The Infamous Younger Brothers
(Opening Ballad)
"I am a bonded highwayman,
Cole Younger is my name,
Through many a temptation,
I’ve brought my friends to shame.
For the robbing of the Northfield bank
They say I can’t deny,
And now I am a poor prisoner
In the Stillwater Jail I lie."
— Excerpt from a ballad written by Cotton Davis Woodville, 1941
The Younger Brothers, a name synonymous with daring raids, desperate gunfights, and the tumultuous era of the American West, emerged from the borderlands of Missouri in the mid-19th century. These sons of a once-prosperous farmer found themselves embroiled in the conflicts that defined their time, ultimately carving a path that led them from Confederate guerrillas to infamous outlaws. Their story, interwoven with that of the notorious James Gang, is a testament to the brutal realities of the Civil War and its aftermath, and the enduring allure of the outlaw legend.
The story of the Infamous Younger Brothers begins in Jackson County, Missouri, a region fertile not only in soil but also in the seeds of conflict. Henry Washington Younger, the family patriarch, was a man of ambition and industry. Hailing from Kentucky, he established himself in the Kansas City area, marrying Busheba Leighton Fristoe, the daughter of a prominent local farmer. Together, they built a life centered on agriculture, expanding their land holdings and diversifying into other business ventures, including a contract with the federal government as a "mail agent." The Younger family grew exponentially, eventually numbering fourteen children, enjoying a comfortable existence and access to education, a privilege in those times.
However, the idyllic life of the Younger family was soon to be disrupted by the rising tensions of the Kansas-Missouri Border War, a prelude to the larger conflict of the Civil War. Kansas, declared a "free-state," became a haven for abolitionists, clashing with the pro-slavery sentiments prevalent in neighboring Missouri. Despite owning a few enslaved people himself, Henry Younger was a Union sympathizer, believing in the preservation of the nation and the eventual abolition of slavery. This stance, however, did not shield his family from the violence that plagued the region.
The Younger farm became a frequent target of "Jayhawkers," Kansas guerrillas who raided Missouri settlements, stealing livestock, destroying property, and terrorizing families. These incursions fueled resentment in the Younger sons, gradually turning them against the Union and the Jayhawkers. Witnessing the relentless violence, Thomas Coleman "Cole" Younger, defied his father’s beliefs and sided with the Confederacy, joining the ranks of William Quantrill’s notorious guerrillas. The tragic death of Henry Younger in July 1862, at the hands of Union militiamen, further ignited Cole’s anger and solidified his commitment to the Confederate cause. In August 1863, Cole participated in the infamous raid on Lawrence, Kansas, a brutal attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 200 men and boys and the widespread destruction of the town.
In 1864, Cole’s brother, James Hardin "Jim" Younger, followed in his footsteps, joining Quantrill’s band of bushwhackers. Cole, in the meantime, transitioned to the regular Confederate Army, eventually attaining the rank of captain and leading his men into Louisiana and later California, where he remained until the end of the war. Meanwhile, Jim was captured by Union troops during the ambush that led to Quantrill’s death and was imprisoned in Alton until the war’s conclusion.
Returning to their family farm in 1865, Cole and Jim found it in ruins, the once-thriving business a distant memory. Though their younger brothers, John and Bob, had done their best to maintain the property, the devastation wrought by the war was insurmountable. The Infamous Younger Brothers, now hardened by violence and loss, faced a bleak future.
The embittered Cole Younger continued to associate with his former war comrades, finding himself drawn into the lawless atmosphere of Reconstruction Missouri. Amidst the chaos and resentment of the post-war era, some former soldiers turned to outlawry, seeking revenge against what they perceived as the oppressive forces of Yankee capitalism. The James-Younger Gang, a loosely organized group that included the notorious Jesse and Frank James, Clell Miller, Bill Chadwell, and Charlie Pitts, as well as the Younger brothers, embarked on a series of daring robberies throughout the South and Midwest.
The gang’s first major heist occurred on February 13, 1866, when they stormed the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri, making off with over $60,000 in cash and bonds. Over the next several years, the Infamous Younger Brothers actively participated in an estimated twelve bank robberies, seven train robberies, and four stagecoach robberies, leaving a trail of violence and bloodshed in their wake. It is estimated that they were responsible for the deaths of at least eleven citizens.
In March 1874, Jim and John Younger were involved in a deadly shootout near Roscoe, Missouri, with Pinkerton Agents. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of John Younger, St. Clair County Deputy Edwin Daniels, and Pinkerton Agent Louis J. Lull. Jim, however, managed to escape, further solidifying the Younger brothers’ reputation as formidable outlaws.
However, it was the attempted robbery of the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota, on September 7, 1876, that ultimately marked the downfall of the James-Younger Gang, though a later gang would be formed simply called the James Gang.
Having traveled by train to Minneapolis in early September 1876, the gang split into two groups, one heading to Mankato and the other to Red Wing, strategically positioning themselves on either side of Northfield. After carefully scouting the area, they launched their ill-fated raid on the bank. Jesse and Frank James, along with Bob Younger, entered the bank, while Cole and Jim Younger, Bill Chadwell, Clell Miller, and Charlie Pitts stood guard outside.
Inside the bank, the outlaws demanded that the vault be opened and the money surrendered. However, Joseph Lee Heywood, the bank clerk on duty, bravely refused to comply and was fatally shot. Hearing the gunfire, the citizens of Northfield realized what was happening and, taking up arms, began to fire upon the outlaws outside, killing Miller and Chadwell and wounding Cole Younger in the thigh. As Jesse, Frank, and Bob Younger fled the bank, Bob was shot in the right elbow. Returning fire, the gang killed Nicholas Gustavson, a Swedish immigrant caught in the crossfire.
The surviving gang members fled Northfield, pursued relentlessly by posses. Near Mankato, the gang split up, with the Younger brothers and Charlie Pitts heading in one direction and the James brothers in another. After an extensive search covering some 400 miles, the posse finally caught up with the Youngers near Madelia, Minnesota, on September 21, 1876. A fierce gunfight ensued, resulting in the death of Charlie Pitts and further wounds to the Younger brothers. Finally, realizing their situation was hopeless, they surrendered.
Tried in Faribault, Minnesota, the Younger brothers were found guilty of murder and sentenced to 25 years in the state prison at Stillwater. Bob Younger succumbed to tuberculosis and died in prison in 1889. Jim was paroled in 1901 but, unable to adjust to life outside prison, committed suicide the following year. Cole, who was paroled in 1901 and pardoned in 1903, lived until 1916, attempting to rehabilitate his image and capitalize on his notoriety.
Individual Biographies
Thomas Coleman "Cole" Younger (1844-1916): Born on January 15, 1844, Cole Younger was a Confederate guerrilla and a leader of the James-Younger Gang. He participated in numerous bank, train, and stagecoach robberies, though he maintained that he never robbed a bank in Missouri. After his release from prison, he toured in a Wild West show with Frank James and lectured on the evils of crime. He published his autobiography, "The Story of Cole Younger," in 1903, portraying himself as a Confederate avenger. He died on March 21, 1916, and is buried in the Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery.
James "Jim" Hardin Younger (1848-1902): Born on January 15, 1848, Jim Younger joined Quantrill’s guerrillas and later the James-Younger Gang. He participated in the ill-fated Northfield raid and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Paroled in 1901, he committed suicide on October 19, 1902, due to the strict parole terms and his inability to marry. He is buried in the Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery.
John Harrison Younger (1851-1874): Born in 1851, John Younger joined the James-Younger Gang after the Civil War. He was involved in several robberies and shootings before being killed in a shootout with Pinkerton agents near Roscoe, Missouri, on March 17, 1874.
Robert "Bob" Ewing Younger (1853-1889): Born on October 29, 1853, Bob Younger was the youngest of the Younger brothers. He joined the James-Younger Gang and participated in numerous robberies. He was captured after the Northfield raid and died in prison on September 16, 1889, from tuberculosis. He is buried in the Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery.
The legend of the Infamous Younger Brothers endures as a reminder of the tumultuous times that shaped the American West. Their story, a blend of violence, loyalty, and ultimately, redemption, continues to captivate audiences and fuel the enduring fascination with the outlaw era.
