Jesse and Frank James; Another Likely Widow Benton. By Karen Daye

 

Two repro tintypes of Frank and Jesse James 

from the collection of Gene Stevens

ANOTHER LIKELY WIDOW BENTON

There is a popular story about a poor widow that was about to lose her home until Frank and Jesse James helped her. She had made breakfast for the gang and while eating they noticed tears on her cheeks and asked her what was wrong. She told them the banker was on his way to collect the money owed on her mortgage or he would foreclose on her home. She did not have the money to give to the banker. Frank and Jesse gave her enough money to pay her mortgage and avoid foreclosure. They then told her to be sure and demand a receipt for her payment. One article about this story is from a True West Magazine article that Ralph Ganis wrote August 1, 2002. It was written about a possible widow Benton in Sumner County. The article was named “A Knight with the Widow Benton.” After breakfast, the James party left her home and then waited nearby for the banker to return to town with the money. When he came by they robbed him of the money they had given the widow to save her home.

There was another more likely Widow Benton that lived in Robertson County, TN during the time of this incident. Nancy Benton was the wife of James Benton of Robertson County, TN. He had served in the Confederacy.  He died a few years after the war in 1876, and he left his wife a widow with small children. The Benton home was north of White’s Creek on the direct route to Adairville, Kentucky.

The Benton family farm was between Whites Creek and Greenbrier, TN, in southern Robertson County. Greenbrier was home to the well-known Hinkle Hotel that was owned and operated by John Hite, one of Jesse’s cousins. There are other coincidences with this Benton family. They attended the same church near White’s Creek that was founded by the same Reverend that performed the marriage of Malvina & Frank James (alias Charles Morgan). This Reverend’s son (also a minister) was also married to Ms. Drake, a family name that was mentioned several times in relation to Frank James. Ms. Drake was the wife of Jesse’s ferrier, my GG-uncle. 

-Karen Daye