Jesse James was one of history's most well known criminals. He was a vicious man and led a long life of crime. James was born September 5, 1847 in Kearny, Missouri. His father was a Baptist minister and his mother was Zerelda James. She did not work. Throughout James’s life he had several father figures, but little guidance from his own father. His mother had remarried twice by the time James was 8. He had two step-brothers, two step-sisters, and two natural brothers.

James had wanted to join the rebels’ cause for much of his teen life. He was too young to join when he first became interested, but by 1862 he had joined Quantrill’s Raiders.

During his involvement with them he fought at Centralia Massacre in 1864. Soon after this James formed a gang. The gang consisted of people that wanted to get money the easy way, by robbing banks and trains. The very first bank robbery attempt failed and had many casualties. This robbery was at Liberty Missouri in February of 1866. There were several banks after this that were great successes. Jesse James was the mastermind behind the successful plans. He knew the layout very well and knew how to scare the people they were robbing.

J.W. Whicher was in search for James and his band. Once he was hot on the trail, he was murdered. No one knows for sure who did it, but people speculated that it was part of James’ pack.

After a nine year courtship with his cousin Zerelda, they were married in April of 1875. Together they had two children, Mary and Jesse. One of the greatest downfalls of James’ gang was the robbery in Northfield, Missouri. It was a bad robbery and there were many deaths, both town people as well as those in the gang. The town and surrounding towns were both terrified and very angry. They formed a pack in hundreds to go after them. Only two of the gang were caught however, and they were in fact put in prison. After a few more robberies, Jesse James was killed. He was betrayed by a member of his gang, Bob Ford, for the reward money.

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