Jesse James was born on September 5,1847,in Kearney, Missouri. James hailed from a family of farmers. James and his brother served briefly in the Confederate Army before heading West. James was injured and nursed back to health by his first cousin Zerelda. Jesse James was a bank robber and train robber in the American Old West, best known for leading the James-Younger gang of outlaws. Robert Ford kills Jesse in 1882, after which James becomes a legend of the West. Jesse James was born on September 5,1847. He was third of four children; James had an older brother Frank, a brother Robert who died as an infant and a sister Susan. Jesse James and his brother were both educated men and hailed from a family of farmers. James father owned slaves and was a popular Baptist Minister in Clay County. Preaching to gold miners, lured by the gold Robert James left …show more content…
With southern roots, the James family joined govern Fox Jackson in supporting the Confederacy. Frank fought in the battle of Wilson’s Creek; afterwards joined by the Confederate guerrillas and raiders. Missouri was a border state for both sides, it becomes a site of vicious mini battles between Union militia and Confederate raiders. Each side striking harshly, harming civilians and crippling the economy. 1886 the Union Army goes to the James's Farm, threatening and harming the family shortly after Jesse joined his brother and later getting wounded during guerilla raid. After being shot in the chest during guerilla raid. The morning of september 27,1864, jesse was a part of a group of eight-man raid on Centralia, Missouri. Led by “Bloody Bill” guerilla terrorized the town and killed twenty-two unarmed Union soldiers, which is call Centralia Massacre. Later the guerrillas killed and horribly mutilated over a hundred soldiers in the Thirty-ninth Missouri Infantry. James took credit for killing Union commander, Major Andrew “Ave”