Jesse James and his gang were quite proficient and successful in bank robberies, stagecoach robberies and train robberies. James is one of the most interesting characters of the old west. Jesse James was born in Missouri on September 5, 1847. Jesse Woodson James was born to Reverend Robert and Zerelda James. At the age of three, Jesse's dad dies of food poisoning in a Placerville, California gold camp after deserting his family to seek riches during the gold rush. His mother remarries twice more. In addition to the two natural brothers he had, Jessie gained two stepbrothers and two stepsisters from his mother's third marriage. Jesse was skilled with horses and natural leader. He was never a very skilled marksman.
             Jesse's brother, Frank James, left home to fight the rebel cause, he joined the Confederate Army in 1861 at age of 18. Jesse wanted to join his brother, but it wasn't till 1863 when he joined "Bloody" Bill Anderson's guerilla forces, even though Quantrill didn't really want him. Jesse acquired the nickname of Dingus. In 1864, Jesse is credited for killing Union Major A.V. Johnson at the massacre of Centralia. Jesse was wounded towards the end of the civil war; he took a .36 caliber slug in the left rib cage, dangerously close to the heart. His cousin Zerelda Mimms was most responsible for nursing Jesse back to health.
             Frank and Jesse talked about forming a gang with Cole Younger. Before things were arranged, in February of 1866, Frank, Col and Jim Younger robbed the Clay County Savings Bank in Liberty, MO. Making around $72,000. Jesse's legend is embellished when he is placed at the scene as well; contrary to family members reporting Jesse sick in bed, with his chest wound still bothering him. Of October 30, 1866, Jesse and Frank are blamed for the robbery of Mitchell and Company banking firm of Lexington, MO, even though they were not in state
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