Strange Facts About Jesse James That Few People Know

Jesse James is easily one of the most complicated figures in Missouri history. Whether you love or despise him will likely depend on who's telling you the stories about his life. Some aspects of his life are well-known, but there are many strange facts about Jesse James that few people know.

With a name like mine, you might assume that I'm a wild west history nut and you'd be correct. I didn't even realize my family was really distantly connected to the real John Henry "Doc" Holliday until the mid-1990's which led to a vast genealogy search to understand it all. What I haven't shared with many is that my family also has a distant relation to Jesse James, too.  It sounds cool to say, but it's very distant and not really a big deal. Over the years, I've learned many things about the real historical Jesse James that I don't hear many people mention often if at all. Let's begin.

He Was a Teenage Guerrilla Fighter

When Jesse James was in his early teens, he fought in guerilla groups during the Civil War including those led by William Quantrill and Bloody Bill Anderson. Many believe that later acts in his life were partially a result of the violence he witnessed and created during his early years.

He Never Robbed a Train Alone

I have yet to find any robbery carried out by Jesse James that did not also involve members of his gang and especially his brother Frank James.

He Was Shot in the Chest During the Civil War

Jesse James was shot in the chest and severely wounded during a battle in the summer of 1864. This happened shortly after he joined Bloody Bill Anderson's group and the wound created health problems that Jesse would deal with the rest of his life.

He Used Multiple Aliases

It is a documented fact that Jesse James used the alias Thomas Howard or Mr. Howard on occasion. Some have believed that he might have used the alias B.J. Woodson, but that is an alias that is now believed to have been used by his brother Frank instead.

The James Gang Targeted More Than Banks

Yes, Jesse James and his gang robbed banks, but they also targeted trains, stagecoaches, fairgrounds, and even payroll shipments. If there was a potential big payday involved, Jesse and his gang robbed it.

He Was One of America's First Media-Created Celebrities

Law enforcement authorities stated that Jesse James and his cohorts were cold-blooded killers, but the newspapers of his day portrayed him as a Robin Hood-like character that robbed the rich and gave to the poor, but there's little proof that he did the latter. John Newman Edwards, who worked for the Kansas City Times, was one of the principal editors who published Jesse's letters and helped him become famous.

The Famous Northfield Robbery Was a Disaster

In 1876, the James and Younger gangs raided a bank in Northfield, Minnesota that was supposed to be their biggest score, but the townspeople were armed and fought back capturing or injuring many in the gang.

He Was Living a Relatively Normal Family Life When He Died

Jesse James was not living the life of a famous outlaw when he was killed. He was living in a rented home in St. Joseph with his wife Zee and his children trying to live a low-profile normal life.

Jesse James was killed while trying to straighten a picture frame

Jesse James was standing on a chair trying to straighten a picture frame that had "God Bless Our Home" on it when he was shot in the back and killed by Robert Ford. He was only 34 years old at the time of his death.

Robert Ford became one of the most hated men in America after Jesse's death

Yes, Robert Ford collected a reward and was pardoned by Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden, but a majority of Americans considered him a coward for shooting Jesse in the back. That's why you'll hear him referred to as the coward Robert Ford by those who sympathize with Jesse James.

People Claimed He Survived for Decades

Many came forward claiming they were Jesse James claiming he faked his death. J. Frank Dalton was one of the most infamous, but DNA tests conducted when Jesse James body was exhumed in the 1990's confirmed the real Jesse was buried there.

Jesse James Grave Became One of the First Tourist Attractions

Jesse's mother, Zerelda James Samuel, had him buried on the family farm and charged 25 cents for souvenir pebbles from the grave. She also gave guided tours and would tell how Jesse and Frank were the victims of railroad barons and Pinkerton detectives.

After Jesse Was Killed, Frank James Surrendered

Frank James decided he did not want to be on the run from the law for the rest of his life and surrendered instead to Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden on October 5, 1882. He was put on trial for his crimes, but was acquitted on all charges and never convicted of anything. His jobs the rest of his life included theater acting, acting as a museum guide, and farming.

Jesse James Never Became Rich

Movies portray Jesse James and his gang stealing vast fortunes of gold, but he died without that vast fortune. There are legends that claim he hid the gold, but no one has successfully located it - yet.

His Home in St. Joseph Still Exists, But It Was Moved

You can still visit Jesse James home where he was killed in St. Joseph, but it was moved up the street from its original location and converted into a museum. It contains some of the most interesting historical items from Jesse James life and is a highly recommended visit.

There Was a Movie About Jesse James that Starred His Son

The movie was called Jesse James Under the Black Flag and it came out in 1930 starring his son Jesse E. James Jr. He was trying to clear his dad's name from portrayals he thought were unfair.