James Farm

[ErnieMac]

This past month my wife attended a convention in Kansas City MO and I took the opportunity to satisfy my CW cravings among other activities. Good food and good time was had by all, though it was a challenge leaving in the midst of a heavy storm front. Hopefully the area is recovering from the floods that followed. My wife had an afternoon free, so we drove about 1/2 hour north of KC to the town of Kearney MO where we visited the James Farm and Museum, the home of Frank and Jesse James.

The farm is situated on a couple hundred acres of rolling Missouri farmland. It was originally owned by Robert and Zerelda Cole James. Robert died when Frank and Jesse were young, but Zerelda remarried twice - her last husband was named Dr. Reuben Samuel. She maintained ownership of the property during her lifetime after which it passed to Frank.

At the request of the museum staff no photos were taken inside. There are numerous artifacts inside from the family's occupancy including a chest with Frank's name inscribed. The farmhouse was built in three stages. The two stages at the front of the house, shown in the photo, were built after Jesse's death.

The original farmstead sits toward the rear. The original log construction is shown in the southwest corner. The window surrounded by the white siding in the second photo is where the Pinkerton's threw the bomb the killed young Archie Samuel in the 1875 bombing.

Jesse's original grave and marker. Following his wife Zerelda Mimms James' death his body was relocated to its present location in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kearney beside her. Following Jesse's death the farm became a tourist attraction. Zerelda Samuel charged admission and for 25-cents would allow visitors to take stones from his grave. She would then replenish them from a creek on the farm.

 

[ErnieMac]

The James Farm Museum is small, but pretty well packed with information and memorabilia from Frank, Jesse and other family members. The staff is quite knowledgeable and friendly. Some tidbits they had to share that I learned:

• The family farm became a tourist attraction very quickly after Jesse's death. Both Zerelda Samuel and Frank James gave paid tour. Frank would frequently sell Jesse's pistol and promptly replace it for the next gullible collector.
• Jesse and Zerelda Mimm James had four children, two whom survived to adulthood. Son Jesse Edward James seemed to follow in father's footsteps. He was acquitted of train robbery before becoming a lawyer .
• There are living descendants of both Frank and Jesse James.
• The farm buildings were in pretty bad shape when acquired by Clay County in 1978 and have been restored.

Jesse's saddle (sideways for some reason).

Various items belonging to Jesse.

Photo of Jesse's body, the feather duster he was holding when shot and a portion of his original coffin. Jesse has had three coffins: The original one on display at the museum, the one in which he was reburied in 1901 in Kearney (on display in St. Joseph) and the current one in which his remains were placed following DNA testing in the 1990s.

Frank James' Confederate grave marker.

Jesse's original Mount Olivet grave marker defaced by souvenir hunters.