Robert James and Zerelda Elizabeth Cole were married
in Stamping Ground, Kentucky.
January 10, 1843
Alexander Franklin "Frank" James is born at the
family form near Centerville (Kearney), Missouri.
July 19, 1845
Robert James Jr. was born on the James family
farm. However, the baby died just 33 days later.
September 5, 1847
Jesse Woodson James is born at the James Farm in
Kearney, Missouri.
November 25, 1849
Susan Lavenia James is born.
August 18, 1850
Reverend Robert James dies of cholera in a
Placerville, California gold camp. The Reverend had been
asked to serve as chaplain on a wagon train heading
to California during the Gold Rush.
September 30, 1852
Zerelda marries Benjamin Simms, a neighboring farmer.
January 2, 1854
Benjamin Simms is killed in a horse accident.
September 25, 1855
Zerelda marries her third husband Dr. Archie Reuben Samuel.
December 26, 1858
Sarah (Sallie) Louisa Samuel born to Zerelda and Rueben.
May 4, 1861
Frank James joins the Confederate Army at 18.
Later he is discharged and joins William Clark
Quantrill's Raiders.
December 25, 1861
John Thomas Samuel born to Zerelda and Rueben.
1862
Perry Samuel, the illegitimate son of Dr. Archie Reuban Samuel
is born out of wedlock by one of the slaves. The mulatto boy was
raised as part of the Samuel family.
July, 1862
Frank joins William Clark Quantrill's Raiders.
August 21, 1863
William Clark Quantrill led a massacre
of Lawrence, Kansas in the early morning hours .
His raiders tore through the Free-State town, robbing two banks,
looting other buildings before setting them on fire, and killed
more than 180 men, women, and children. Frank was a
member of the Raiders and was part of the barbaric attack. There
is some doubt as to whether Jesse was involved; however,
he was said to have bragged about it later.
October 18, 1863
Fannie Quantrill Samuel born to Zerelda and Rueben.
Late, 1863
A party of Union soldiers invaded the Samuel
farm looking for information about the location
of Quantrill's camp. Jesse, who was just fifteen at
the time, was questioned, then horse-whipped when he refused to
answer the soldiers’ questions. Dr. Samuel, who also denied
knowing where the raider’s camp was located, was dragged from
his house and was repeatedly hanged from a tree in the yard.
Somehow, the doctor managed to survive the interrogation and
torture.
1864
Jesse joins "Bloody" Bill
Anderson's guerilla forces at the age of sixteen.
September 27, 1864
William "Bloody Bill" Anderson led a raid on
Centralia, Missouri where a gang of more than 100
guerillas robbed the passengers of an incoming train. Twenty-four
unarmed and wounded Union soldiers were dragged
from the train by the frenzied ruffians and were murdered. The
band of guerrillas was followed by an experienced Federal
Infantry. About three miles south of Centralia, the Union forces
were bushwhacked by the band and were nearly annihilated. Over 120
federal troops were killed. Only three of the guerrilla forces
were reported to have been killed in the battle. Both Frank
and Jesse were part of battle. Jesse is said
to have killed Union Major A.V. Johnson, and is
"credited” with taking the lives of seven other men on that
tragic day. It is disputed that Frank and Jesse took part in the
massacre of the unarmed Union soldiers earlier in
the day.
October, 1864
"Bloody" Bill Anderson's guerrillas are ambushed
by Union soldiers at Independence, Missouri .
Several guerrillas are killed. Bill Anderson is killed
himself and is decapitated later that day. Jesse James and
a few other guerrillas escape.
May 10, 1865
Quantrill's Raiders are ambushed by Union soldiers,
where many are killed and captured. Quantrill is shot
twice, one of which is ends up fatal when he dies in June. One of
the captured guerrillas is Jim Younger, who recently joined
the guerrillas.
May, 1865
Jesse rode into Lexington, Missouri carrying a
white flag. He was shot in the chest when he attempted to
surrender by occupying Union troops. Surviving the
attack, he crawled to safety.
Early February, 1866
Jesse and Frank James meet with Cole
Younger to plan their first bank robbery.
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. Upon their retreat from
the bank a 17 year-old boy was killed. This was the first robbery
of the gang and the first daytime robbery of any U.S. bank during
peacetime.
July 26, 1866
Archie Peyton Samuel born to Zerelda and Rueben.
October 30, 1866
Five members of the James-Younger Gang robbed The
Alexander Mitchell and Co. Bank in Lexington, Missouri making
of with $2,000. No one was injured. Though Frank andJesse were
said to have part of the robbery, other report place them out of
the state at the time.
1866-1867
John Newman Edward contributes to the fame of Jesse
James and his gang by writing glorifying articles and "dime
novels."
March 2, 1867
The James-Younger Gang robbed the Judge John McClain
Banking House of Savannah, Missouri
May 22, 1867
With 12 members, the James-Younger Gang made off with
$4,000 from the Hughes and Wasson Bank of Richmond, Missouri.
Three men were shot and killed.
March 20, 1868
Credited with getting away with approximately $14,000, the gang
hit the Nimrod Long Banking Co. of Russellville, Kentucky.
One person was wounded but there were no fatalities.
December 7, 1869
The James-Younger Gang hold up Davies County Savings
Bank of Gallatin, Missouri, killing cashier John W. Sheets
and wounding clerk William McDowell as he ran for the door. Making
off with only $700, a $3,000 reward is offered for their capture.
June 3, 1871
Four members of the James-Younger Gang the Ocobock
Brothers' Bank of Corydon, Iowa taking $6,000. No one was injured.
April 29, 1872
The James-Younger Gang, including 5 riders, robbed the
Bank of Columbia in Columbia, Kentucky, killing cashier
R.A.C. Martin in the process. The gang made off with $6,000.
September 26, 1872
Jesse, Frank, and one other member of their gang robbed
the Kansas City Exposition Ticket Office at the fair of $8,000.
One girl was shot.
May 27, 1873
Four members of the James-Younger Gang stole $4,100
from the Ste. Genevieve Savings Bank of St. Genevieve, Missouri.
There were no injuries.
July 21, 1873
The James-Younger Gang robbed their first train near
Adair, Iowa. During the robbery, they wrecked the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Train and overturned the engine.
The train engineer died in the accident and the gang made off with
$3,000 from passengers and funds retrieved from the express car.
January 15, 1874
Jesse James and four members of the gang 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 good watch taken from one of the
stage passengers was found among his effects.
January 31, 1874
Five to seven members of the gang held up the St.
Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad train at Gads
Hill, Missouri making off with $12,000. No one was
injured.
March 10, 1874
Pinkerton agent Joseph Whicher arrives in Clay
County, Missouri. He plans to go to the James farm
and become acquainted with Jesse and Frank; then
capture them. He is advised not to do this, but attempts it
anyway. The next day, his body is discovered, shot three times.
April 23, 1874
Jesse married first cousin Zerelda Amanda Mimms in
Kansas City, Missouri. The newlyweds honeymooned in
Galveston, Texas.
