Gourt > Society > History > By Region > North America > United States > West > Personalities > James, Jesse
Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847–April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, the most famous member of the James-Younger gang. Since his death, Jesse James has become a figure of folklore.
Biography
Pre-Civil War
Jesse James was born in Centerville, Missouri (later renamed Kearney). His father, Robert James, was a slave-owning hemp farmer and Baptist minister from Kentucky who helped found William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri and later died in California. Robert's widow, Zerelda, married again, first to a wealthy man who soon died, then to a timid doctor named Reuben Samuel, who moved into the James home. In the tumultuous years leading up to the American Civil War, Zerelda and Reuben acquired a total of seven slaves and grew tobacco on their well-appointed farm.Civil War
When the Civil War began, Union forces quickly drove organized Confederate units out of Missouri. But the state was badly divided between Unionists and Southern sympathizers (including the James-Samuel family), and local tensions were exacerbated by raids by abolitionist Union troops and simple bandits from Kansas. Jesse's older brother, Frank James, fought with the regular Confederate army until illness forced him to return home. In 1863, Frank joined the Confederate bushwhackers, guerrillas who were battling Union forces in western Missouri, in a savage war marked by atrocities by both sides; the warfare was probably more intense because it was largely waged by Missourians, with Unionist militia pitted against Confederate insurgents, which often pitted neighbors against neighbors. Frank and Jesse's own stepfather, Reuben Samuel, was tortured by local militiamen hunting for Frank's band. Frank eventually linked up with Quantrill's Raiders and took part in the bloody massacre of 200 men and boys in Lawrence, Kansas. More on [ Jesse James ]
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'Jesse James': Thoroughly Bad Guy - New York Times review of T.J. Stiles' book Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War, includes extensive information about the outlaw's life.
Biography of Jesse James - In-depth article about the legendary outlaw and gunman.
Meta Description: [ Jesse James. Infamous American outlaw of the Old West. ]
Chronology of Jesse James - Take a chronological look at the events in the life of the outlaw Jesse James.
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takes a chronological look at Jesse James ]
James Gang - Information on the history of the James Gang, which was led by Jesse James.
Meta Description: [ James Gang, Stagecoach Robberies, Quantrills Raiders, Cole Younger, james gang, stagecoach robberies, quantrills raiders, cole younger ]
James-Younger Gang - Jesse James, Frank James, and Cole Younger, formed the core of this famous post-Civil War outlaw gang. Includes their influence of the Civil War in Missouri, quotes, and photographs.
Meta Description: [ The James and Younger brothers, post-Civil War outlaws ]
Jesse James - One-page biography, with photographs, of the James brothers.
Meta Description: [ Jesse James ]
Jesse James - The City of St. Joseph, Missouri, offers a brief biography of the gun-slinger. Also get information and photos of his home.
The James-Younger Gang Homepage - Organization whose goal is to preserve and promote the story of the James - Younger Gang. Contains information on the gang, their victims, and their various robberies.
Meta Description: [ Jesse James, the Younger gang, and their exploits in the Wild West ]
The Outlaw Jesse James - Information on the life of one of the most notorious outlaws of the 19th century.
Meta Description: [ Jesse James is one of the most notorious outlaws of the 19th century. It seems he was destined to live a violent life. He got used to killing during the Civil War, and kept up with it after the war was over. ]
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Women and the Jesse James Gang - Provides information on the women that were once part of the Jesse James Gang, including Belle Starr.
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| Jesse James Hollywood and four accomplices set out to settle a score with someone who owed Jesse over $36000 in marijuana ... | |
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