Jesse James Timeline
"Just able barely to mount a horse and ride about a little in the spring of 1866, my life was threatened daily, and I was forced to go heavily armed. The whole country was then full of militia, robbing, plundering, and killing." This poignant quote, attributed to Jesse James, offers a glimpse into the turbulent era that shaped the outlaw’s life and cemented his place in American folklore. This Jesse James Timeline delves into the key moments of his life, from his birth and upbringing to his infamous exploits and violent demise, painting a picture of a complex figure operating within the chaos of post-Civil War America.
The Jesse James Timeline begins with the foundational events that shaped the James family. On December 28, 1841, Robert James and Zerelda Elizabeth Cole were joined in matrimony in Stamping Ground, Kentucky, marking the beginning of a lineage that would become synonymous with outlawry. The family soon migrated to Missouri, where their lives would intertwine with the volatile political landscape of the era.
Early Life and Family (1843-1860)
January 10, 1843, saw the birth of Alexander Franklin "Frank" James at the family farm near Centerville (Kearney), Missouri. Frank would become a crucial figure in Jesse’s life, a partner in crime and a constant companion throughout their years of outlawry. The James family expanded with the birth of Robert James Jr. on July 19, 1845, though tragedy struck as the infant passed away a mere 33 days later.
On September 5, 1847, Jesse Woodson James was born at the James Farm in Kearney, Missouri. This event marked the arrival of the man who would become the face of the James-Younger Gang, a symbol of rebellion and a controversial figure in American history. The family continued to grow with the birth of Susan Lavenia James on November 25, 1849.
August 18, 1850, brought sorrow to the James family as Reverend Robert James succumbed to cholera in a Placerville, California gold camp. The Reverend had answered the call to serve as chaplain on a wagon train heading west during the California Gold Rush, a testament to his dedication and faith. His untimely death left a void in the family and marked a significant turning point in their lives.
Zerelda, now a widow, remarried on September 30, 1852, to Benjamin Simms, a neighboring farmer. However, tragedy struck again when Simms was killed in a horse accident on January 2, 1854. Undeterred, Zerelda found love again and married her third husband, Dr. Archie Reuben Samuel, on September 25, 1855. Their union brought more children into the family, including Sarah (Sallie) Louisa Samuel, born on December 26, 1858. These formative years shaped Jesse’s character and instilled in him a strong sense of family loyalty.
The Civil War Years (1861-1865)
The eruption of the American Civil War dramatically altered the course of the James family’s lives. On May 4, 1861, at the age of 18, Frank James joined the Confederate Army. He later left the army to join William Clark Quantrill’s Raiders, a notorious group of Confederate bushwhackers known for their ruthless tactics. December 25, 1861, saw the birth of John Thomas Samuel to Zerelda and Rueben. In 1862, Perry Samuel, the illegitimate son of Dr. Archie Reuban Samuel, was born out of wedlock by one of the slaves. The mulatto boy was raised as part of the Samuel family.
Frank’s involvement with Quantrill’s Raiders intensified in July 1862. The following year, on August 21, 1863, William Clark Quantrill led a devastating raid on Lawrence, Kansas. His raiders, including Frank, pillaged the Free-State town, robbing banks and looting buildings before setting them ablaze and murdering over 180 men, women, and children. The extent of Jesse’s involvement in the Lawrence Massacre remains debated, though some accounts claim he later bragged about his participation.
Late in 1863, Union soldiers invaded the Samuel farm, seeking information about Quantrill’s camp. Jesse, then only fifteen, was questioned and brutally horse-whipped for refusing to cooperate. Dr. Samuel, also denying any knowledge of the raiders’ whereabouts, was dragged from his house and repeatedly hanged from a tree. Miraculously, he survived the ordeal.
By 1864, at the age of sixteen, Jesse joined "Bloody" Bill Anderson’s guerrilla forces. On September 27, 1864, Anderson led a raid on Centralia, Missouri, where his gang robbed a train and murdered twenty-four unarmed Union soldiers. Later that day, the guerrillas ambushed and nearly annihilated a pursuing Federal Infantry force. Both Frank and Jesse participated in the battle, with Jesse reportedly killing Union Major A.V. Johnson and taking the lives of seven other men. However, their participation in the earlier massacre of unarmed soldiers remains disputed.
In October 1864, Union soldiers ambushed Anderson’s guerrillas near Independence, Missouri, killing Anderson and several others. Jesse James and a few other guerrillas managed to escape.
May 10, 1865, saw Quantrill’s Raiders ambushed by Union soldiers, resulting in many casualties and captures. Quantrill was shot twice, succumbing to his wounds in June. Jim Younger, a recent recruit to the guerrillas, was among those captured. In May 1865, Jesse, carrying a white flag, rode into Lexington, Missouri, attempting to surrender to Union troops. He was shot in the chest but managed to crawl to safety, surviving the attack. These experiences during the Civil War undoubtedly shaped Jesse’s worldview and fueled his resentment towards the Union.
The Outlaw Years (1866-1882)
The end of the Civil War did not bring peace to the James brothers. Early in February 1866, Jesse and Frank James met with Cole Younger to plan their first bank robbery. On February 13, 1866, Frank James, Cole and Jim Younger, and nine more members of the gang robbed the Clay County Savings Bank in Liberty, Missouri, of $62,000. During their escape, a 17-year-old boy was killed. This marked the gang’s first robbery and the first daytime bank robbery in the U.S. during peacetime.
July 26, 1866, saw the birth of Archie Peyton Samuel to Zerelda and Rueben. On October 30, 1866, five members of the James-Younger Gang robbed The Alexander Mitchell and Co. Bank in Lexington, Missouri, making off with $2,000. No one was injured. While some reports claim Frank and Jesse were involved, others place them out of state at the time. From 1866 to 1867, John Newman Edward contributed to the fame of Jesse James and his gang by writing glorifying articles and "dime novels."
The Jesse James Timeline continues with the James-Younger Gang robbing the Judge John McClain Banking House of Savannah, Missouri, on March 2, 1867. On May 22, 1867, with 12 members, the gang stole $4,000 from the Hughes and Wasson Bank of Richmond, Missouri, resulting in the deaths of three men. On March 20, 1868, the gang hit the Nimrod Long Banking Co. of Russellville, Kentucky, escaping with approximately $14,000. One person was wounded, but there were no fatalities.
December 7, 1869, saw the James-Younger Gang robbing the Davies County Savings Bank of Gallatin, Missouri, killing cashier John W. Sheets and wounding clerk William McDowell. They made off with only $700, prompting a $3,000 reward for their capture.
The Jesse James Timeline reveals that on June 3, 1871, four members of the James-Younger Gang robbed the Ocobock Brothers’ Bank of Corydon, Iowa, taking $6,000. No one was injured. On April 29, 1872, the James-Younger Gang robbed the Bank of Columbia in Columbia, Kentucky, killing cashier R.A.C. Martin and stealing $6,000. On September 26, 1872, Jesse, Frank, and another gang member robbed the Kansas City Exposition Ticket Office at the fair of $8,000, shooting one girl.
May 27, 1873, saw four members of the James-Younger Gang stealing $4,100 from the Ste. Genevieve Savings Bank of St. Genevieve, Missouri. No one was injured. On July 21, 1873, the James-Younger Gang robbed their first train near Adair, Iowa, wrecking the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad Train and overturning the engine. The train engineer died, and the gang stole $3,000 from passengers and the express car.
January 15, 1874, Jesse James and four gang members robbed their first stagecoach near Hot Springs, Arkansas, taking cash and jewels valued at approximately $3,000. No one was injured. After Jesse’s death, a watch from one of the stage passengers was found among his belongings. On January 31, 1874, five to seven gang members held up the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad train at Gads Hill, Missouri, making off with $12,000. No one was injured.
The Pinkerton National Detective Agency entered the scene, determined to bring the James Gang to justice. On March 10, 1874, Pinkerton agent Joseph Whicher arrived in Clay County, Missouri, intending to infiltrate the James family. Against advice, he attempted to befriend Jesse and Frank, but his body was discovered the next day, shot three times.
On April 23, 1874, Jesse married his first cousin, Zerelda Amanda Mimms, in Kansas City, Missouri. The newlyweds honeymooned in Galveston, Texas. In April 1874, a stagecoach robbery in Austin, Texas, was attributed to gang members, who stole $3,000. No one was injured. In June of 1874, Frank James married Annie Ralston in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Jesse James Timeline shows the Waverly-Lexington Omnibus Stagecoach robbery, blamed on the James Gang, occurred on August 30, 1874, though their responsibility is questionable. No one was injured. On December 7, 1874, the Tishomingo Savings Bank robbery in Corinth, Mississippi, was attributed to the James-Younger Gang. They stole $10,000, and no one was injured. However, this attribution is unlikely, as the gang robbed a train in Kansas the very next day.
On December 8, 1874, the James-Younger Gang held up the Kansas Pacific Railroad in Muncie, Kansas, stealing $55,000. No one was injured. On January 26, 1875, six Pinkerton agents surrounded the James family farm, believing the brothers were hiding there. They threw a smoke bomb into the house to lure them out, but Archie Samuel tossed it back into the fireplace, causing an explosion that killed the young boy and severed Zerelda’s arm.
August 31, 1875, saw the birth of Jesse Edwards James to Zee and Jesse. On Jesse’s 28th birthday, September 5, 1875, the James-Younger Gang robbed the Huntington Bank in Huntington, West Virginia, stealing between $10,000-$20,000. One gang member was shot during the robbery. On July 7, 1876, the James-Younger Gang robbed the Missouri-Pacific Railroad train in Rockey Cut, Missouri, of $15,000.
September 7, 1876, marked a turning point in the Jesse James Timeline. In a failed attempt to rob the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota, the James-Younger Gang was effectively destroyed. The cashier refused to open the safe, and the townspeople opened fire on the gang. Charley Pitts and Bill Chadwell were killed, and Cole, Jim, and Bob Younger were severely wounded but captured two weeks later. Frank and Jesse escaped unharmed back to Missouri.
Robert Franklin James, Frank and Annie’s only child, was born on February 6, 1878, at the Walton Farm. On June 17, 1879, Mary Susan James was born to Jesse and Zee James. October 8, 1879, saw the James Gang robbing the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis train at Glendale, Missouri, of about $10,000.
On September 3, 1880, the brothers stole $1,800 from a stagecoach in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. No one was injured. In February 1881, B. J. Woodson (an alias for Frank James) rented a house in Nashville, Tennessee, and John Davis Howard (an alias for Jesse James) came to visit. On March 11, 1881, $5200 was stolen from a paymaster leaving a bank in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The James brothers were recognized, and no one was injured.
July 15, 1881, saw the James Gang robbing the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad train near Winston, Missouri, of $2,000. Frank murdered Frank McMillan and conductor William Westfall. On September 7, 1881, their last train robbery occurred on the Chicago and Alton train at Blue Cut, near Glendale, Missouri. The gang stole $3000 in cash and jewelry from the passengers.
On December 24, 1881, Tom Howard (an alias for Jesse James) and his family rented a house in St. Joseph, Missouri.
The End of a Legend (1882 and Beyond)
The Jesse James Timeline culminates in his death. On April 3, 1882, Bob Ford, with his brother Charles, entered Jesse’s home. As Jesse straightened a picture on the wall, Bob shot him below the right ear, killing him instantly. Word quickly spread throughout St. Joseph that Jesse James had been assassinated.
In late April 1882, the distraught Zee James was forced to sell almost all of her possessions to earn money, and she and her children moved in with her brother in Kansas City. On October 5, 1882, Frank James surrendered to Missouri Governor Thomas Crittendon.
Charles Ford, terrified of Frank James, committed suicide on May 6, 1884. In 1885, Frank James was acquitted on all charges. Bob Ford, Jesse’s killer, was shot down in a saloon in Creede, Colorado, on June 8, 1892.
Zee James, suffering from deep depression since Jesse’s death, died on November 13, 1900. She was buried at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kearney, Missouri. Dr. Samuel was placed in an Insane Asylum in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1901, where he remained until his death in 1908.
In 1903, Frank James and Cole Younger started the James-Younger Wild West show. Dr. Archie Rueben Samuel died in a St. Joseph Insane Asylum on March 1, 1908. Zerelda Samuel died of a heart attack on February 10, 1911, at the age of 86. She was buried at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery next to sons Jesse and Archie, husband Reuben, and daughter-in-law Zee. Frank James died on February 18, 1915, at the age of 72.
This Jesse James Timeline illustrates the life and times of a legendary outlaw, a product of a tumultuous era, and a figure whose story continues to captivate and intrigue. His legacy, though controversial, remains a significant part of American history and folklore.