Did you know that two events in
Jesse James’ life can be linked to Pittsfield? Indeed, his ultimate demise
is connected with the Old Meetinghouse Cemetery. Find out how at the
Pittsfield Historical Society meeting on September 11th at 7:00 p.m. in the
Society Headquarters on Elm Street.
Jesse James was born in 1847 and fought for the Confederacy with the
infamous Quantrill’s Raiders. After the Civil War he became known throughout
the world as one America’s most notorious outlaws. He and his gang, among
whom were the famous Younger Brothers, robbed banks, trains and stage
coaches.
Southern sympathizers thought of Jesse as Robin Hood, rarely robbing
farmers, train passengers and the like. This was especially true after
southern sympathizer John Newman of the Kansas City Times began writing
favorable stories about him. Newman even published stories to throw off law
enforcement officials trying to capture Jesse.
Because of those articles and other highly exaggerated stories it has become
difficult to sort fact from fiction. Even his death has been disputed. Most
agree that Jesse was shot in the back on April 3, 1882 while cleaning a
picture on the wall in his home. The culprit, Robert Ford, with the
assistance of Ford’s brother, was convicted of murder but pardoned
immediately by Governor Crittenden of Missouri. Because Ford was an
accomplice of Jesse, some believed it was a rouse to end the hunt for him.
In 1995 his body was exhumed in Kearney, Missouri. DNA tests were conducted
and the results were consistent with the DNA of Jesse’s living relatives.
