Central States, Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association: Bob Younger Photo, From the Cantey Myer Collection Investigation V

CANTEY-MYER COLLECTION

Hunting like Genealogist

The following article is the first in a series of articles in which I will examine photos from the Cantey (Myers) collection. The first historic photo examined will be a photo of former confederate guerilla, and well known member of the Jesse James / James Younger Gang. Robert Younger had eventually been arrested after the gang Attempted a bold daytime robbery of the Northfield Minnesota bank. The situation in Northfield immediately deteriorated when gang suddenly found itself surrounded by angry townspeople and is nearly wiped out on September 7, 1876. Locating connected photos was fairly easy, because another copy of other known connected photos were auctioned off by Heritage Auctions. This particular auction company is a well established auction house that has offices all over the world. (see additional information below). The photo that was auctioned off by Heritage Auctions carried significant provenance information and tells us the following;

"The present cabinet photo (see photo #2) was given to Susan H. Miles, whose husband Thomas Benton Miles had known the Younger family since childhood. Thomas's father William, a sometime marshal of Independence, was alleged to have at one point run with the James gang. It is consigned by a Miles family descendant, and according to family lore was given to Susan Miles by Henrietta Younger on Christmas 1889. It has been reported that only a dozen copies of this cabinet photo were printed, most of which were carried home to Missouri to give to associates of "the boys." Today one copy is found in the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society, another in their Missouri counterpart."

The "Cantey collection"photo of Bob Younger is obviously one of these copies. And was purchased by Emory Cantey at auction and part of the over all collection.

Photo #1

Photo from the "Cantey

Collection" taken at Stillwater

Minnesota (see full descriptions below)

Photo #2

High resolution photo courtesy of

Heritage Auctions

Full Description and Provenance

"Younger Gang: A Rare Original Photo of Cole, Jim, and Bob Younger with their Sister Henrietta, Taken at Stillwater Prison in 1889. In early September 1889, the boys' sister travelled from Missouri to plead for her brothers' release. Her efforts were fruitless, but the prison warden did allow her to bring in suits of clothing and a local photographer. Bob would die just two weeks later of complications from wounds received during the infamous Northfield, Minnesota bank robbery.

It has been reported that only a dozen copies of this cabinet photo were printed, most of which were carried home to Missouri to give to associates of "the boys." Today one copy is found in the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society, another in their Missouri counterpart.

The present cabinet photo was given to Susan H. Miles, whose husband Thomas Benton Miles had known the Younger family since childhood. Thomas's father William, a sometime marshal of Independence, was alleged to have at one point run with the James gang. It is consigned by a Miles family descendant, and according to family lore was given to Susan Miles by Henrietta Younger on Christmas 1889.

Accompanying the photo is a letter of provenance from the consignor, as well as an extensive family genealogy and other related information. The photo is 4.25" x 6.5". For strictest accuracy we note some very minor paper loss at the upper right-hand corner and slightly excessive rounding of the lower left-hand corner, but it is in very nice display condition with a strong photographic image.

Auction link

Younger Gang: A Rare Original Photo of Cole, Jim, and Bob Younger | Lot #38589 | Heritage Auctions (ha.com)

Also see;

Heritage Auctions: Harry Hoffman Provenance