American Outlaws

Jesse James

September 5th, 1847 in Kearney Missouri. It was the birth of American Outlaw Jesse James. Jesse was one of three children. Jesse was the youngest behind Frank and Robert. Frank and Jesse were confederate soldiers, and served in a guerilla group called the Quantrill Raiders led by Bloody Bill Anderson. After the war the Union railroad besieged Jesse's home, killing his mother. Jesse swore revenge against the railroad and the Union the way only way he knew how. He needed the help of his brother Frank. Jesse was less than best as a gunslinger. Frank on the other hand was a quick and deadly shot. Side by side they began robbing trains, banks, stagecoaches and express stations all ran by Northern Companies. They teamed up with other Confederate soldiers and formed the James-Younger Gang. The James-Younger gang had public support with a Robinhood Pro-Southern image until a bank robbery in Gallatin. Jesse shot a banker who had killed Bill Anderson in the chest. The public saw this as unnecessary bloodshed. As the James boys run continued, Jesse friended  Robert Ford and his Brother Charley as they were planning a bank heist. Robert and Charley eventually moved in with Jesse, his wife Zee, and two children Mary and Jesse E. Robert Ford had a plan up his sleeve the whole time to assassinate Jesse and claim the $10,000 reward and fame that would come with killing the legendary Outlaw. Ford became weary that Jesse had figured his plan out but Jesse would not kill the Ford boys in his own house where his wife and kids were. As unarmed Jesse was dusting a picture in his house Ford  took this vulnerable moment and shot him in the back with a pistol Jesse gifted him. Jesse's body was photographed and prints were sold for years. Jesse's body also went on a tour for people to see across Missouri. Ford claimed the reward, and what he thought would be righteous fame. He was met with the fame of being known as a coward and traitor. Ford was later killed by a man named Edward O'Kelley.