introduction. the james gang, also known as the james & younger Gang, were big time outlaws who robbed banks and trains. one of their greatest robberies was the first national bank in northfield, minnesota. they robbed banks and trains thru the 1860's and the 1870's. they robbed banks and trails all over the country.they became robbers As a result of civil war where they became very violent. also somebody threw tnt into the james family farm house and the james boys shot the man and from there they became... THe james gang! jesse james was born in 1847 and died in 1882. frank james was born in 1843 and died in 1915 at the age of 72 years old.(that was old back in the day)
How and why did this event occur.
The James boys got involved in violence when they were in the Civil War. There was also this man that TNTed the James boys farm house. They wanted to get back a the guy that TNTed their house and at the world.
The start of the robbery
The one thing that every one should know is that the James & Younger Gang never robbed the First National Bank in Northfield Minnesota. They only got away with $26.70 in cash.
The gang came in three groups, outlaws Charlie Pitts, Frank James and Bob Younger entered the town first. Jesse James, and Bill Chadwell were out by Cannon River's bridge guarding their escape route. It all began when hardware store owner, J.S. Allen, tried to get into the bank but was blocked by the James Gang outlaws. After that J.S. ran down the street yelling a line that would become very famous to the robbery. "GRAB YOUR GUNS BOYS THIER ROBBING THE BANK". Town people tried to get their hands on anything they could get from guns to rocks, which they threw at the outlaws. While that was going on, inside was a whole different story. Joseph Lee Heywood was the cashier in the bank at the time of the robbery. The outlaws asked Heywood for the money in the safe. At that time there was $15,000 in the bank. If the James Gang got away with the robbery the people of Northfield wouldn't get their hard savings back since the bank had no insurance. Heywood said that they couldn't have the money. The robbbers could not believe it! Heywood told them that the safe had a time lock on it and could not be opened until 3:00 p.m.. What the James Gang did not know , is that the safe did have a timed lock but it wasn't installed yet. So Heywood was lying to protect the people's money and got away with it.
The gang came in three groups, outlaws Charlie Pitts, Frank James and Bob Younger entered the town first. Jesse James, and Bill Chadwell were out by Cannon River's bridge guarding their escape route. It all began when hardware store owner, J.S. Allen, tried to get into the bank but was blocked by the James Gang outlaws. After that J.S. ran down the street yelling a line that would become very famous to the robbery. "GRAB YOUR GUNS BOYS THIER ROBBING THE BANK". Town people tried to get their hands on anything they could get from guns to rocks, which they threw at the outlaws. While that was going on, inside was a whole different story. Joseph Lee Heywood was the cashier in the bank at the time of the robbery. The outlaws asked Heywood for the money in the safe. At that time there was $15,000 in the bank. If the James Gang got away with the robbery the people of Northfield wouldn't get their hard savings back since the bank had no insurance. Heywood said that they couldn't have the money. The robbbers could not believe it! Heywood told them that the safe had a time lock on it and could not be opened until 3:00 p.m.. What the James Gang did not know , is that the safe did have a timed lock but it wasn't installed yet. So Heywood was lying to protect the people's money and got away with it.
Above is a picture of the old time First National Bank Northfield, Minnesota.
The end of the bank robbery
Heywood was shot and killed by a bullet! Two guys were killed in the fight.
How this event is remenbered
In 1948, Northfield people Cass Johnson, Sam Haugen performed the first bank raid reenactment. They did it to honor the people who fought for Northfield. Down in Northfield on the weekend after Labor Day, they honor the township people that made it a defeat and it is called Defeat of Jesse James Days. On the Defeat of Jesse James Days they act out the robbery again. In Northfield, at the Jesse James Museum, they have many items to see including guns and pictures about the James Gang and the robbery.
Did you know?- Major parts-Education-Experiences
1.Did you know that after robbing the Northfield bank, all the towns people got so mad, they killed two robbers and hunted Jesse, Frank James for 500 miles.
2.During the shootout Bob Younger got into a one-on-one gun fight with A.R.Manning. When suddenly a bullet fired by Henry Wheeler hit him in his right arm where he held his gun. Bob switched his gun from his right hand to his left and kept fighting.
3.When Joseph Lee Heywood's wife, Lizzie, heard how her husband met his dealth she replied, ''I would not have had him do otherwise''. This meant that although she was sad that he died, she was proud of how brave he was.
4. After the raid, the bodies of Clell Miller and Bill Chadwell were buried in the Northfield Cemetery. Shortly after, they were secretly stolen and shipped to the University of Michigan where Henry Wheeler was attending collage to be a doctor. He wanted to use the bodies to assist him in learning how to become a doctor.
5. After the James & Younger Gang escaped from Northfield, a posse of over 1000 went on the hunt to capture them. It was the largest posse in the United States history. They captured them.
6.Clell Miller got shot in the face the bullets that were similar to BB's used by a township person. Bill Chadwell got shot in the heart by A.R. Manning. Bill died.
7. Jesse James was shot and killed in his house. They shot him to keep Frank James alive.
8. Frank James died when he was 72 years old(that was old back in the day).
9. After the Northfield bank raid, the James Gang never attempted to rob a bank again.
10. Jesse James had very little education but was skilled with horses and normal leader.
11. Jesse James dropped out of high school at the age of 16 because the confederates needed him to join the Civil War.
12.His mom and dad were highly educated and his son grew up to be a lawyer and had lots of money.
13. The street where the raid happened was ''Divison Street''.
14. Mrs.James ran out of money and sold Jesses things to people for big money.
15. Jesse and Frank James escaped Minnesota.
16.The people of Northfield shot at the Gang from the roofs as they road away.
The battle only lasted 7 minutes but in the end two guys lay dead.
2.During the shootout Bob Younger got into a one-on-one gun fight with A.R.Manning. When suddenly a bullet fired by Henry Wheeler hit him in his right arm where he held his gun. Bob switched his gun from his right hand to his left and kept fighting.
3.When Joseph Lee Heywood's wife, Lizzie, heard how her husband met his dealth she replied, ''I would not have had him do otherwise''. This meant that although she was sad that he died, she was proud of how brave he was.
4. After the raid, the bodies of Clell Miller and Bill Chadwell were buried in the Northfield Cemetery. Shortly after, they were secretly stolen and shipped to the University of Michigan where Henry Wheeler was attending collage to be a doctor. He wanted to use the bodies to assist him in learning how to become a doctor.
5. After the James & Younger Gang escaped from Northfield, a posse of over 1000 went on the hunt to capture them. It was the largest posse in the United States history. They captured them.
6.Clell Miller got shot in the face the bullets that were similar to BB's used by a township person. Bill Chadwell got shot in the heart by A.R. Manning. Bill died.
7. Jesse James was shot and killed in his house. They shot him to keep Frank James alive.
8. Frank James died when he was 72 years old(that was old back in the day).
9. After the Northfield bank raid, the James Gang never attempted to rob a bank again.
10. Jesse James had very little education but was skilled with horses and normal leader.
11. Jesse James dropped out of high school at the age of 16 because the confederates needed him to join the Civil War.
12.His mom and dad were highly educated and his son grew up to be a lawyer and had lots of money.
13. The street where the raid happened was ''Divison Street''.
14. Mrs.James ran out of money and sold Jesses things to people for big money.
15. Jesse and Frank James escaped Minnesota.
16.The people of Northfield shot at the Gang from the roofs as they road away.
The battle only lasted 7 minutes but in the end two guys lay dead.