Jesse James: The real story - Softcover

Vincel Simmons

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1891708244 ISBN 13: 9781891708244

Publisher: Simmons Publications, 1998

About this title

From the Back Cover

Read Jesse James-The Real Story and learn the strange tale that has unfolded concerning the life and death of the "real" Jesse James. This story began as part of a strange inheritance and Vincel Simmons crafts an intriguing tale of his search for the truth. A collection of more than twenty years of research, never before seen photographs and historical documents, Jesse James-The Real Story is a book that should not be passed up by any Jesse James enthusiast.

The James legacy has been that of an enduring legend and this book is sure to add to the controversy that surrounds one of the most notorious American bandits.

Vincel Simmons believes that he is the grandson of Jesse James. Through careful research, sheer determination and a flair for drawing logical conclusions, he has convinced many of his critics. Vincel Simmons, the grandson of Jesse James.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From Chapter 1 - Family Origin

Robert James was born and raised in Kentucky. The James family was one of the oldest families in Logan County. Robert James was a graduate of Georgetown College in Kentucky. Robert was married on December 28, 1841, one year before his graduation, to Miss Zerelda Cole-he was 23 and she was 17. Zerelda was a member of the Cole family, an old revolutionary war family. Zerelda's mother was a member of the Lindsay family, another powerful Kentucky family, relatives to Senator Lindsay.

Robert James became a Baptist minister. In the summer of 1842, Robert James and his wife, Zerelda, went to Clay County, Missouri, to visit relatives. Robert fell in love with the area and the next year bought a farm near Kearney, Missouri. For years he combined farming with his ministry. In both areas he had great success. His farms became very profitable. According to Clay County Probate records, Robert James's estate, in 1850, consisted of a 275-acre farm with a home that he owned, 30 sheep, 6 cattle, other livestock animals, and 7 slaves. His preaching also became well known throughout the land, and he is credited with founding the Baptist churches in both New Hope and Providence. Robert James baptized a great many of the early settlers in Clay County. Robert James and Zerelda had several children on their farm in Kearney, Missouri. These children were Alexander Franklin James, born January 1, 1843; Robert James, born July 7, 1845, died in infancy later that same year; Jesse Woodsen James, born September 5, 1847; and Susan L. James, born November 25, 1849.

In 1851 Reverend Robert James set out to the gold fields of California. Some say he had gold fever, others say he only had the desire to make enough money for his children's education (which seems unlikely, given the success of his farming). The local residents, however, say that there was great marital tension between Robert and Zerelda over his long trips away with his ministry. Zerelda was a strong-willed woman and did not like being left alone for long periods of time to handle both their children and the farm. Many say that Robert James went to California to have a cooling off period in their marriage, and he hoped that when he returned things would be better. Whatever his motives were, his trip ended in tragedy.

Robert James is said to have died of pneumonia only 18 days after his arrival in California. When he died, he was 32 years old. Robert was buried in an unmarked grave in California. (This piece of historical information may be in question, as certain recently discovered photographs may contradict this assertion. More on that later.) Reverend Robert James was very close to his children and his sudden death affected his family very deeply, especially four-year-old Jesse.

Zerelda, now more than ever, had her hands full. Her husband's large farm and active ministry presented a formidable challenge. She tried to handle these obligations along with her maternal obligations of raising her children, especially her two wild sons, Frank and Jesse. This became too much for her to handle alone, so she married again, this time to a man named Benjamin Simms. Their marriage lasted only a few months. Most say it was because Benjamin could not get along with Frank and Jesse.

In 1855 Zerelda married for a third time, to a Doctor Reuben Samuel. Dr. Samuel was a general practitioner and farmer. He took care of the family business while Zerelda once again concentrated on raising her children. This made for a workable marriage and Zerelda had several more children by this union. They were:

Sarah L. Samuel, born December 26, 1858;

John T. Samuel, born May 25, 1861;

Fannie Quantrell Samuel, born October 18, 1863;

Archie Payton Samuel, born July 26, 1866.

Frank and Jesse James, as kids, often played with their wild cousins, a group-which was later to be known as the Younger brothers-that included Coleman, James, John, and Robert Younger.

These were some of the happier times in the life of Jesse James. The dark stains on this photograph were bloodstains-possibly from family members (the bloodstains are readily visible on the original) from a bomb thrown into his mother's home by the Pinkertons on January 26, 1875. The explosion blew off his mother's right arm and killed Jesse's half-brother Archie Payton Samuel. These and other family photographs were in the house at the time of the explosion.

Would not this photograph be a constant family reminder of the cruelty Jesse had to continually endure throughout his life by those who were supposed to be the law? Did it not serve as a constant reminder of the unbridled cruelty his family had to put up with at the hands of the Pinkerton Detective Agency?

Edition details

• Publisher: Simmons Publications
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1891708244
• ISBN 13: 9781891708244
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 232