Jesse James Legacy

Jesse Woodson James and his older brother Alexander Franklin James, more commonly remembered as Jesse and Frank James respectively, are often referred to as the “Notorious Outlaws of the West.” Although Jesse James and his brother Frank James have a rebellious reputation, the fact remains that they are the two bandits in American history that no other reputable outlaw can compare to. In total, they are responsible for over twenty robberies of trains and banks as well as many deaths, but in many versions the brothers are glorified. The James brothers’ legacy has lived on to present day because they were wanted dead or alive, but technically, they managed to elude being captured by government officials, and while doing so, were admired by members

Jesse refused to cooperate with officials and was beaten badly. Jesse then joined “Bloody Bill” Anderson’s gang, because William Quantrill thought he was too young at age sixteen to be committed to the atrocious crimes his gang was known for. Bloody Bill knew Jesse had the heart and loyalty to participate and was recruited along with his brother Frank James. Bloody Bill got his name because he was ruthless, and Jesse James soon became aware of it. He was loyal to his recruiter despite everything, and was proud to call the cold blooded butcher his role model. When Bloody Bill Anderson was killed, the evil moved along with the young boys he mentored, with one of the best men being

With the help of new recruits, Charlie and Bob Ford, Jesse planned one more robbery. At the time the reward offered was so large that one of the members would soon turn traitor. On April 3, 1882 while planning a robbery in the kitchen table, Jesse stood up, removed his gun holster, and noticed that a hanging portrait was crooked. As he attempted to fix it with his back towards him, Bob Ford shot Jesse in the back of the head. The community was devastated at the cruelty and cowardly manner of capturing Jesse James: The Notorious Outlaw. There was so much anguish against the Ford brothers that within two years Charlie, who was the sensitive of the brothers, killed himself. Bob Ford gets killed 10 years later, by a man who entered his saloon. Jesse James was avenged, but the ironic part of this piece of history is that Jesse James was responsible for many deaths. After Jesse was killed, Frank was tired of being on the run. Within 3 months of Jesse's death, Frank surrendered to the government of Missouri. All in all, the James brothers and the

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