Born Jesse Woodson James, he was one of the most infamous outlaws in American history. The legend of his life was full of murder, thievery and criminal activities, making him a well known name even before his death. As a member of the equally infamous gang, the James-Younger Gang, his exploits as an outlaw have gone down in history as some of the worst.
The Early Life of Jesse James
This legend was born on September 5, 1847 in Clay County, Missouri. His father was Robert S. James, a Baptist minister and farmer, and his mother was Zerelda Elizabeth Cole. Jesse also had a brother and a sister.
When Jesse was three years old, Robert James died after contracting a disease while in California, where he had traveled to minister during the gold rush. Zerelda remarried twice, the second marriage producing four children.
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There are almost no details about how Jesse James was raised. The main factor that was said to have had an impact on his life, however, was the American Civil War, which had been approaching around the time Jesse was a child.