Old West Kansas

JAMES Family History

Jesse James Gang

James Robert Cummins/Cummings "Windy Jim" (? - 1928/1929)
Robert Newton Ford (? - 8 June 1892)
Alexander Franklin "Frank" James (1844 - 18 Feb 1915)
Jesse Woodson James (1847-April 3, 1882)
Clell (McClelland) Miller (? - 1876)
Jim Poole
George White

Jesse James Gang Family History

The Kansas Heritage Server would like to thank Yvonne James Henderson for contributing to this material.

 9 Jun 2002                   Family Group Sheet

       Husband: Robert Sallee JAMES  died at age: 32 
          Born:  7 Jul 1818          in LoganCo, KY  
          Died: 18-Aug-1850          in Gold Fields, Placerville, CA  
        Buried:                      in ca  
        Father: John M. JAMES 
        Mother: Mary "Polly" POOR 

          Wife: Zerelda Elizabeth COLE  died at age: 86 
       Married: 28-Dec-1841          in Stamping Ground, ScottCo, KY    his age: 23  her age: 16 
          Born: 29-Jan-1825          in WoodfordCo, KY  
          Died: 10-Feb-1911          in Oklahoma City, OK  
        Father: James COLE 
        Mother: Sarah "Sallie" LINDSAY 
25 Jan 1875 Pinkertons laid seige to the Samuel home.  James and Frank
got away.  Some time during the shoot-out, a device similar to the mon otov
cocktail was thrown threw a window, where it hit Mrs. Zerelda Samuel, taking
most of her arm and killing her nine year old son, Archie Samuel.

     M Child 1: Alexander Franklin "Frank" James  died at age: 72 
          Born: 10-Jan-1843          in Kearney, ClayCo, MO  
          Died: 18 Feb 1915          in Kearney, ClayCo, MO  1
        Spouse: Anna "Annie" Ralston  b. 25-Jan-1853  d.  6 Jul 1944  
       Married:  6 Jun 1874          in Omaha, NE  
     M Child 2: Robert B. James  died at age: 0 
          Born: 19-Jul-1845          near Centerville, Kearney, MO  
          Died: 21-Aug-1845          in   
Died thirty-three days after birth. 
     M Child 3: Jesse Woodson JAMES  died at age: 34 
          Born:  5-Sep-1847          near Centerville, Kearney, MO  
          Died:  3-Apr-1882          in St Joseph, BuchananCo, MO  
        Buried: 1882                 in Olivet Cemetery, Kearney, MO  
        Spouse: Zerelda (Zee) Amanda MIMMS  b. 21-Jul-1845  d. 13-Nov-1900  
       Married: 24 Apr 1874          in Centerville, Kearney, MO  
20 Mar1868  The James Gang robs the Southern Deposit Bank in Russelville,
Kentucky.
     F Child 4: Susan Lavenia James  died at age: 39 
          Born: 25 Nov 1849          in ClayCo, MO  
          Died:  3-Mar-1889          in   
        Spouse: Alan (Allen) PARMER  b. 1832-1852  d. 1866-1938  
       Married: 1870                 in   
(1) One source indicates Alexander Franklin James died 18-Feb-1915. 

 9 Jun 2002                   Family Group Sheet

       Husband: Jesse Woodson JAMES  died at age: 34 
          Born:  5-Sep-1847          near Centerville, Kearney, MO  
          Died:  3-Apr-1882          in St Joseph, BuchananCo, MO  
        Buried: 1882                 in Olivet Cemetery, Kearney, MO  
        Father: Robert Sallee JAMES 
        Mother: Zerelda Elizabeth COLE 
20 Mar1868  The James Gang robs the Southern Deposit Bank in Russelville,
Kentucky.

          Wife: Zerelda (Zee) Amanda MIMMS  died at age: 55 
       Married: 24 Apr 1874          in Centerville, Kearney, MO    his age: 26  her age: 28 
          Born: 21-Jul-1845          in Logan, KY  
          Died: 13-Nov-1900          in Kansas City, MO  
        Buried:                      in Kearney Cemetery, ClayCo, MO  
        Father: John W. MIMMS 
        Mother: Mary JAMES 

     M Child 1: Jesse Edward JAMES  died at age: 75 
          Born: 31-Aug-1875          in Nashville, DavidsonCo, TN  
          Died: 26-Mar-1951          in Los Angeles, CA  
        Spouse: Stella McGOWAN  
       Married: 24 Jan 1900          in Kansas City, JacksonCo, MO  
     M Child 2: Gould JAMES  died at age: 0 
          Born: Feb 1878             in Nashville, DavidsonCo, TN  
          Died: 1878                 in Nashville, DavidsonCo, TN  
Died as an infant. 
     M Child 3: Montgomery James  died at age: 0 
          Born: Feb 1878             in Nashville, DavidsonCo, TN  
          Died: 1878                 in Nashville, DavidsonCo, TN  
Died as an infant. 
     F Child 4: Mary Susan JAMES  died at age: 56 
          Born: 17-Jun-1879          in Nashville, DavidsonCo, TN  
          Died: 11-Oct-1935          in Kansas City, JacksonCo, MO  
        Spouse: Henry Lafayette BARR  b. 20-May-1867  d. 16-Jun-1935  
       Married:  6 Mar 1901          in Kansas City, JacksonCo, MO

Collectively Frank and Jesse James called themselves the Williams Brothers.

James Robert Cummins/Cummings "Windy Jim": Lived near Kearney, MO. Known as a horse thief. He rode with Quantrill, most often assigned to Quantrill's lieutenant, Bill Anderson. He was a member of the James Gang, and was involved in the train robberies at Winston, MO and Blue Cut, MO. May have been in on the plot to kill Jesse James, since his sister, Artella Cummins, married Robert Ford, who actually did kill Jesse James. Their son, Albert Ford, was his nephew. Known descendant in Canada. Died at the Confederate Soldier's Home at Higginsville, MO about 1928/1929. The Soldier's Home has been razed, but the cemetery is still in existence.
Robert Newton Ford: Member of the James gang. Plotted to kill Jesse James, which Robert did 3 April 1882 at St. Joseph, MO. Trying to cash in on the notoriety, Ford bought a saloon in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The venture failed. Ed O'Kelley shot and killed Robert Ford 8 January 1892 with a shotgun in a saloon Ford owned in Creede, Colorado. Ford was first buried in Colorado, but was later removed to the family plot in Richmond, MO.
Alexander Franklin (Frank) James: 10 Jan 1843 Frank James was born at Kearney, Clay, MO. Midsummer 1862 Joined Anderson's gang at age 19. On parole as member of Confederate Home Guard unit that fought at Wilson's Creek. He deserted or left because of illness. Jun 1874 married Anna Ralston. The trial of Frank James took place at Huntsville, Alabama. Before 1900 Frank James was working at the Standard Theatre saloon in St. Louis as an usher, doorman and bouncer. 30 Mar 1900 Frank James gave a testimonial performance at the Standard Theatre. Frank James ran a museum out of the James place in his old age. 15 Feb 1915 Frank James died in Kearney, Clay, MO. Tried to hide or disguise his grave because he feared that his body would be dug up and experiments run on his brain. He had heard that this had happened to his brother Jesse.
Jesse Woodson James--Thomas Howard: Jesse James was born 1847 in Missouri, the son of a Baptist minister. They always considered themselves Missouri-Indian Territory folks, though they had major ties to Fort Scott. Jesse James was a "Robin Hood" type outlaw. Jesse James was spawned of the Civil War as a Quantrill Raider. Joined Anderson's gang in 1864 at age 17. 1873 Held up first train, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, near Adair, Iowa. Held up first bank at Liberty, Missouri. Jesse James was an early citizen of Council Grove. Shot and killed by Robert Ford in St. Joseph, Missouri, 3 April 1882. Jesse James was buried at his childhood farm home near Kearney, MO.
Clell (McClelland) Miller: A member of Quantrill's guerrillas, under his lieutenant, "Bloody Bill" Anderson. Participated in several robberies with the James Gang. Killed during the bank robbery attempt by the James Gang in Northfield, MN, in 1876. Body put on display there, where it went unclaimed. It was buried in Potters Field, but somehow turned up in Missouri, where it was claimed by his father. The remains were reinterred in the Muddy Fork Cemetery, north of the James farm.

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