Frank James Dead
Pineville Democrat, Feb. 26, 1915
Frank James who for twenty
years of his life from 1862 to 1882, led the life of a bandit, train
and bank robber, died at the old James homestead near Kearney, Clay
county, last Friday of apoplexy, at the age of 73 years.
It is said that only one more of the noted James and
Younger brothers band of robbers remain alive now. He is Cole
Younger who now lives on a farm near Lees Summitt, Jackson county.
Frank and Jesse James and their mother, Mrs. Dr.
Samuels, always contended that they were forced into the kind of life
they lived by persecutions inflicted upon the family by Federal
soldiers during the Civil War, because they were Southern
sympathizers. The James boys joined Quantrells band of guerrillas
in 1862. This band of desperate men kept the western part of
Missouri and eastern Kansas in turmoil during the war, and after the
war they kept up many of their depredations, robbing banks and trains
for twenty years, when Jesse James was shot by Robert Ford of the gang,
for the $50,000 reward offered for his victim dead or alive. Soon
afterward Frank James surrendered to Governor Crittenden and the bank
became disorganized.
After Frank James surrendered he faithfully kept the
promises he made to the governor and did what he could to live down his
past life.
At his own request the body was taken to St. Louis
and cremated, then taken to Kansas City and put in a safety deposit box
in a bank there.