James Younger

James Younger was born in Harrisonville, Jackson County, Missouri on 15th January, 1848. The Younger family supported the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. In 1862 William Quantrill established a band of guerilla fighters. James Younger joined and other members of the gang included Jessie James, Frank James and Cole Younger.

As well as attacking Union troops the Quantrill Raiders also robbed mail coaches, murdered supporters of Abraham Lincoln and persecuted communities in Missouri and Kansas that Quantrill considered to be anti-Confederate. The gang also gained a reputation for murdering members of the Union Army that the gang had taken prisoner.

On 21st August, 1863, the Quantrill Raiders committed one of the worst atrocities of the Civil War when it attacked the town of Lawrence. During the raid Quantrill's gang killed 150 inhabitants and set fire to over 180 buildings.

After the war James Younger and his brothers Bob Younger and Cole Younger became outlaws. They joined a gang that included Jessie James, Frank James, Bill Chadwell, Clell Miller and Charlie Pitts.

On 13th February, 1866, the gang robbed a bank at Liberty, Missouri. Over the next few years the brothers took part in twelve bank robberies, seven train robberies, four stagecoach robberies and various other criminal acts. During these crimes at least eleven citizens were killed by the gang. As well as their home state of Missouri they were also active in West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and Minnesota.

On 7th September, 1876, the gang attempted to rob the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota. During the raid one of the gang shot and killed the cashier, Lee Heywood. Members of the town decided to fight back and they opened fire on the gang. Bill Chadwell, Clell Miller and Charlie Pitts were killed whereas James Younger, Bob Younger and Cole Younger were all wounded and captured.

Younger had most of his upper jaw shot away and for a while it was thought he would die from his wounds. He was found guilty of murder and robbery and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

James Younger was released from prison on 10th July, 1901. His health was poor and after experiencing a broken love affair killed himself on 19th October, 1902.