Jake Miller
The James Gang, led by Jesse James, was active from 1866 to 1882, robbing banks, trains, and stagecoaches across 11 states. The gang's first bank robbery was on February 13, 1866, in Liberty, Missouri, and it is considered the first daylight peacetime bank robbery in US history. The gang's most infamous robbery was in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1876, which led to the capture or death of several gang members and marked the beginning of the end for the James Gang. While it is unclear how many banks Jesse James and his gang robbed, they are known to have targeted small, local banks, with their crimes often glorified as acts of rebellion against the Union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of banks robbed | 6 |
| First bank robbery | Clay County Savings Association, Liberty, Missouri, February 13, 1866 |
| First bank robbery with brother Frank James | Bank of Nimrod L. Long & Co., Russellville, Kentucky, March 20, 1868 |
| Last bank robbery | First National Bank of Northfield, Northfield, Minnesota, September 7, 1876 |
| Number of gang members during the last robbery | 8 |
| Number of gang members killed during the last robbery | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
- The first bank robbery: Clay County Savings Association, Liberty, Missouri, 1866
- Robbing from the rich: was Jesse James a real-life Robin Hood
- The Northfield Raid: the end of the James Gang
- Robbing banks, trains and stagecoaches across 11 states
- The James Gang's demise: Jesse James killed by his own gang member
The first bank robbery: Clay County Savings Association, Liberty, Missouri, 1866
On February 13, 1866, Jesse James and his gang rode into Liberty, Missouri, a small town just north of Kansas City. Their target was the Clay County Savings Association, located on the corner of Main Street and Franklin Street. This was to be Jesse James' first bank robbery, and it was a daring and audacious crime that shocked the nation and made headlines across the country.
James and his gang, which included his brother Frank and several other confederates, had carefully planned the robbery. They entered the town posing as a group of hunters, their faces hidden by masks. They tied their horses to a post outside the bank and, brandishing revolvers, rushed into the building. The town's residents were taken completely by surprise, and the robbers quickly took control.
Inside the bank, they found only one cashier on duty, a man named Greenup Bird. They demanded he open the safe, but Bird refused. Enraged, one of the robbers shot Bird in the arm, and he quickly complied, opening the safe and handing over the cash. The total haul from the robbery was around $60,000, which would be worth well over a million dollars today. The gang also took a number of bonds and securities, which they later tried to negotiate, although this proved unsuccessful.
The robbery itself took just a few minutes, and the gang made their escape before the town's residents could react. They rode out of Liberty and headed towards the Missouri River, where they had a boat waiting to take them to safety. However, in their haste, they left behind a number of clues, including one of their horses, which still had the gang's distinctive saddle. This saddle would later be used to identify the robbers, as it had been made by a local saddler, who recognized his handiwork.
The James Gang's first bank robbery was a huge success for them, but it also sparked a massive manhunt. The crime had attracted nationwide attention, and the gang became famous, or infamous, across the country. Despite the intense pursuit, Jesse James and his gang evaded capture, and this robbery was the first of many, as they went on to become some of the most notorious outlaws in American history. The legend of Jesse James and his gang has endured, and this first robbery in Liberty, Missouri, remains a fascinating episode in the story of the Wild West.
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Robbing from the rich: was Jesse James a real-life Robin Hood?
The American Civil War ended in 1865, and just a year later, in February 1866, Jesse James and his gang, known as the James-Younger Gang, conducted one of the earliest documented bank robberies in US history. They targeted the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri, making off with close to $60,000 in bonds, dollars, and silver. This was also the first daylight peacetime bank robbery in the US. During the gang's escape, an innocent bystander, 17-year-old George C. "Jolly" Wymore, was shot and killed.
The James brothers were most active from 1866 to 1876, robbing banks, trains, and stagecoaches across 11 states. In 1867, they robbed a bank in Richmond, Missouri, killing the mayor and two others. In 1868, they robbed the Bank of Nimrod L. Long & Co. in Russellville, Kentucky. In 1869, Jesse James robbed the Daviess County Savings Association in Gallatin, Missouri, marking his emergence as the most famous survivor of the former Confederate bushwhackers.
In 1871, the James gang robbed the Obocock Bros. Bank of Corydon in Iowa. In 1874, they robbed the Tishomingo Saving Bank in Corinth, Mississippi. Their attempted robbery of the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1876, marked the end of the gang. Several members were captured or killed, and the remaining members escaped west. Jesse James himself was killed by a new recruit to the gang, Robert Ford, in 1882.
Despite popular portrayals of Jesse James as a Robin Hood-like figure, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, there is no evidence that he or his gang shared any loot from their robberies with anyone outside their network. In fact, most of their targets were small, local banks, and the robberies penalized the locals they claimed to support.
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The Northfield Raid: the end of the James Gang
The James-Younger Gang, led by the notorious Frank and Jesse James, rose to fame and became the most famous outlaws in the world. The gang was among the most feared, most publicized, and most wanted confederations of outlaws on the American frontier. The gang's activities spanned much of the central United States, and they are suspected of having robbed banks, trains, and stagecoaches in at least eleven states.
In 1876, the gang planned their most daring raid yet—to rob the First National Bank at Northfield, Minnesota. Northfield was far outside the gang's usual territory, and the idea for the raid came from Jesse and Bob Younger. The Northfield bank was not unusually rich, and according to public reports, it was a perfectly ordinary rural bank. However, rumors persisted that General Adelbert Ames, the son of the owner of the Ames Mill in Northfield, had deposited $50,000 there.
On September 7, 1876, the gang attempted to rob the bank at about 2:00 p.m. Northfield residents had seen the gang in a local restaurant near the mill shortly after noon, and they testified at the Younger brothers' trial that the group was obviously under the influence when they greeted General Ames. Three of the outlaws, Bob Younger, Frank James, and Charlie Pitts, crossed the bridge by the Ames Mill and entered the bank, while the other five, including Jesse James, stood guard outside. Inside the bank, the acting cashier, Joseph Lee Heywood, refused to open the vault and was shot to death. Meanwhile, the gang members standing watch on the street aroused the suspicions of townspeople, and a fierce gun battle erupted.
The gang was heavily outnumbered and outgunned, and they quickly fled the town. Minnesotans joined posses and set up picket lines by the hundreds, and the pursuit of the gang went on for weeks and covered 400 miles. The Youngers were eventually captured and sentenced to life in prison, while Frank and Jesse James managed to escape. However, the infamous James-Younger Gang was no more.
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Robbing banks, trains and stagecoaches across 11 states
The James-Younger Gang, led by Jesse James, carried out a string of brazen robberies across 11 states, including Missouri, Minnesota, Kentucky, Iowa, Arkansas, Mississippi, and more. The gang was active from 1866 to 1882, with the James brothers at the helm until Jesse's death in 1882.
One of Jesse James' earliest documented bank robberies took place in Liberty, Missouri, on February 13, 1866. James and his gang, known as the James-Younger Gang, targeted the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, marking one of the first daylight peacetime bank robberies in US history. During the robbery, a 17-year-old student named George "Jolly" Wymore was shot and killed, and the gang escaped with nearly $60,000 in bonds, cash, and silver.
The James-Younger Gang went on to rob numerous banks, trains, and stagecoaches across the country. On May 23, 1867, they robbed a bank in Richmond, Missouri, killing the mayor and two others. In 1868, they robbed the Bank of Nimrod L. Long & Co. in Russellville, Kentucky, and in 1871, they hit the Obocock Bros. Bank of Corydon, Iowa. The gang also ventured into Arkansas, robbing the Malvern/Hot Springs stagecoach in 1874, and Mississippi, where they targeted the Tishomingo Saving Bank in Corinth in the same year.
One of the gang's most infamous robberies was the Northfield Raid in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1876. The gang rode into town, intending to rob the First National Bank, but the cashier, Joseph Lee Heywood, refused to open the vault and was shot and killed. A fierce gun battle erupted with the townspeople, and the gang was forced to flee. This robbery marked the beginning of the end for the James-Younger Gang, as several members were captured or killed in the aftermath. Despite this setback, Jesse James continued his life of crime, forming a new gang and carrying out robberies until he met his fate on April 3, 1882, when he was shot and killed by one of his own gang members, Robert Ford.
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The James Gang's demise: Jesse James killed by his own gang member
The James-Younger Gang, led by Jesse James and his brother Frank James, were active from about 1866 until 1876. During this time, they robbed banks, stagecoaches, and trains across the Midwest, gaining national infamy.
One of their most famous robberies was that of the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri, on February 13, 1866. This was the first daylight armed bank robbery in the United States during peacetime. During their escape, 17-year-old George C. "Jolly" Wymore, an innocent bystander, was shot dead.
Another notable robbery was that of the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1876. This raid turned out to be the gang's undoing. The gang members were heavily armed and skilled at combat, having served as Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War. However, the town's acting cashier, Joseph Lee Heywood, refused to open the vault and was shot. A fierce gun battle erupted, and several gang members were captured or killed. The remaining members, including Jesse and Frank, managed to escape.
After the Northfield raid, Jesse and Frank James went into hiding in Tennessee. While Jesse initially tried to live a quiet life, he eventually returned to a life of crime, recruiting new members to form his own gang. However, these new members did not share the same deep loyalty as his previous comrades, and the gang was plagued by infighting and paranoia.
On April 3, 1882, Jesse James met his demise when he was shot and killed by Robert Ford, a new recruit to his gang. Bob Ford and his brother Charlie had struck a deal with Governor Crittenden, who was determined to end Jesse's outlaw activities. The Ford brothers agreed to kill Jesse in exchange for reward money and a pardon for their own crimes. On the fateful day, while Jesse was outlining his plan for the next robbery, Bob Ford shot him several times in the back. Thus, Jesse James, who had become a celebrity in life, became a legendary figure of the Wild West after his death.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear exactly how many banks were robbed by Jesse James and his gang, but sources attribute several bank robberies to him.
One of Jesse James' first known bank robberies was on February 13, 1866, at the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri.
One of Jesse James' biggest bank robberies was the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri, where the gang made off with close to $60,000 in bonds, dollars, and silver.
Yes, Jesse James and his gang robbed the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota, in 1876.
While Jesse James was part of a gang, there is no definitive evidence that he robbed banks by himself.
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