christopher.ehl



How would you like to learn about what happened in Jesse James’ life? Jesse James was born on September 5, 1847. He had a mom named Zerelda. His dad was named Robert James, and he was a Baptist minister. He had a brother named frank who was a little older than him. When the Civil War started, he joined a Guerilla Band with Frank on the Confederate’s side. Guerilla bands are illegal. They do unlawful raids, and they kill a lot of people. Once the war ended, they stopped. One day, on February 3, 1866, with 10 other people, Jesse and Frank robbed a bank. It was the first time in America, that someone robbed a bank in broad daylight. The weird thing is, Jesse was never suspected. Finally, after many robberies, a horse was found at the robbery. The horse was linked back to the James boys. Although, when Jesse’s name came up, he denied ever being there and robbing the banks. In 1873, Jesse and his gang started holding up trains. When they were robbing those trains, they dressed up as members of the Ku-Klux-Klan. To all of the Ex-Confederates, he was a modern-day Robin Hood. To others, he was a merciless killer. In 1882, he was living under the name of Thomas Howard with his wife, Zerelda, son, Jesse Jr., and his daughter, Mary. Also, with him was two of his gang members, with the last name of Ford. Both of the brothers were not very big fans of Jesse. There was a reward on Jesse’s head. It didn’t matter if he was dead or alive. Once, when Jesse put down his gun belt to fix a picture, Robert Ford shot him in the back of his head from five to six feet away. Ford said that the gun went off accidentally. Although, his brother and him were both prosecuted and sentenced to death. Then, though, the governor offered them pardon. So as the song goes, “That dirty little coward/ That shot Mr. Howard/ And laid poor Jesse in his grave.” There were a lot of things going on while Jesse was alive. When Jesse was born, the California gold rush was going on. Jesse’s dad left for it. Although, he died of pneumonia, shortly after he arrived. Jesse James was only three. Then, when Jesse was about twenty, the civil war started. A lot of people joined Guerilla forces like Jesse and Frank. After the war ended, the Guerilla forces were pursued and hunted. Finally the Government offered all Guerilla forces pardon. Jesse and Frank rode into a town waving white flags. Unfortunately, they were shot at. Neither of them died, but Jesse took a bullet to the chest and nearly died. At that time, the railroad companies were the enemies of the poor. That is one of the main reasons why Jesse robbed the railroad companies. There were a lot of things that they did while they were committing the robberies. For one thing, when they got onto the train, they said that the poor would not be robbed. In the end though, everybody’s wallets were at least a little bit lighter. They also gave the conductor a piece of writing that was supposed to reach the newspaper. They would use the wars bitter, lingering past as an excuse for what they did. Jesse James had a very mixed personality. He was a very ruthless man when he was committing the robberies. If you were not friendly with him, and you crossed him, there is a good chance that he would shoot you where you stand. Although, when he was around his family, he was supposed to be a major family man. So, in the end, if you were on his good side, you were in a good position. If you were on his bad side, you wouldn’t want to go near him. There were a lot of things that happened to other gang members after Jesse died. Cole younger died with the scars of 20 bullet holes in him. Charles Ford, Robert Ford’s brother committed suicide in 1884. Robert Ford was shot and killed at his bar, when a cousin of the Younger’s caught up with him. Frank James died on February 15, 1915. He was 72. A lot of people believe that Jesse James was never shot and killed. Even though scientists matched DNA from Jesse’s grave to one of his cousins, people were still saying that he wasn’t killed. Some people claim that they are the great ancestors of Jesse James. For years, circuses would stage sideshows, featuring the real Jesse James. Also, for a very long time, descendants of J. Frank Dalton claim that their bearded ancestor was in fact, Jesse James. One thing that supports their claim was a 1951 autopsy report that identifies Dalton as the infamous gunslinger. The report says that the corpse of Dalton is missing the tip of his left forefinger. During the civil war, Jesse accidentally shot off the tip of his finger. Dalton’s body also has the cars of more than 30 bullet wounds. But most of the evidence is based off the reports of many family members of Dalton. The most recent claim that Jesse James wasn’t killed, came from a lady named Betty Dorsett Duke. She claims that her great-grandfather, a farmer named James Lafayette Courtney, lived in Texas until the ripe old age of ninety six. After he died on April 14,1943, the man she claims was Jesse James was buried in a cemetery in falls county. I chose Jesse James because he was interesting and exciting. You may have guessed this already, but, Jesse was infamous for being a notorious murderer.

Bibliography http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/enseign/anglais/Henry/jesse3. jpghttp://brodyharper.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/jesse72.jpg

Book: Authors Name - Geoffrey C Ward Title of Book - The West Place of Publication - Boston, NY, Toronto, London Publishing Company - Little Brown Company Years Of Publication - 1996

Encyclopedia: Authors Name - Joe Frantz Title Of Article - James, Jesse Woodson Title Of Encyclopedia - Encyclopedia America Place of Publication - Danbury, CT Publishing Company - Grolier Incorporated Year of Publication - 1998

Online Periodical: Author's Name - Odie B. Frank Title of Info/Article - James, Jesse and another one I did is Jesse Woodson James and Jesse James Title of Original Publication - World Book and World Book Of World Biography and Outlaws, Mobsters, & Crooks: From the Old West to the Internet Publishing Company - Gale Year Of Publication - 2009 and 1998 and 1998 Date Accessed - 9-25-08 and 9-30-09 and 9-30-09 URL - [|www.galenat.galegroup.com]