Jesse W James Recap

 My intent here is not to create confusion, strife or even conversation for that matter, the information I am to give in the following is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I am not beyond error however I believe none is present. If you choose to, prove me, or disprove me, my objective is to find truth, if you disagree with any portion please explain and provide what proof you may have. This was created for use of genealogist, historians and researchers with real intent, and pure motive to correct the linage and history of Jesse Woodson James and those touched by his life. 

This project began as a result of being asked to evaluate the contents of the book Jesse James was one of His Names, (The Black Book) The objective was primarily prove Jesse faked his death and to try to validate the many controversial statements made within, or disprove them, to date, I have not been able to disprove anything in the book although many things remain to be assessed, I have however validated many statements or claims made within. It has gone beyond a project, it has become an obsession, it pulls at me I just have to straighten out the mess created by would be researchers, historians and academics whom it seems never learned how to ask questions but instead they just follow the leader… It is my recommendation that the researcher take the book more serious than has been in the past by researchers and academics. And Incidentally, DNA is not the answer… in fact it has become part of the problem due to misapplication as many never resolved the first problem and that was, who was Jesse James, what did he actually look like?... And remember, regurgitation of indoctrination will never result in truth.

The real image of Jesse W James Taken not long after his hoaxed death

___________________________________

After 7 years of what I thought would be a simple task, I have come to see first hand and realize just how misinformed or should we just say screwed up the history of the real Jesse W James is. I don’t think we can lay all the blame on the many history writers and those who pretend by flexing their egos through such avenues as WIKI who are mostly guilty of nothing more than believing everything they read… one after another regurgitating what can only be classified as pure bullshit based upon many authors of even more bullshit all based on the narrative of those who created again, the bullshit history of the Civil war, pardon the backwoods slang. 

However, think about it, only those who knew Jesse intimately, brothers, cousins aunts, uncles and friends, knew what he truly looked like, all others were as good as a best guess... the many false claims of identity is what has made those around him  and his history so misunderstood...

Here is one of many examples I will insert before I get started… 

Researchers and historians, if you think these two woman are one and the same person, you need your head examined. And yet article after article web page after web page and books, can’t seem to decide which picture to use and often they are used side by side, even genealogy web sites can't make up their mind and the descendants of those in question! do they think we are stupid? Doubtful, but IT IS their own ignorance that blinds them.

They look nothing alike! Do I need more evidence or is it plain to see? These are two different people! Surprisingly enough, many cannot see the blatant difference. Perhaps the reason for this mix up is that Myra’s Confederate spy name for a time, was Bell Star.

 

Jesse Woodson James (Kentucky Born)

 Let’s start with Jesse who is the most misunderstood character of the Civil War, but lets start with the right Jesse, there were three… yes three.

Kentucky Born Jesse Woodson James, brother to Dr, Sylvester Franklin James (Frank James) and who were the Sons of Mollie Dalton and Captain George Strother James, the very man who fired the first cannon shot in 1861 at Fort Sumter. Jesse was NEVER married to Zerelda Mims. Nephew of Zerelda Cole James and Rev. Robert James. Cousin to Zeralda Mims. Died 1951

 

Progressive photos of Jesse Woodson James, these photos are among the only real photos of Jesse with the questionable top right photo most used for Jesse.

Overlayed and opacity adjusted photos

 

 The Charcoal photo on the right of the younger Harrison Trow, is used to overlay the photo on the left of Jesse and the opacity increased each photo.

And now using the same photo on the left, I compared to an older known photograph of Harrison Trow using the same point dot alignment.

Jesse on the left and Captain Harrison Trow on the right

 

In 1925 on February 24^th, the alias of Captain Harrison Trow came to an end when Jesse again killed himself off and 8 days later he killed off his other primary alias William Andrews Clark on March 2^nd. 

Jesse spent 25 years of his life in Hereford Texas, with him was his one true love, Myra Belle Shirley still using the name of Missouri Ann Jesse. Also during those years were 4 of Jesse and Myra Belle’s children, along with his Mother (Molly Dalton) and Father (George S James).

As far as any of us know, after Jesse killed off the alias Harrison Trow, and assumed the name of his deceased cousin,  J. Frank Dalton. I’m sure there are many details during this time we are unaware. According to certain genealogy sites Missouri Ann died in 1928 but did she die? I see no way of finding out unless some family member comes forward. During these years of research and contacting Jesse’s descendants, the best I have found is a family that were told they were decent, but half the family wants nothing to do with being related to a Confederate cold blooded killer, the other half is fascinated by it… 

Let’s now take a look at a comparison of a known proven photo of Harrison Trow and a known photo of J. Frank Dalton. Notice the smooth transition of these photos as in the previous comparisons.

Missouri Born Jesse Robert (Dingus) James. First Cousin to Jesse Woodson James and Sylvester Franklin James and coconspirator. Son of Zerelda Cole James and Rev. Robert James.  Brother to Missouri Born, Alexander Franklin James, The other “Frank James.” Jesse Robert was also never married to Zerelda Mims. No photos are known at this time.

 

Sylvester Franklin James Kentucky Born BROTHER of Jesse W James and is usually the very “ Frank James.” in about half the stories. Frank is also the Son of Mollie Dalton and Captain George Strother James. Nephew of Zerelda Cole James and Rev. Robert James. Often referred to as Dr. Sylvester Franklin James.

 

Sylvester Franklin James

 

Alexander Franklin James Missouri Born First Cousin to Jesse Woodson James and Sylvester Franklin James, THIS is the son of Zerelda Cole James and Rev. Robert James, and is usually the  “ Frank James.” in half the OTHER stories.

 

Possible Photo of Alexander Franklin James

More Likely a possible Photo of Missouri born Alexander Franklin James

NOT to be confused with 

Sylvester Franklin James, brother of Jesse Woodson James

Cousin Jesse Ballard James who was hung by the damned Yankees at Dora Missouri. 1862. No known Photo.

 

George Strother James (Jesse Woodson and Sylvester Franklin James’s Father) Brother to Rev. Robert James. Uncle to Jesse Robert and Alexander Franklin James. Husband of Mollie Dalton. History is correct in that he was the first to fire a cannon at Fort Sumter kicking off the Civil War, and he did not die in 1862, the center photo below was taken in 1920.

 

George Strother James

Jesse Woodson’s Father

Notice how much the boys look like there Father... 

 

Mollie Dalton, Georgia Born, (Molly) (Matilda?) (Jesse Woodson and Sylvester Franklin James’s Mother) A real lady by any standard. Sister to James Lewis Dalton who is the father of the Dalton Brothers. Parents possibly Benjamin Dalton and Nancy Rabourn.

 

Molly Dalton

Jesse Woodson James’s Mother

 

Myra MayBelle Shirley, Daughter of Judge John Shirley and Elizabeth Hatfield. Jesse Woodson James’s one and only true love, married under the names of Missouri Ann and Harrison Trow (See Photo often attributed to Jim Reed and Mayra Belle) Despite the many encounters Jesse had with other women, Jesse and Myra Belle stayed together until Missouri Ann’s supposed death in 1928. They had at least 4 children together but their real names are unknown. Myra Belle NEVER married Jesse under the alias names of Jim Reed and /or Bruce Younger, she was never married to either.

 

(Maybell) Myra Belle Shirley

 

 

 

Bell Starr, Murderous woman outlaw, I do not know where she came from, not sure anyone does. This is NOT Myra Belle Shirley.  

Bell Starr

 

 

Zerelda Mimms Bigelow, Jesse’s cousin, married to Charlie Bigelow. Charlie is the man who was killed and passed off as Jesse Woodson James. Her mother was Mary Elizabeth James who was the daughter of Rev. John Martin James, the brother of Rev. Robert Salle James, Jesse’s uncle.

Zerelda Mims

 

Jesse E. James and Mary James Barr (Which is not their real names) Thought to be Jesse W James’s offspring which is not true, they are the children of Zerelda Mims and Charlie Bigelow.

Jesse E. and Mary Susan Bigelow

 

 

Zerelda Cole Samuels James; Mother of Jesse Robert (Dingus) James and Alexander Franklin James, Jesse Woodson James Aunt. Sister-in-law to George Strother James who is Jesse Woodson’s Father.

 

Zerelda Cole James

 

 

 

Rev. Robert Salle James; Father of Jesse Robert (Dingus) James and Alexander Franklin James. Husband to Zerelda Cole James, Brother of George S. James who was Jesse Woodson James Father.

 

Rev. Robert Salle James

 

 

 

Carl O’Clark

posing as Jesse posing as William A Clark

 

Jesse had two other wives that is known, Margaret Wabasha and had a son Joe Jesse, also  He married Susan Palmer under the name of William Cole, they had a daughter, Alice Susan Cole, in which Jesse likely never knew of... His wife and true love Myra Bell Shirly they married under the names of Harrison Trow and Missouri Ann, and he stayed with her until her passing around 1935.

John Younger alias Judge Isaac Charles Parker?

 

Image on the top left is the only known picture of John younger, the second picture is the young Isaac Parker and the right photo is the older Isaac Parker

NEW unknown Image revealed of Jesse Woodson  and Sylvester Franklin James with two previous unknown standing men...

Jesse Woodson James and His Full blood Brother Sylvester Franklin James, sitting, 1895, Huntsville Alabama. Photo by W. W. Fox. Courtesy of the G G Grand Daughter of Jesse Woodson James. Karen… 

UPDATE: Standing top left is none other than Grat Dalton alias Sundance Kid and standing on the right is Harvey Logan alias Kid Curry.

Grat Dalton Alias Sundance Kid 

Images used left to right, only known image of Grat Dalton, a well known image of Sundance, Bowler Hat, new image of formerly unknown taken in 1995 posing with Jesse W. and Dr. Sylvester Franklin James, 3 years after Grat was supposedly killed and on the right another well know image of Sundance.

Grat to unknown image taken in 1895

Grat to Bowler hat Sundance

1895 image to Bowler hat Sundance

Other well know Sundance Image to 1895 Image

Left is well known image of Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry, inserted image on the right is from the 1895 image showing Jesse, Frank, Sundance and Kid Curry

 

Leroy Parker alias Butch Cassidy

According to the Black Book, Butch and Sundance went to Hollywood and worked as movie extras, Butch even played some rolls under the name of "Tex Driskell" (Driscoll) Could these following images be Butch Cassidy?? The images are not as such where in I can compare, and the beard definitely does not help...

Jesse’s immediate Family:

 

Father George Strother James B 1799, Son of John Stobo James 

Mother Mollie Dalton Likely daughter of Benjamin Dalton

Siblings:

John James

Sylvester Franklin James

Jesse Woodson James

Matilda (Tilly) Jesse’s Twin (Married to James Obedia Howk)  Possibly named after her Mother.

Morgan James Changed his name and owned a ranch in Colorado

Peter James Lived in Colorado (lived and Died under real name)

Levi James owned property in Moab Utah and in Idaho. (lived and Died under real name)

Rebecca James Younger, Married to Cole Younger. Rebecca Raised Jean Hickok in Maryland who was the daughter of Calamity Jane and supposed Bill Hickok.

 

Believed to be Jesse and Myra’s Children before moving to Texas in 1900

Picture likely taken about 1880-1890 

A Clip of The Herford Photo

Same Kids compared to the Hereford photo, about 

30 years later in 1920

Top Left in 1920 she was going by the name 

Florence Redfield Broadwell,

Top right and right photo, in 1920 she was going by the name of 

Mollie Elizabeth Barnard Webb.

Bottom left he was  going by 

Epinetus Bushrod Black

Bottom Right he was going by the name of 

Rev. Marcus Milton Beavers

           

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UPDATE: Grat Dalton Alias the Sundance Kid & Harvey Logan Alias Kid Curry

 

                     Grat Dalton &...                  the Sundance Kid

Who was Grat Dalton really?

 

Gratton Hanley "Grat" Dalton (March 30, 1861 – October 5, 1892) was an American outlaw in the American Old West. He was one of three brothers in the Dalton Gang, led by his younger brother Bob Dalton. Both brothers were killed during a shootout in an ill-fated raid on two banks in Coffeyville, Kansas. Their brother Emmett Dalton survived to be convicted and imprisoned for fourteen years.

 

Short career as lawman

 

Their older brother Frank Dalton served as a Deputy US Marshal….

John Franklin Dalton (June 8, 1859 – November 27, 1887) was a Deputy US Marshal of the Old West under Judge Isaac Parker (the hangin' judge), [AKA JOHN YOUNGER, His cousin] for Oklahoma Territory, as well as the older brother to the members of the Dalton Gang, in addition to being the brother to William M. Dalton, once a member of California legislature, and later an outlaw and leader of the Doolin Dalton gang alongside Bill Doolin.

 

Frank Dalton is not to be confused with J. Frank Dalton (1848-1951), who made many claims to be famous people, including his claim of being Frank Dalton, and later Jesse James. [Frank Dalton IS the very Frank Dalton, cousin to Jesse James, in which Jesse James borrowed his Alias J Frank Dalton after his cousin was killed, it is absolutely to be confused with…]

 

[Frank,] by all accounts the strongest of the brothers, he always kept his brothers in line. Grat and his younger brothers idolized Frank. On Nov 27, 1887 Frank and another deputy marshal, Jim Cole, went across the river from their base at Fort Smith to arrest three whiskey bootleggers. As they approached the camp, the bootleggers began to shoot at them. After Dalton shot and killed two, his gun jammed, and he was killed by the remaining bootlegger. His deputy abandoned him after being shot. Frank Dalton is buried in Coffeyville, Kansas.

 

I would recommend a read of the WIKI article just so you can see how history has a way of revealing its true self…. 

Now lets look at another outlaw of the past whom we all thought we knew who he was… and history and the many writers still thinks they know…

 

The Sundance Kid… 

From WIKI WONKA…

[History believes Sundance was…] 

Harry Alonzo Longabaugh (1867 – November 7, 1908), better known as the Sundance Kid, was an outlaw and member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch in the American Old West. He likely met Butch Cassidy (real name Robert Leroy Parker) during a hunting trip in 1883 or earlier. The "Wild Bunch" gang performed the longest string of successful train and bank robberies in American history.

 

Longabaugh fled the United States along with his consort Etta Place and Butch Cassidy to escape the dogged pursuit of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The trio fled first to Argentina and then to Bolivia, where most historians believe Parker (Cassidy) and Longabaugh were killed in a shootout in November 1908.

 

I don’t know where the writers come up with these names, but Harry Alonzo Longabaugh was just another of the many alias’s.

Although there are many snippets in the Black Book about Sundance, I am just gong to show a few here as Butch Casidy and the Sundance Kid played very big parts in Jesse’s many adventures…

 

[Jesse Speaking]

“They weren't killed in South America. Sundance was really Grat Dalton of the notorious Dalton Gang and Jesse James' cousin. I last saw Butch, the old Utah boy, up in Washington when he married Dotty, who was the daughter of T. E. Lawrence. Dalton and Cassidy and other members of the Wild Bunch always married within their clique - it was safer that way."

 

Historians will be quick to point out that Harry Longbaugh was the Sundance Kid. He certainly was. Another alias was Ben Kilpatrick. Toss in Grover Shropshire, Enrique Brown and half a dozen more assumed names. How did Grat Dalton get the name, the Sundance Kid? He holed up one winter in Sundance, Wyoming, and the name stuck. One alias was as good as another.

"But they all add up to Grat Dalton. This will come as a shock to many Western buffs used to seeing that worn old photo taken in 1892 at Coffeyville showing Bill Powers, Bob Dalton, Grat Dalton and Dick Broadwell stacked like cordwood awaiting the undertaker. The men identified as Bob and Grat Dalton were corpses of the Christian brothers," Jesse III points out.

"Bob and Grat Dalton, Bill Doolin and Eugene Robertson were just about to enter Coffeyville from another direction when Doolin's horse threw a shoe. They stopped to nail it back on and this took about ten minutes. By that time the shooting had started. The tardy bandits were just in time to help a couple of men escape and then run for it themselves. I'd heard the story two dozen times from Grat Dalton," Jesse III said.

 
In 1958 the grandson of Jesse W. James was in Montana and not unsurprisingly found parts of what his grandfather had called The Organization still operating. He'd heard Grat was going under the alias of Grover Shropshire and living near Cut Bank…..

 

Grat died under the name of Grover Shropshire outside Cut Bank, Montana, in 1965. He was about 100 years old.

 

A few years ago I was introduced by my friend David, to such a sweet little old lady named Jean Draney Johnson (1939-2019) in Layton Utah who was living in an elderly care center… We visited at least 3 times, Terry Carter, David Bullock and Myself traveled up one day to see her and interview her… In one of our meetings prior, she told me things that just floored me… some of which I agreed not to tell. But one thing she told me was when she was little, Jesse James use to stop by her dads place and she would sit on his lap and he would tell her stories about Jesse James.. Her dad asked her once, Do you know why Mr. Howard knew so much about Jesse James? ... Because he was Jesse James… If you look at the video on youtube of J Frank Dalton you will notice when he reaches for the bucket, you can see what’s left of his left index finger which is black on the end… Before Jean ever saw this video, she told me that she remembered the end of his index finger had been chewed off, and he had a black finger nail, she said I remember because he would poke me in the belly with it… But back to Sundance…

Jean Draney Johnson

1939-2019

 

Jean also told me that when she was young she rode in a stage coach with Sundance who lived in that area being Grover Wyoming. While traveling he shared with her a candy twist, like a candy cane… she said he was very kind to her…

 

Images used left to right, only known image of Grat Dalton, A well known image of Sundance, Bowler Hat, new image of formerly unknown taken in 1895 posing with Jesse W. and Dr. Sylvester Franklin James, 3 years after Grat was supposedly killed and on the right another well know image of Sundance.

You decide, was the Sundance Kid Grat Dalton whom history killed off in 1892?  Above is the overlay images used in the overlays below……

 

Grat to unknown image taken in 1895

 

Grat to Bowler hat Sundance

 

1895 image to Bowler hat Sundance

 

 

Other well know Sundance Image to 1895 Image

 

I don’t know about you but I am 100% convinced that the Sundance Kid was no doubt Grat Dalton.

Sitting on the left Kentucky Born Jesse W James, sitting on the right Sylvester Franklin James

Standing on the left Grat Dalton Alias The Sundance Kid, standing on the right, SUSPECT Jesse Jr. or Harvey Logan

9/25/24 UPDATE:

The person standing at the top right is without a doubt Kid Curry, AKA Harvey Logan 

Approximately 27 years old in the above sepia photo

               Harvey Logan    -    sepia face inserted  with Moustache     -     sepia face

SEE FULL IMAGE REVEALED

Of Jesse, Frank, Sundance and Kid Curry

 

ONE of the 3 interviews with Jean Johnson

(The Black Book)

Jesse James was one of his Names

Is NOW Available on Amazon

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