| Late in August of 1876, Jesse and Frank James, three Younger brothers, Clell Miller, Charlie Pitts and William Stiles headed for Minnesota, over 350 miles from their home in Clay County, Missouri. The trip took them farther north than they had ever been before. The idea for the trip had come from Stiles, a Minnesota native, who knew the territory and always talked about how much cash that his home state's bank kept on hand. After arriving in Minnesota, the gang divided into scouting parties, looking for possible sites to execute their plans. They passed themselves off as railroad surveyors, land speculators and cattlemen. Most people guessed that these strangers were not who they pretended to be, but no one suspected they were a bank robbers. On Monday September 4th, the gang rode into Mankato, their first choice of attack. When they arrived opposite the 1st National Bank of Mankato, they noticed a group of citizens on the sidewalks.The men knew something was not right and decided to back off. Actually, the citizens were only gathering for a town meeting to be held later in the day. |
| Two days later the gang moved north through Janesville and Cordova toward their second choice, the First National Bank of Northfield. On the eve of the raid, Wednesday, September 6, some if the men stayed in town, while the rest stayed at a farm outside Cannon City. On September 7, 1876 around 10 or 11 am, they rode into Northfield and loitered in front of Scriver's Hardware Store until 12 noon when they entered J.G. Jeft's for lunch. At 2 pm, three men rode past the Ames Mill, across the 4th Street Bridge, tied their horses in front of the bank, then sat on crates in front of the Lee and Hitchcock Dry Goods Store. These men, Charlie Pitts, Bob Younger and Frank James, were detailed to enter the bank and commit the robbery. The first three men were followed by Cole Younger and Clell Miller, who were to guard the bank entrance. The last group to ride across the bridge included Jesse James, Jim Younger, and William Stiles. They were to act as rear guard on Bridge Square and then move to Division Street south of the bank to guard the gang's intended escape route. Frank, Stiles and Younger entered the bank and ordered the head teller Joseph L Heywood at the First National Bank who was acting cashier while the regular cashier was in Philadelphia to open the vault. Heywood refused and things didn't get any better.While the robbers harassed Heywood and Frank J.Wilcox to open the safe, Alonzo Bunker another teller made several attempts to escape and finally was able to dash through the back door intending to alert the town of the robbery. He was unaware of the fight already in progress in the streets. As Bunker ran out, Charlie Pitts fired at him twice. The first shot missed but the second struck him in the right shoulder. Joseph Allen called out, "Get your guns boys they're robbing the bank." Henry M. Wheeler grabbed a rifle and ran to the second floor of the Dampier Hotel on the corner of Division and 4th St. Wheeler took aim and shot Clell Miller killing him instantly. Anselm R. Manning rushed from his store, gun in hand and shot both Cole Younger and William Stiles. Cole was severely wounded, but Stiles was killed with a bullet through the heart. With the gunfight in full swing outside the bank the robbers fled. Acting cashier, Joseph Lee Heywood, was killed by Frank James for refusing to open the safe. A Scandinavian immigrant, Nicolas Gustafson was killed by a stray bullet during the street fight between the citizens and the would-be robbers. On September 14, 1876, one week after the attempted raid, the gang had traveled less than 50 miles. Their efforts to escape were hampered by their wounds and fatigue. Unfamiliar with the territory, they were lost without their guide, William Stiles, who had been killed in the street at Northfield. Outside of Garden City, the gang split up. Jesse and Frank went west on horseback toward South Dakota, while the others, Cole, Jim and Bob Younger and Charlie Pitts, continued their journey on foot toward Madelia. On September 21, 1876, just outside Madelia, Asle Oscar Sorbel, a young boy recognized the escaping robbers, and informed Madelia officials of the gang's presence in the area. Little was known of the little boy who was the hero of the capture because he adopted the fictitious name of Oscar Oleson Suborn for fear of reprisal by other gang members and friends of the Missouri outlaws. It was not until 1929, that he disclosed his involvement in the capture. During a shoot out with the posse, Charlie Pitts was killed, Cole was shot seven times, including a serious wound near his right eye, Jim's lower jaw was so badly shattered that he was not expected to live, and Bob had a bullet in his lung as well as a smashed elbow. The brothers were taken to the Flander's Hotel in Madelia to recover On November 9, 1876 the Youngers were arraigned by the Rice County Court at Faribault. The brothers were indicted on 4 counts. All three brothers pleaded guilty to avoid capital punishment. The brothers were sentenced to life terms at Stillwater State Penitentiary. Jesse and Frank James escaped to the Dakota Territory, where they kidnapped a doctor and forced him to treat their wounds and then made their way back Missouri. |
| The First National Bank Of Northfield |
 |
| With the law on their trail Jesse and Frank hid out in Nashville where Jesse worked at a barrell factory while Frank mended his wounds, but plans were already in Jesse's head to form another gang. October 8, 1879 the Chicago & Alton Railroad Train was held up near Glendale, Missouri. The telegraph was disabled and the agent was ordered to stop the train. The Express Car agent was roughed up but fortunately not shot. Originally the reports issued indicated there were fifteen to thirty robbers participated and the money varied from $ 30,000.00 to $ 50,000.00. Later the railroad reported $ 6,000.00 and as few as five to eight men was more accurate. September 3, 1880 the stagecoach carrying seven passengers between Kentucky's Mammoth Cave and the railroad station in Cave City was stopped by several men. While the largest bandit asked them to empty their purses into a sack, a smaller man searched the passengers for jewelry. Judge R.H. Rountree of Lebanon, Kentucky, a leading political figure, was wearing a gold pocket watch which was engraved: "To Judge Rountree, with best wishes from Gov. J. Proctor Knott." The bandit took the watch and exclaimed, "This is one watch I will be most proud to wear." The robbers netted around $2,000.00. (After Jesse's death the watch was discovered in his pocket) |
| On March 11, 1881, US. Army Engineer Paymaster Alexander G. Smith pick up the government payroll as usual at the Florence, Alabama, bank and started back to their camp on Bluewater Creek some 15 miles up the canal from Florence. Following the canal tow-path, he was approached by three men. These men were later identifled as being Jesse James, who had been living in Nashvillle as John Davis Howard, Frank James, also living in Nachville under the name of Ben Woodson, and "Wild Bill" Ryan, who used the alias of Tom Hill. Drawing their guns, the party relieved Smith of his saddle bags, his personal watch, and $220.00 from his purse. The saddle bag contained $500 in gold, $4,500 in $50 bills, $20 bills, and smaller currency. They tied Smith and forced him to accompany them until midnight, at which time they returned his watch, overcoat, and $20.00 cash and then released him. On March 26, Bill Ryan was arrested in a Saloon near Nashville on charges of drunk and disorderly.When Jesse and Frank learned of Ryan's arrest, fearing what he might tell authorities, Jesse and Frank left Nashville with their family for Kansas City. July 15, 1881 Jesse and his new gang, mostly younger men, which included Charles Ford robbed the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad just east of Winston and west of Gallatin, Missouri in Daviess County. During the robbery William Westfall, the conductor was shot twice and was killed as well as Frank Mc Millan Jr. a stone mason who was caught in crossfire. Stories of revenge surfaced afterwards indicating that Mr. Westfall was the conductor for the Pinkertons the night they threw the bomb at the James Farm Home which killed young Archie Samuel and resulted in mother Zerelda James-Samuels arm being amputated. It is generally believed that there were five to seven men at the Winston Robbery. The men could have netted no more than $ 2,000.00, but there were reports of $8,000.00 to $15,000.00. September 7, 1881 Jesse was at it again this time, two miles west of Glendale, Missouri, near Blue Cut, just a short distance from the October 1879 robbery. The Chicago Alton railroad was robbed again. It is believed that the gang netted about $ 15,000.00. One more robbery is all Jesse wanted and he was already planing on it. |
 |
 |
| Jesse And Frank James |
 |
|
|
 |