National Geographic History - 01.2019 - 02.2019

On a trip to visit Zerelda’s mother and step-
father in western Missouri the next year, the
couple liked the fertile country, and the frontier
could always use another man of God. Leaving
Zerelda in Missouri, Robert returned to Ken-
tucky to complete his coursework, graduating
with a bachelor’s degree on June 23, 1843 (he
would earn his master’s five years later). When
he reunited with Zerelda that summer, she
greeted him with their first child: Alexander
Franklin James. Robert purchased a 225-acre
farm in Clay County, Missouri, and it was on
that farm that Jesse Woodson James was born
on September 5, 1847. A daughter, Susan, fol-
lowed in 1849.

Growing Up

The highly intelligent, once awkward college

student became a powerful presence in the re-

gion. When Robert became pastor of the New

Hope Baptist Church, its membership stood at

20; seven years later, that number had grown to

almost 300. In 1849 he was a founding trustee

of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri,

which operates to this day. But in 1850, Rob-

ert chose to leave his family and parishioners

behind to join a party of Clay Countians bound

for California. Since the discovery of gold there

two years earlier, dreams of quick f

lured thousands over land and b

new El Dorado. For Robert James

Searching for Frank, Union
troops visit the James farm.
They torture Jesse and his
stepfather to reveal Frank’s
location, cementing Jesse’s
hatred for the Union.

Jesse joins Frank and the

bushwhackers, and the two take

part in the Battle of Centralia.

Jesse will be seriously wounded

twice before the war’s end

in 1865.

Believed to have pa

in several heists, Je

confirmed robbery

in December at the

County Savings As

in Gallatin, Missou

1863 1864 1869

FALLEN

FATHER

Robert James,

depicted in a 19th-

century painting

(below), was a

pastor, farmer, and

slave owner who

died when Jesse was

a young child. The

loss of Robert hit the

James family hard.

of gold there

fortuneshad

byseatothe

s, though, an

articipated

esse’s first

occurs

e Daviess

sociation

ri.

9

THE HOMESTEAD

The Missouri farmhouse where James was born

in 1847 (the gabled wing to the right was added

after his death). After James’s 1882 murder,

his body was interred here on the wishes of

his mother, and later moved to nearby Mount

Olivet Cemetery. Today the house is part of the

Jesse James Birthplace historic site.

THE JESSE JAMES BIRTHPLACE/ MARK LEE GARDNER

MARK LEE GARDNER