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

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.

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