The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-09-20
PRETTY ANNIE RALSTON.
How Frank James, the Outlaw,
Woa His Bride.
Leaving a Happy Home to Link
Her Fortune With That Of
Bandit "A Fathers
Sorrow
Kansas City Times

the many persons who came into In
dependence to obtain news regarding
the supposed captured train robbers,
was Mr.. Samuel Ralston, by compul-
sion the father-in-law Of the noted
bandit, Frank James, who in 1874
clandestinely married Annie RalstOn.
Samuel Ralston's pretty daughter,
whose winning ways had placed 1t
her feet half the young alen Of Jack
son county. Mr.. Ralston, before the
war, was one of the richest and best
known men in
JACKSON COUNTY,
and owned and lived on what is now
the Preston Roberts farm. Here
Annie Ralston was born, and Ter edu-
cation was the best that could be OBJ
tanned. During the war MIR Rilstons
farm was raidei time after time by
jayhawkers, his horses and blooded
stock stolen and stampelel. and short
ly before the celebrated Order No.
II" was Issued, he received a special
order from the commander Of the dis
trict to leave the county for his
supposed leaning towards the confed-
crates. He was then forced to leave
his home and farm. which never
again came into his possession in such
a shape that he occupied it, even if
he had anything like legal title. The
war swept everything from him, and
he was left comparatively
POOR MAN.
All this time his pretty daughter
remained with the family, and during
1870 or 1871 she secured the position
of school teacher in the county, which
she was in every way capable of fill
ing, and it was about this time that
her path crossed that o. Frank James,
and her life was changed in all its
bearings.
Mr.. Samuel Ralston yesterday.
soon after reaching Independence, was
introduced to the Times representa-
tive, and quietly seated in the collec.
tors Office, he detailed many of the
incidents relating to his daughters
marriage and absence and even allu-
ded to her as his lost child, for be it
known since that June day, in 1874.
when she left Independence to visit
the family of Ezra Hickman in Kan.
sas City, Mr.. Ralston has never set
eyes upon his daughter, and during
the seven years has but once received
direct word in any shape, and that
was when she sent a note telling her
father she was married and going
west, signing herself
ANNIE REYNOLDS.
Mr.. Ralston Yesterday stated that
during 1873 and 1874 his daughter
taught school during the larger portion
Of the year and was often guest at the
house of Ezra Hickman in Kansas
City, whose wife was a daughter of
Mr.. RalstOn's second wife.
"During that time had you any
idea that Frank James was counting
your daughter"
''Not the least in the world. She
was a very pretty, loving daughter,
and was unlike most girls of her age.
She did not court the attention of
young men of the neighborhood on
the contrary. rather Stunned and re-
PEELED them"
"When and where did Frank James
meet her and do his love making?"
"That l do not know. She taught
school some time at New Santa Fe. |
and 1 presume it was there. Frank
James, however, was al occasional
visitor at my house after the war, and
from 1870 until Annie left US he was
at the house perhaps half dozen
times. The idea that he wanted nv |
daughter for his wife, or that she |
would accept him never
ENTERED MY HEAD.
I knew all about his actions and
doings during the war and didn't want
such a man for my son-in-law."
"When did she leave your home ?"
81 think it was in June, 1874, that
she left for Kansas City. I came to
town with her and brought her trunk
and from the time she took the cars
have never seen her. From Kansas
City she was going to Omaha to visit
young lady who had been her school
mate. After she had been away for
some time We received letter post.
marked Kansas City, telling US that
she was married and going to Nevada
or Colorado. She said she had de-
ceived me and asked forgiveness for
the same, signing herself simply
"Annie Reynolds. You can imagine
how surprised We Were and in every
way tried to find out who the man
Reynolds was she had married, but
for lonv time failed"