WOMEN IN THE LIVES OF THE OUTLAWS
BOLTON, MARTHA (Sister to Charlie and Bob Ford
)
Mrs. Bolton was the daughter of J.T. Ford, and lived in Ray County, Mo.
Often the Ford Brothers and other gang members would retreat to the safety
of her home.
Her reputation at times was in question. It is believed that she may have
assisted in Dick Liddil's surrender.
COLE, ZERELDA ELIZABETH (Mother of
Frank and Jesse James)
Zerelda was born January 29, 1825 in Woodford County, Kentucky, to Sarah
(Lindsay)
and James Cole. James Cole was killed in a horse accident on February 27,
1827.
In 1839, at the age of fourteen, Zerelda entered St. Catherines Academy
for Women in Lexington,
Ky. Family records indicate that Robert James met Zerelda Cole at a revival
meeting.
They were married December 28, 1841.
Zerelda was a large woman: 5ft. 8in. and over 200lbs. She was strong, domineering, outspoken, and fiercely protective of her boys. She married and buried three husbands and buried four of eight children. She died February 10,1911 and is buried in Kearney, Missouri.
COLLINS, MATTIE (Wife or Mistress of Dick Liddil)
Reportedly had a questionable reputation.
DUNCAN-BARR, THELMA
Living widow of Lawrence Barr (Grandson of Jesse James).
FRISTOE, BURSHEBA (Mother to the Younger Brothers)
Bursheba Fristoe, daughter of Richard Fristoe of Jackson County, Missouri,
married Henry Washington Younger in 1830. They had fourteen children.
Henry was murdered July 20, 1862. Bursheba and her children moved several times during and after the war, including Cass, LaFayette and Jackson counties. After the war, Bursheba and her four younger children lived in their Strother Lake home (now Lee's Summit). She eventually moved to Texas, and later returned home to Missouri in 1870 to die.
Henry died without a will and his estate was in probate for nearly twenty years.
Bursheba died in 1870 at the age of 54.
ELLSWORTH, MOLLIE
Mollie owned a house that was reportedly was a home for "Ladies of the
Evening". She
claimed in an interview following the Northfield Event to have been
acquainted with
Jesse James in Minnesota as well as previously in St. Louis for several years.
There has not been
any documentation to her claims.
HALL, MISS NORA
Cole Younger bought a house for he and Nora to live in. Cole died in this
house and she was among the people at his deathbed. He gave the house to her
after his death.
JAMES, MARY (Sister to Rev. Robert Sallie James)
Born 1809
Married John M. Mimms together were blessed with nine children including
Zerelda
(Zee) Mimms, the wife of Jesse James.
JAMES, MARY SUSAN (Daughter of Zee Mimms and Jesse James)
Mary was born June 17, 1879 in Tennessee. She was only three when her father
was
murdered.
After
her mother Zee passed away, Mary married a local farmer, Henry Barr, on
March 6, 1901. They
moved across the road from the James Farm to the locally known
-Claybrook House.
Mary and Henry had four children Lawrence H., Forster Ray, Chester A., and
Henrietta.
Mary died October 11, 1935.
JAMES, NANCY (Paternal aunt to Jesse and Frank James)
Married George Hite.
JAMES, SUSAN LAVENIA (Sister to Frank and Jesse James)
Born November 25, 1849
Married Allen Parmer (previously rode with Quantrill). To this union was born
four
children.
KING, KATE
Mistress of Quantrill.
LINDSAY, SARAH (Maternal Grandmother to Frank and Jesse James)
MCCORKLE-KERR, CHRISTIE (Sister of John McCorkle)
Killed when a building used as a prison collapsed.
MC GOWEN, STELLA FRANCES (Wife of Jesse Edward James)
Born February 27, 1882 in Oak Grove, Missouri to Alfred and Martha McGowen.
Stella's
genealogy includes Daniel Boone as her Great-Great Grandfather. She married
Jesse
Edward James January 24, 1900. They had four daughters:
Lucille
Martha, Josephine Francis, Jessie Estelle, and Ethel Rose. Through the years
Stella took
the forefront in protecting the memory of Jesse James and the James Family
from
imposters in the press as well as the courts.
MUELLER, ALIX
A writer who loved and wanted to marry Jim Younger. She didn't meet him
until more than twenty years after the Northfield robbery, in prison.
The conditions of Jim's parole did not allow marriage. Despondant,
Jim eventually committed suicide without marrying her.
MIMMS, ZERELDA (ZEE) (Wife and first cousin of Jesse James)
Zee was born July 21, 1845 one of twelve children of Mary (James) and John W.
Mimms. Zee was engaged to Jesse for nine years until they were married at
her sister's
home in Kearney, Missouri on April 24, 1874. To this union was born four
children a
son- Jesse Edward and daughter, Mary survived.
Zee died November 13, 1900 in Kansas City, Missouri. After Jesse's death she nearly grieved herself to death. She and her children barely survived emotionally, physically or financially after his death, yet, she refused offers to publish books. Many have said her true cause of death was a broken heart.
PECK, SARAH NORRIS
The young beautiful second wife of George Hite
Allegations were made against Jesse concerning a potential liaison.
A newspaper once reported that she loved Jesse. George Hite took the
newspaper to court
for defamation of character.
POOR, MARY POLLY (Paternal Grandmother of Jesse James)
Born in 1790, she
married John James. They had eight children, including Mary
(1809)who
married John W. Mimms, and Robert James (1818), who married Zerelda Cole.
RALSTON, ANNA (Wife of Frank James)
Anna Ralston, daughter of wealthy businessman Samuel Ralston of Independence,
Missouri, was born January 25,1853. She received a B.A. degree in Science and
Literature. Following her degree she worked as a school teacher where she
met Frank
James. They eloped in 1874. To that union was born one son, Robert.
Anna's later years were spent on the James Farm until July 7, 1944 when she died at the age of 91. She was cremated and buried in the Hill Park Cemetery, Independence, Missouri beside her beloved Frank. Anna never spoke or revealed any part of the outlaw years with her husband. Not one interview was ever granted.
SAMUEL, FANNIE QUANTRELL (Half-sister to Jesse and Frank James)
Married Joseph Hall on December 30, 1880
SAMUEL, SARAH LOUSIA (Half-sister of Jesse and Frank James)
Born December 26, 1858 at the James Farm;
Died September 15, 1915.
Married William A. Nicholson on November 28, 1878. They had
three sons.
STARR, BELLE (Legal name Myra Belle Shirley)
Born February 5, 1848 in Carthage, Missouri.
Commonly referred to as the "Female Jesse James" as well as the Bandit Queen.
Rumored to have a romantic connection to Cole Younger. Her first daughter
was named Pearl Reed -- she used Younger as an
alias.
Killed: February 3, 1889 near her home in Younger's Bend, Oklahoma.
TRENTON, MINNIE
Was present at Cole Younger's deathbed.
SANBOTH, MAE (First wife of Robert James, son of Frank James)
SULLIVAN, MAY (Second wife of Robert)
YOUNGER-DUNCAN, SALLY (Sister to Cole Younger)
YOUNGER-JONES, MARTHA ANNE (Sister to Cole Younger)
YOUNGER-KELLEY, HELEN (Sister to Cole Younger)
Trains, Banks, Stagecoaches . . .
The Desperados.
The Victims.
Books Books Books!
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