JAMES FARM JOURNAL Published by the Friends of the James Farm VOLUME 25, ISSUE 1 H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S ! WINTER 2014 ROBERT SALLEE JAMES AND ZERELDA COLE A few letters tell the true story of love, family and faith “My Dear Beloved Z.E.C. Thanks to the board’s I according to promise take my pen to write to contribution and the you …” generous donations of others, Cole was able For over 130 years the world has held to purchase a number hard and strong onto the image that was of items, which are Jesse James, his brother, Frank, and their now on loan indefi- family. Despite the numerous books, films nitely to the museum. and articles written, little is known that can be verified as truth. There are a few letters from Robert to Zerel- The boy’s father, Envelope from April 14, 1850 letter from Robert to Zerelda. da beginning with the Robert Sallee James, Sept. 24, 1842 letter at has always been an and a tough pioneer woman. Indeed she the beginning of this enigma to me be- was. Nevertheless, Zerelda Cole was once article. The couple were not married yet cause he died so a young teenage woman who fell in love and still in the throes of courtship. young. He appeared with the young preacher Robert James. a young, virile, enthu- Just how romantic was Robert? siastic and evangeli- We know little about these years and tend “I have been in the company of a great many cal preacher man. He to forget that Zerelda and Robert fell in young ladies since I saw you last and I also at- loved the Lord and he love, married and moved out here to Ke- tended the Methodist campmeeting (sic) Sabbath married Zerelda Cole. arney long before the Civil War and dur- before last, and took a good survey of all the la- ing a time when Missouri was still being As historians, we all know the Zerelda dies; but there were none of them, who can be developed by pioneers; when Missouri who was the mother of Jesse and Frank. compared with you; because you excell (sic) them was the gateway to the west that was still The very pregnant Zerelda who stood as far as the winged eagle soars in the ethereal sky in various stages of discovery. up to the Union soldier who had beaten Continued on page 5 15-year-old Jesse and were torturing her At one time she had hopes and dreams like any other young married woman. husband, Samuel, hoping to find Frank IN THIS ISSUE and the guerrillas. The Zerelda who nev- Earlier this year, the Friends of the James er lost faith in her two sons, who saw her Farm board learned that a large auction President’s Message ............2 young son, Archie, die in a horrific ex- of James family memorabilia was going LIFE Remembers Jesse James ....2 plosion in which she lost part of her own up for sale. Board member and Cole September Powder Shoot Results . 3 arm. family direct descendent Scott Cole, vol- We know the Zerelda who had to endure unteered to act on the auction. What he Jesse’s Horse Performs in Circus? . 4 the loss of her beloved Jesse, murdered acquired for us shed some light on those Ralston Encourages Donations ...6 while his back was turned by the coward early years of Robert and Zerelda James. Who Killed Jesse? .............7 Robert Ford. It was a true find for James historians and Renew Your Membership .......8 Zerelda is always depicted as tall, stout for the museum. JAMES FARM JOURNAL • VOLUME 25, ISSUE 1 WINTER 2013-14 FRIENDS OF A NEW YEAR, 2014 REUNION IN THE PLANNING STAGES, IT’S TIME TO RENEW THE JAMES FARM nother year has flown past us and were obtained through your membership Executive Officers makes us take stock in what the dues and donations. President (Term Expires 2014) Aboard has been doing all year. Please take a moment to send in your We are very happy to have been able to Vivie Tison renewal form and payment so that we make some substantial contributions to Vice-President (Term Expires 2014) can continue to preserve, protect, and the James Farm. Monte Griffey encourage research of the historic time Secretary (Term Expires 2015) Anna’s diploma un- represented by the James Farm and its Linda Tarantino derwent a thorough social history. cleaning and press- Treasurer (Term Expires 2015) In the coming newsletters you will learn ing to get all those Bryan Ivlow more about what the board has in store wrinkles out. It no for our annual reunion in June. This will longer looks like the be our most exciting program to date! Board Members document was print- Another update is that we are now on ed on fabric but of Class of 2014 Facebook. Board member Liz Johnson parchment. We were Kevin Makel keeps us current with facts and photos of also able to obtain, Martin McGrane the James Family. So sign in (Friends of through auctions, letters written by Rev. Class of 2015 Robert James to Zerelda on his way to the James Farm) and check us out. Larry Butcher the gold camps in California, along with The Board of the Friends of the James Kimberly Howard some of his hand written sermons he Farm wish everyone a happy, healthy Liz Johnson wrote while in seminary school. These 2014! Class of 2016 Jim Baldwin Pam Banner Scott Cole LIFE REMEMBERS JESSE JAMES Ex-Officio Beth Beckett Christie Kennard, Past President (2012-2014) Honorary Members Betty Barr Janet Perry Michelle Pollard David Smith Newsletter Editors Liz Johnson Jesse James is still being remembered for his exploits as an outlaw. Christie Kennard Last year LIFE magazine published, “The Most Notorious Crimes in Martin McGrane World History,” which included a chapter on our own Jesse James Contact editors at: under the “Profit” section. Of the “50 Dastardly Deeds That Shook www.jessejames.org | The Wold,” Jesse James was one of the six that was listed on the front cover. This oversized magazine can still be found on Amazon. Newsletter Design/Layout Look for the edition that has the pistol on the cover, edited by Liz Johnson ~ Jolly Hill Robert Sullivan. It originally released Jan. 1, 2013. www.jollyhill.net 2 Friends of the James Farm • www.jessejames.org JAMES FARM JOURNAL • VOLUME 25, ISSUE 1 WINTER 2013-14 Jesse James Old West Revolver Shoot September 2013 Results Compiled by Bryan Ivlow JESSE JAMES OLD WEST REVOLVER SHOOT The winners of the Sept. 14, SPECIAL TARGET SATURDAY, April 5, 2014 shoot at the JamesFarm are CARTRIDGE DIVISION Registration 8 a.m. • Shoot 9 a.m. as follows: • First: Andrew Anderson & James Farm, 21216 Jesse James Farm Rd. Kearney, MO 64060 • 816-736-8500 CARTRIDGE DIVISION Terry Barr – tied Test your skills on the favorite targets • First: Randy Webber • Second: Bob Foreman of Buck & Dingus, aka Frank & Jesse, • Second: Bob Foreman & • Third: Bruce Holston and win a prize! This ain’t no tea dance so shooters are encouraged to Terry Barr – tied SPECIAL TARGET dress accordingly. • Third: Andrew Anderson CAP & BALL DIVISION Cap & Ball Revolver, Frontier Cartridge Revolver, Replicas OK CAP & BALL DIVISION • First: Jacob Whitehead Fixed sights and dueling stance only • First: Keley Bush • Second: Keley Bush Visit the website: www.jessejames.org • Second: Jacob Whitehead • Third: Randy Snider and click on the link for the shoot for • Third: Paul Weller rules and regulations Sponsored by Clay County Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites and the Friends of the James Farm SEPTEMBER 2014 POWDER SHOOT PHOTOS Clockwise from top left: Sept. 2013 shoot par- ticipants; Frank Cardean providing top notch entertainment; safety first – shooting at targets; vintage 1800s rifle. (Photos by Beth Beckett) Friends of the James Farm • www.jessejames.org 3 JAMES FARM JOURNAL • VOLUME 25, ISSUE 1 WINTER 2013-14 DID JESSE’S HORSES PERFORM IN A CIRCUS? fellow enthusiast recently called Left: photo states our attention to a long-stand- – “This horse was ing rumour that some of Jesse’s found in Jesse A James stable after horses may have spent time performing in a circus. His ponderings were greet- the killing of James ed by forum members with the equally in 1882. He was a strawberry roan and long-standing view that the horses were was sold to Wallock probably fake and that any attempts to (sic), N.Y. City for prove the identification of them would $1,000.00. Original be impossible. Still, three of us decided photo, St. Joseph, to take a closer look and what we found Mo. 1882.” surprised us all. Below: Oct. 31, There were two hors- 1884 ad featuring es found in Jesse’s Jesse’s roan. stable on the day he forehead, white spot at the end of was killed – a Straw- nose. The tail is also short.” When berry Roan and a asked what he planned to do with Black Mare. Both the horses, Mitchell stated his in- were thought to have tention “to place them in one of been stolen and in- the largest circuses this summer.”3 deed the Kansas City However, that was not to be the Daily Journal of 6th April 1882 reported fate of these two horses. Instead, that the equine pair had been successfully Mitchell sold them, for a “fabulous returned to their rightful owners – L. G. price” rumoured to be $2,100,4 to Robinson of Clay county and J. R. Ter- an agent of James H.