank robbery in the United States during peace time. Legend has it that their crime spree was directed at former Union supporters in retribution for the punishment of Confederate sympathizers.
Image via WikipediaThe farmsite includes the house where Jesse was born and raised, some reconstructed outbuildings, and a museum. The original part of the house is a log cabin. It was built around 1820, and is probably one of the oldest homes in the state of Missouri. The James family purchased it in the 1840's. The original farmstead covered about 250 acres.
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| Corner of house with siding removed |
I took the picture that shows the corner of the original log cabin wall without its siding.
Many James family memorabilia, including saddles and guns used by Jesse and Frank James and the boots Jesse was wearing when he was murdered, are housed in a museum on the farm. A movie tells the story of the farm and the James family.
When Jesse James was killed, his mother Zerelda had him buried on the property. After his wife died, his remains were exhumed and buried next to her in a local cemetery. Once his grave was no longer under the watchful eyes of his mother, souvenir hunters began chipping away the tombstone. What is left of it is on display in the museum.
Zerelda lived on the farm for many years, charging admission and conducting tours of the farm and home.
I can't believe you didn't mention where Jesse James was defeated... :(
ReplyDeleteI know, I know, I know. I told the tour guide about how the male students of Carleton College prepared to defend the female students when it was learned that the James Gang was coming to town to rob the bank. The tour guide said that the James brothers were Southern gentlemen and would never have molested the female students.
ReplyDeleteActually, Jesse and Frank James got away from the Northfield raid. The three Younger brothers were wounded, captured, and spent many years in prison. Two other gang members were killed.
When Jesse's body was exhumed and moved a few years after his death, a bullet was found in the coffin near his decomposing foot. It is believed to be the bullet that hit him during the Northfield raid.