Jesse James (1847-1882)

JAMES, SAMUELS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/7/2010 at 10:07:34

Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Iowa, April 13, 1882

The funeral of Jesse James, the dead train robber, took place at Kearney, Missouri, the home of Mrs. Samuels, mother of the James boys, and was attended by a vast number of people, many of whom had known the outlaw from his boyhood days. The services took place in a little Baptist church, where Jesse was converted, in 1866, through the influence of Miss Mimms, his own cousin, who afterward became his wife.

The funeral party left the hotel at 2:10 p.m.. First came the wagon with the corpse and next the family, next mounted officers, and last a wagon with the reporters. An immense crowd, on horseback, on foot and in wagons followed. The pallbearers were Sheriff Timberlake, Deputy Reed, Charley Scott, J. B. Henderson, J. D. Ford, Ben Flanders and James Vaughn. On the hill around the church was a big crowd.

After the body was carried into the church, the services began with the hymn “What a friend I have in Jesus.” The Rev. Jones followed in prayer, after which the hymn, “Where shall rest be found?” was sung. The Rev. J. M. Martin had concluded his remarks, which were full of comfort for the mourners, and in which he dwelt on the forbearance and willingness to forgive of Christ, the procession started for the farm in the same order in which it went from the hotel to the church. It was followed by an immense crowd.

The services at the church were very dramatic, as Mrs. Samuels raved and made herself so obnoxious that many persons left. She denounced the slayers of her son as cowards and murderers and invoked the vengeance of Heaven upon their heads. The body was taken to the Samuels home, about four miles from the town, and buried in the dooryard of the house, where as a boy he had played boyish pranks, and as a man driven off detectives and officials scores of times.