Photo Investigation: Not Frank and Jesse James: By G.C. Stevens

 

   Not Frank & Jesse; An RPPC (Real Place Post Card) published by AZUSA Post Card Co. Original Photo in the collection of the Denver Public  Library.

 Card from the authors collection.

Correct Photos of Frank and Jesse James from the authors collection

    While writing my first book on Jesse James, "A Fiendish Crime" I went in search some verifiable photos and artwork for my book. I searched Ebay and found a grouping of several post cards published by AZUSA postcard company. The grouping of cards memorialized the James gang infamous great Northfield Minnesota bank robbery which occurred on September 7, 1876. The grouping was comprised of eight post cards (see photos below) that covered members of the gang and the posse who captured some of the outlaws, with the exception of Frank and Jesse James. The James brothers escaped and blazed a trail through Minnesota and Iowa during their flight back into Missouri. During my research, I ran into a photo, (which is posted at the top this article.) It was on the website of the Denver Public Library and was said to be in their collection. I immediately inquired about the photo of Frank & Jesse James on their website and its provenance. A photo of two men sitting together with pistols drawn, which appeared to be a tintype. 

I received a prompt email response from Kellen Cutsforth, who is currently the executive director of the Western Writers Association, he told me:

 "So we do not have any provenance for this particular photo. It was acquired long before any of our current staff came on board. When it was acquired, the staff did not sign any agreements nor retain any receipts detailing whether it was purchased or a donation."  

Photo was noted as a false photo in the book "The Many Faces of Jesse James" By Phillip W. Steele and Artist George Warfel Published in 1995 by Pelican Publishing Co . 

*Note

This photo is but one of many photos that have surfaced over the years that have purported to be Jesse James. But what was unique about this photo was that it was part of a published set, alongside other photos which were confirmed to be members of the James - Younger gang who were involved in the Great Northfield Minnesota Raid in 1876. There were however, also some inconsistencies with the descriptions of other parties involved.  

Top card labeled (more likely mislabeled) Oscar Suborn, probably Asle (Axle) Sorbel.

Bottom Photo: Posse who captured the Youngers (unverified).

"Two weeks after the James–Younger Gang raided Northfield, the gang appeared at the farm of Ole Sorbel on Lake Linden near Hanska. Ole spoke to the men briefly and his wife, Guri, provided the men with bread and butter for breakfast. The gang told the family that they were hunting in the area, but 17-year-old Asle Sorbel didn’t believe them. He had a hunch they were the Northfield robbers that authorities had been chasing around the area for weeks."

-Forgotten Minnesota

Well known photos of the Younger gang, Bill Chadwell and Clell Miller (Top Left)

Cole Younger (Top right), Bob Younger (Right Center), Jim Younger (Bottom Left) 

Charlie Pitz (Bottom left).All photos from the authors collection.

Photographic Evidence

Every photograph and caption must be assessed and evaluated just as you would textual documents in your genealogical research. These tips will help to classify and date the images you locate to determine if the pictured subject is appropriate to the date, place, and context observed in the photograph. As researchers, we must always do our own evaluation, seek out original records, weigh the evidence, and come to our own conclusions.

-Library of Congress

Note: Article updated 08/17/2026

  

Milt Perry & Jesse James, The Guerilla Photo: By G.C. Stevens

 

Article Contributed by Patrick Meguiar of Portland Tennessee.

 The article appeared in the Kansas City

Star April 6, 1888. Photo provided by Michelle  Pollard 

"The Guerilla photo was taken at Platte City Missouri on July 10th, 1864."

-Milt Perry

The pursuit of history is an ongoing, unending endeavor and the 21st century has become fertile ground for both the revisionists and the truth seekers. Social media is filled with the ruminations, investigations and epiphanies of emerging evidence. No where is this truer than in the story of the famed outlaw Jesse James. The young man in the picture above could have been easily forgotten to history. But his reputation and the civil war in Missouri could not be easily dismissed. The very nature of the war in the Trans-Mississippi, exemplified the nature of the war being epitome of a brutal personal war fought amongst families and neighbors. The end result of this was a long and bitter process of reconciliation in Missouri. It also spawned Jesse James and his brother Frank as outlaws who continued to fight the war between the states for many years afterwards, in retaliation for what they saw as a grave injustice that had been committed against their community and family. However, after Jesse was killed in St. Joseph Missouri and his brother Frank settled back into his life and his own family, Jesses story would become a legend not only in Missouri but around the world. Adding to the conversation was (and is) the many photographs that have appeared and have been said to be Jesse James. The most famous and widely accepted photo of Jesse James is the guerilla, or "Partisan ranger" photo.  This photo is a very important aspect of the Jesse James story, but little is actually known about it, and the story is not complete without understanding meaning and use of these photos. There are, however, pioneers and historic detectives who took up the mission of revealing the truth behind each story that concerned Jesse James. One of those pioneers was Historian Milt Perry.

Enter Milt Perry  

The article posted here (above) was written by Milton "Milt" F. Perry (1926–1991). Milt was a noted historian and the curator for Clay County, Missouri, historic sites, including the Jesse James Farm and Museum. He was instrumental in developing the site after the county purchased it in 1978 and designed the museum. Perry served as the Superintendent of Historical Sites for Clay County, where he managed and developed local historic landmarks. His work was crucial in managing the James farmstead after the county acquired it in March 1978, helping to develop it into a legitimate tourist attraction. According to online resources, before working for Clay County, Perry was a curator at the West Point Museum and served as the first curator of the Truman Library until 1976. He was described as a key figure in managing the public perception and historical accuracy of the Jesse James story for the county. 

The article

According to Bryan Ivlow who is the Current President of "Friends Of The James Farm," thought that the article was probably featured in the Plattsburg Missouri Newspaper which has since been taken over by the "Clinton County Leader." More information is pending this part of the story. In the article Milt points out some interesting facts about the photo and does a true investigative assessment and brings forth some additional points about the photo which add considerable common-sense information. 

"The picture has given rise to the legend that Jesse James was left- handed. Actually, it was and "ambrotype," a photo on glass, that is a reversed mirror image.  Ambrotype glass plates were exposed in the camera, developed and displayed in little cases with black velvet. As they are the original plate, all images are backwards. The boy dressed carefully for the picture. His hair was neatly combed, hate creases smoothed and the brim pinned up, the left sleeve of his shirt was tucked up near the shoulder by the photographer. James wore a clean shirt and a tie, both probably taken from Lawson Holmes dry goods store, as guerillas who lived in the "brush" had little use for such clothing. The identity of the photographer is unknown, as none appears in any of the Platte City records available at the time. The original photograph was seen at the James Farm in 1881 by a writer and an engraving was made of it for John N. Edwards book Noted Guerillas, published in 1877. In 1882, after James death, his widow had the picture copied, and small "carte-de-visite" prints were made at Ragans Photographic Rooms in Kansas City were widely sold. 

-Milt Perry

Perry Goes onto explain that guerilla photo had been reprinted hundreds of times in hundreds of books, and he mentioned that the London Daily Telegraph had featured an 8x10 inch copy of the guerilla photo in the travel section of their Sunday edition.  According to historian Michelle Pollard, the the London Daily Telegraph article was run on 13 February 1988.

Milt then tells us the rest of the story:

"James had been a guerilla less than a month, and probably had his photograph taken of himself in his new uniform, for his mother, as have hundreds of soldiers all over the world. The original glass ambrotype disappeared years ago"

Jesse James from John Newmans book "Noted Guerillas"

The Itinerate Photographer 

So the reality is that only one unknow witness saw the guerilla photo, and engraving was completed. The rest is a bit mystery. However, with that said, another idea to contemplate, is who and how the image was created. In an article written by the author (also found on the blog) which involved the investigation into the "Cantey Myers" collection gives some basic and common-sense clues, add to this an article.  And that information addresses the Itinerate (traveling) photographers of the day,

"From the latter half of the 19th century until nearly the middle of the 20th, one of the easiest ways for the average American to obtain a portrait photograph was by approaching a booth such as the one above or giving their pennies to an itinerant or street photographer. The process, from posing for the camera to a finish  ed portrait in hand, such as the one at right, required only a matter of minutes. And it was indeed, cheap, costing only a few cents for a likeness of oneself – or perhaps a child or sweetheart."

-Anything to Get the Shot: Itinerant Photographers

April 7, 2016     Library of Congress

Posted by: Kristi Finefield

Investigation Cantey Myers Collection, Article by G.C. Stevens

Central States, Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association: Photo Investigation IV, The Cantey (Myers) Collection By Gene Stevens

The photo was very likely taken by an Itinerate traveling photographer. These traveling photographers have been well documented;

"The soldiers’ portraits served a similar function of replicating place for the families at home. Soldiers arrived in their uniforms, and props were displayed to signify the soldiers’ role in the army. Some posed with instruments, canteens, or, as in this photo, their weapons. Painted backdrops, like the one of an army camp behind the unidentified soldier, were sometimes included to make the image appear more “realistic.” Otherwise, there was rarely any indication on the image of who the soldier was, where he fought, or even who the photographer was. The personal nature of these portraits did not require such identification, as they were soon sent home to the soldier’s family. The stylized composition of soldiers’ portraits recreated the camp life of a soldier in a romanticized way. The soldiers appeared strong and dignified, and provided a sense of comfort for families at home. Any emotions expressed through soldiers’ letters were masked in these portraits, and provided families with a felt connection to the men in the fields"

Ref Itinerant Photographers « 19thcenturylives

Article:  A Portrait of Death: Photography and Death Ritual During the Civil War

 by Jessica Dauterive

 This matter remains under investigation...

G.C. Stevens

250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Patrick Meguiar Talks About Jesse James Photo and Deception: By G.C. Stevens

 

Patrick Meguiar: Tells us of an incident where a detective encounters Jesse James, this incident is talked about in Ted Yeatman's book on Jesse James.

The Story of Yankee Bligh: Delos Thurman Bligh, better known as "Yankee Bligh" was born in Franklin, New York on March 19th, 1823. Bligh worked as a laborer, and bricklayer, but eventually became a night watchman. During the Mexican war he served with the Louisville Legion and was wounded in service with Zachary Taylor's army in northern Mexico. He returned to Louisville and by 1858 was a member of the cities "day watch" a forerunner of the Louisville Police force. When a formal police force was established in 1861, Bligh became one of its first members. 

Detective Bligh

Bligh specialized in investigating con artists and forgers and bagged a number of these criminals during his early years on the police force. Bligh had his first encounter with Missouri outlaws in 1868 in the Russellville bank robbery and was responsible for the capture of outlaw George Shepherd. In 1870 Bligh was made Chief of Detectives in Louisville and established a reputation after arresting J.M. McDonald for three-million-dollar forgery. On August 31st of the same year. Jesse James wife Zee had given birth to Jesse Edward James. Jesse, Zee and the baby moved in November, and they relocated to Baltimore, Maryland. It was probably during this move that Bligh came into contact with a bearded man at the Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad depot at fourteenth and Main in Louisville. In one account the stranger recognized Bligh, and the stranger claimed to be a tombstone salesman and asked Bligh if he was still pursuing the James brothers? Bligh replied that "yes he was indeed." a few days later, Bligh received a post card from Indianapolis or Baltimore (different versions cite different cities) signed by Jesse James and expressing regret at not having revealed his identity at the depot.                            -Ted Yeatman Frank and Jesse James

Patrick Meguiar on the Bligh / James incident:

To prove my point that there is evidence in plain view that Jesse Woodson James used pictures of other men to conceal his true identity is found in Ted P. Yeatman's book. Ted P. Yeatman in his book on page 161, Frank James And Jesse James The Story Behind The Legend cites a story that took place in a Louisville Depot. Yeatman states that Delos T. "Yankee" Bligh, a Louisville Police Detective was approached by a man claiming to be a tombstone salesman who by one account recognized Detective Bligh asked Bligh if he was "still after the James brothers". Bligh said indeed he was in their pursuit. Days later, Bligh received a postcard stating that Bligh had said he would be ready to die whenever he saw Jesse James and Jesse wrote in that postcard you can go ahead and die because you saw Jesse James, the man who claimed to be a tombstone salesman at the Depot in Louisville. 

Why didn't Bligh recognize Jesse Woodson James when he was approached by him? Is it possible that Bligh had seen pictures that he was told that were of Jesse James that made him believe Jesse James looked different than the man he spoke with at the Depot? Bligh was a Louisville, Kentucky Police Detective who was hired by the Pinkerton National Detective Agency to capture or kill Jesse Woodson James should have known exactly how Jesse Woodson James looked if he had seen a real picture of Jesse Woodson James, but he obviously failed to recognize him at a Louisville, Kentucky Depot! 

The greater question is why was Jesse James so confident that Bligh would not recognize him? Jesse James clearly wanted to approach Bligh to taunt him for sure, but he clearly didn't disguise himself that would have called attention to himself in the presence of a Police Detective like Delos T. Bligh. There is obviously a reason why Jesse Woodson James would not be recognized and it goes much further than his using alias names to conceal his true identity! He obviously used pictures of other men to conceal his identity as well!

If that isn't proof enough that Jesse Woodson James used pictures of other men to conceal his true identity just as he did by using alias names to satisfy the majority of people, GOD forbid that anyone not convinced ever be on a jury!

Patrick Meguiar is a well known antiquarian and collector from Portland Tennessee. Patrick is the keeper of his  families photographic collection which consists of hundreds of photos that date from 1855 - 1920's. The photo consists of multiple formats including Daguerreotype's, ambrotype's and modern film formats 

I have several boxes, I have my 4th great grandfather's daguerrotype. Ambrotypes of my 3rd great grandfather Meguiar and his 2nd wife. The ambrotype of Jesse Woodson James. Tintypes of my great-grandparents and several uncles and aunts. I have CDV's and cabinet cards. I have given some of them away, but I have hundreds of them still. -Patrick Meguiar

Wild West Outlaw Jesse James, and interview with Patrick Meguiar

 The following is an interview with historian and collector Patrick Meguiar.  Mr. Meguiar is not only a historian and genealogist, he is also an avid collector of fine antiques. Patrick is a relative of the famed outlaw Jesse James , and has researched and uncovered much about his lineage and connection to Jesse Woodson James. During his journey, he discovered that his family not only had a genealogical connection to the James family, but that another relative had a photo of a young Jesse James in their possession which was handed down to him.  The following is an account of his research, due diligence and investigation into the photo. 

Interview

Q; Hi Patrick, can you tell me about yourself, your background, he things you collect and how we met etc.? 

A; My name is Patrick Taylor Meguiar and I was born in Franklin, Kentucky, however I grew up in Portland, Tennessee. My family lived on the family farm called Fountain Head Farms that was started by my great-grandfather, Fount Edwin Hobdy, M.D. in the mid 1920's. I farmed with my father, Tom Meguiar until he passed away in 2011. I started dealing in rare antiques when I was nine years old and have continued that hobby to the present. I also work for Macy's in their ICQA department in Portland, Tennessee. I graduated magna cum laude from Tennessee Technological University with a B.S. in History in 1979. I have always loved to research history. I consider myself to be a good researcher.

Q; We've talked a lot about this during the last few months, but You have so much information about your family history, and your connection to Jesse James, I am envious of your knowledge. Your detail and genealogical knowledge is really exemplary, Can you talk about this?

A; From the time when I was a young boy, my grandfather shared stories with me about being related to Jesse Woodson James and how he was around my ancestors with his race horse business. And Yes, we met through your comments about Emory Canty. Timothy Gordon suggested that I talk to Mr. Canty which I have been unsuccessful in doing and I understand his health prevents that as well. My grandfather told me in great detail that Jesse James wore a carvat and blinked his very light blue eyes often. My grandfather shared with me that Jesse James deceived people by using pictures of other men to conceal his identity just as he used alias names to do the same. He told me that most pictures claimed to be Jesse James were not him and that I would come to that knowledge by just looking closely at all images believed to be Jesse James. I asked my grandfather if Jesse James left anything when he was with his grandparents and he told me his father had shown him the ambrotype that Jesse James had given to his grandmother in 1868. I asked him immediately where that picture was. He told me that his sister, Pattie likely had it. I went to see my great aunt, Pattie and asked to see the ambrotype Jesse James left with her grandmother.

The famed Jesse James "Guerilla Photo"

Patrick Meguiar's photo

 Q; That's very interesting,  What did you discover?

A; She took me to the room where she kept his picture and told me what box it was stored in and I looked at the ambrotype for the first time that day. She told me to take the ambrotype home with me and she firmly said she never wanted to see the ambrotype again. That was in 1977 when she gave me the ambrotype of Jesse James and I have had it since that time. I took what my grandfather said and compared it with his partisan ranger photograph and his 1882 post mortem and saw strong similarities with both. 

Q; So you told me about the photo being discovered, and your research, Can you tell what occurred in the investigation?

A; I contacted Mickey Miller who I know very well, because his ex wife was my 2nd cousin. Mickey was at that time a Commander with the Metro Nashville Police Department and explained the ambrotype to him and he said he knew an officer who was FBI trained in forensic facial analysis to identify a person through comparisons. I asked him to share the images of the ambrotype with his partisan ranger picture with the FBI trained forensic facial expert. They matched with greater than 90% positive likeness. They are the same person as related to me by Commander Mickey Miller. Mickey is now retired and his last position was Chief of the Hendersonville, Tennessee Police Department.

Q; I understand, accept and respect the weight of forensic evidence, I am, after all a retired police officer and private investigator. But there others who will not accept the veracity of police investigative science, but demand provenance, even though "provenance has not been clearly defined by certain gatekeepers. What other evidence can you present?

 A; Well... I also knew I needed a direct link to Jesse James, because family folklore is not always factual. We knew my 3rd great-grandfather, Robert Martin had a horse race course where he trained his horses and it was discovered that the Tennessean reported on April 18, 1897 that Jesse James had his horse racing headquarters in Franklin, Kentucky which established that Jesse James was well connected with my ancestors.

Genealogical charts courtesy of Patrick Meguiar

Q: Did you have your DNA profile completed?

A: Yes, I had my DNA tested through Ancestry and it matched that my direct ancestor Sarah Hines Martin was the sister of Mary Hines James from the DNA of their direct descendants. 

Q; During our discussions, we both have talked about various people, or "gatekeepers", who seem to be attempting to block new information or newly discovered photos. You, I, and several other collectors and researchers have run into this online, which is where they seem to mainly hold control, by way of bulling and intimidation. You mentioned one gentleman by the name of Eric James. I never met him, or ran into him online, can you tell me more about what your experiences have been?

A; It's a very interesting fact that in spite of all this evidence, Eric James ran an all out attack against me including claiming that I was not related to the James family. He fabricated a fake expert to falsely claim my ambrotype was not Jesse James. He said the Douglas Register didn't have the marriage of William James to Mary Hines and the marriage of John Martin to Sarah Hines which was a lie. Eric James even encouraged me to sell the ambrotype of Jesse James and then he began his attacks when I attempted to sell the ambrotype of Jesse James. 

Q; So you want to sell the James photo?

Yes, I have been single most all of my life and I have no heirs to pass it down too. I contacted Heritage Auctions after I had tried to sell it for their input and they said  "it was Jesse James" but would not have interest in offering it due to the headwind that would ensue. Even without their mentioning why it was that way, clearly that gate keepers were busy at trying to suppress my ambrotype of Jesse James from ever being marketed or accepted as being Jesse Woodson James! 

- Central States Lawman and Outlaw Historic Assn.

Copyright 2024 (c)

The opinions of in this article are not necessarily the opinions of the author, or The Central States Lawman and Outlaws Historic Assn. 

Jesse James, An expert Horseman; By G.C. Stevens

  

Jack Malone was a thoroughbred horse 

and the sire of Jim Malone, who was bought 

by the famed rebel and outlaw Jesse James.

Did Jesse James purchase a horse called 

Jim Malone in Tennessee?  

The story of Jim Malone was handed down to me by a descendant of Jesse James, Patrick Meguiar who is a lifelong resident of Tennessee, and resides in Portland Tennesse. He also is a local historian and collector of antiquities. I became acquainted with Patrick through social media and we found that we both have a love of history. It is well known fact that Jesse James was and expert horseman, and that he had an infinity for fast horses. According to Meguiar, Jesse James used an alias in Tennessee, the name he mainly used, J. D. Howard. The name of Mr. Howard, appears in multiple narratives. And was also the name used when he resided on the hill overlooking St. Joseph Missouri. And either just before leaving Tennessee to go back to Missouri for the final time, Jesse James used the alias Thomas Howard.

Meguiar believes that he (Jesse James) also went by the name John Davis Howard while in Middle Tennessee.                                                                                                                                                  

 Jim Malone was purchased in 1879. This information appears as a note on the bottom of page 217 in the Yeatman book Jesse James was racing Jim Malone in 1880 and 1881. Basically, my family taught Jesse Woodson James how to train and race Thoroughbred horses. Jesse was interested in how to get a horse to run as very fast. We can look back and know Jesse James had an ulterior motive to have the fastest horse. My 3rd great uncle, Will Martin probably was his teacher to properly train horses. 

This story makes sense because, in the post war years, Jesse James would be known for having well bread horses in possession. 

   

Mrs, Dycus has a picture on the wall at the spot where hung the one that Jesse James was dusting when he was shot. She said that the one Jesse was dusting was a likeness of "skyrocket" his favorite horse. Jesse dearly loved horses.

The Rise and Fall of Jesse James, by Robertus Love

From Jesse James 

The Best Writings on the Notorious Outlaw and His Gang

It had been rumored that an underground tunnel or hiding place existed at the house, 

but nothing of the sort was found. The family seemed to be not at the least concerned during the search.

However a search of the barn turned up a very fine blooded mare that was said to belong to Jesse. The was presumably confiscated. 

Frank and Jesse James. The Story Behind the Legend

by Ted Yeatman

They shared a Confederate bond that lasted their lifetimes. They were related, but the Confederate bond was the true key why Jesse James leased the property of my great-great-grandparents. My great-grandmother was as close kin to Jesse James, but that side of the family were Union sympathizers and Jesse James had nothing to do with that side of the family. My great-grandparents were 2nd cousins and both were Jesse James 3rd cousins. He was close to the Confederate side and distanced with the Union side.

Another Jesse James Photo updates By; Gene Stevens

                                                 

Photo Courtesy of  Patrick Meguiar 

06/30/2026

In the coming weeks. I'll be breaking some new information on the Meguiar photo.  Our investigative work has never ceased and we will continue to pursue the  truth.  We are seeking to provide Additional information in the way of a property deed that was sent to the author, information from the Simpson county Kentucky historic society, deeper geological information including a signed family Bible showing connecting bloodlines and many additional points of discussion about a chapter in the life of Jesse James! 

                                                      Making Connections

- Lineage, Science and Genealogy-

                                                                  By Gene Stevens

All I can says is that the internet is an amazing place. It connects people in a very big way. It has both a good and bad side. Or in other cases it's one big confusing gray area. But in another amazing moment, I ran into a gentleman by the name of Patrick Taylor Meguiar. He was on the Jesse James Facebook page, which by the way is my favorite Facebook pages, because people there are open minded, non-judgmental, and they try to assist and compliment with other people's endeavors. There's a lot to be said about that. Patrick had posted a spilt comparison photo of Jesse James alongside a photo that he is in possession of. Which of course, he claimed was Jesse James.  Unlike other photos I've seen, investigated and discussed. This photo initially caught my eye. And the simple fact that I am always very interested of new discoveries and mysteries in the making. I struck a conversation with Patrick. I was immediately impressed by his demeanor on social media. He was cordial, kind, very direct, courageous and open with his assertions about his photo of Jesse James. He was a breath of fresh air. We also discussed the Cantey-Myers collections and he said;  

I have tried to reach Emery Canty myself. I agree the collection he owns is very impressive! I also have no doubt that the 1882 post mortem is my cousin, Jesse Woodson James! It matches the ambrotype that Jesse Woodson James gave to my great-great-grandmother, Sarah Mariah Martin Meguiar, in 1868 while he was leasing her property that included a horse track for training thoroughbred horses. Jesse James used that property to both learn horse training and to have the fastest horse for very obvious reasons. Frank James was quoted in a 1897 Tennessean article that Jesse James had his horse racing headquarters in Franklin, Kentucky. That is where he leased my great-great-grandmother's property. He was there from around 1866 and shortly after 1868. Later he rented a farm in the Boxcar Community where he raised horses in Humphries County, Tennessee. I know also that Jesse Woodson James' Missouri Partisan Ranger photograph is him. Shouldn't those two images be used to authenticate any genuine image of Jesse Woodson James? Any non blind person can see that all the pictures believed to be Jesse Woodson James are not the same man much less a true image Jesse Woodson James!

Jesse James used alias names to conceal his true identity and yet most believe that his true images circulated during his life and thereafter. Jesse James was no fool and after all he was trained by Captain William Anderson how to conceal and deceive which Jesse Woodson James mastered as an outlaw. He chose to live in Tennessee, because in Missouri he could not pull off his masterful deception where he would have been easily recognized. How Jesse James fooled people when he was alive still fools people today. How else would all those men be believed to be Jesse Woodson James? I have nothing to hide. Feel free to investigate me and my evidence. I only want the whole truth to come out!

-Patrick Taylor Meguiar

                                                     

Patrick Taylor Meguiar. was born in Franklin, Kentucky on August 6, 1957. He is the son of Thomas Maynard Meguiar, Jr. and Eva Nell Groves Meguiar. He was raised on the family farm called Fountain Head Farms which is in Portland, Tennessee. His grandfather, Thomas Maynard Meguiar shared stories with Patrick about Jesse Woodson James. About When he was a child as told to him by his grandfather, Thomas William Meguiar who knew Jesse James very well because he and his wife leased the horse race track to Jesse James. I have owned the ambrotype of Jesse James since 1977 when my great aunt gave it to me. Patrick graduated from Tennessee Technological University in 1979.

Provenance defined

Patrick has clearly defined that Jesse James is the person in his photo. Combining; lineage, science and genealogical investigative techniques to prove provenance of a photo. Another scenario that comes to mind is when a genealogist from Iowa, Esther Colyn located information on Wyatt Earp's second wife Mattie Blaylock. It was Esther, who was an expert in the genealogical research, who discovered that Wyatt Earp had a second wife. This is of course only part of the story, but identical techniques were used in both the provenance of the Jesse James photo and the presentation of Mattie Blaylock. 

I want you to know exactly how I am related to Jesse and Frank James. Their great-grandmother was Mary Hines James who was the daughter of John Hines of Hanover County, Virginia.   Sarah Hines Martin was also a daughter John Hines and a sister of Mary Hines James. Sarah Hines Martin was my 4th great-grandmother. I descend from two of her children: Robert Martin and Elizabeth Martin Turner. Mary Hines James son, John Martin James was Jesse and Frank James grandfather. Family folklore is that Jonn Martin James was named for his uncle, John Martin who was the husband of Sarah Hines Martin. 

I am a double 3rd cousin 3 times removed of Jesse and Frank James. My DNA through Ancestry confirmed that Mary Hines James was my 5th great aunt. The well known 18th century Douglas Register lists both Mary Hines James and Sarah Hines Martin. I will note that their maiden names are both misspelled as Hinds rather than the correct name of Hines.

My great-great-grandfather, Thomas William Meguiar was a very young boy when he saw Robert Salle James. Thomas William Meguiar was born in 1832 and died in 1908 and several months before Robert Sallee James moved to Missouri in 1842. As a very young boy he was so impressed by Robert Sallee James that he years later became a Baptist Preacher too. The Meguiar were earlier Primitive Baptist. When he saw Jesse Woodson James the first time he was amazed how much he resembled his father.

                               

Robbert Salle James/ Jesse James 

photo courtesy of Patrick Meguiar 

Video of Maynard Meguiar explaining

the Meguiar family history Maynard Meguiar mentions the Jesse James connection.

Meguiar Family history 

mentions Jesse James

According to Patrick Meguiar, Medical Doctor's and Oral Surgeons who have examined the Missouri Partisan Ranger image concur that Jesse James had a misalignment of his lower jawbone that cause the misalignment of his facial structure. The say my ambrotype exhibits the same lower jaw misalignment. The doctors say it would have required a highly skilled plastic surgeon to have corrected Jesse James facial structure.

Photo courtesy of Patrick Meguiar 

This is the Tennessee Historical Marker for the site where cousin, Jesse Woodson leased land in Tennessee. I don't know how long he had horses on my family's property, but this didn't happen until 1877. He was on and off with my family from around 1866 until he returned to Missouri a few months before he was shot and killed in 1882. I know he didn't have horses on my family's property after he leased this property in Tennessee in 1877. Again my great-great-grandparents sold the race track in 1873 to Uncle Will Martin.  He served in the 6th Kentucky AKA the Orphan Brigade. It's possible he kept horses for Jesse James until 1877. I can't prove that though.

- Patrick Meguiar 

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

Photo from the original ad

Additional Images of Bob and Jim younger taken at Stillwater Prison