The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-04-06

and his face, even in repose, was
forceful and full of character.
Life in the open air always was a
tonic to him. Like fighting bull
dog he was covered with scars. There
were twenty bullet wounds in his
body and yet he stood up under a
long prison sentence in fair condi-
ton and soon after liberated was able
to go on lecture tour.
The father of Cole Younger was
Henry Washington Younger, who
moved to Missouri from Kentucky in
1880, and was married in Jackson
county to Miss Beersheba Fristoe
They had fourteen children, eight of
them daughters. Henry Washington
Younger was thrifty man and good
citizen. He was three times elected
to the Missouri legislature and was
for eight years judge of the Jackson
county court. He owned farm of
600 acres near independence and an
other near Harrisonville, Cass coun-
ty When the war broke out his
wealth was estimated at 100000
The war ruined the Younger fam
| lily financially and part of it morally
The father was Union sympathizer,
but the Kansas Jayhawkers and Red
Legs robbed him of his live stock and
! finally assassinated him. He was
riding in buggy near Independence
when he was set upon and killed and
| $500 taken from his person. 1t was
! this act that drove several of his
sons to enlist under the black flag of
Quantrell.
The first fight in which Cole
, Younger figured as member of the
>&uantrell band was in the home of
John Flannery, near Kansas city. A
body of federal troops surrounded
the house and demanded its surren-
der. Quantrell begged for time and
buckshot into the soldiers. The fed
whereupon Quantrell and his men
rushed out discharging their guns in
the face of the enemy All escaped.
Cole became separated from the rest,
and before he rejoined them fought
off twelve cavalrymen single handed.
After this fight Younger spent two
days in the home of Jerry Blythe.
The federals heard of his wherea-
bouts and went after him, but he
was gone. In revenge, it is charged
they killed Blythe's little son. In
revenge Younger got together band
of kindred spirits and ambuscaded
seventy-five federals as they march
ed through the Blue Cut, killing or
woundirg all of them.
In the, fall of 1866 all of the
Younger boys we're back upon the OLD
homestead near Harrisonville, mend
ing fences, putting up barns and get
ting ready for extensive farming. At
this point historical accounts disa-
gree. The Youngers always claimed
they wished peace. Others say they
had become accustomed to the bap-
tism of blood and wild adventure SO
that it was impossible for them to
follow the pursuits of peace. At any
rate they soon Joined with Jesse and
Frank James and others of the Guam
trell crowd and formed a part Of
that desperate band of outlaws which
kept this part of the central west in
terror for years.
In all the wanderings of the
Younger brothers in the ten years be-
tween the close of the war and the
Northfield, Mimi, bank robbery,
which proved their undoing, the old
home and haunts in Jackson county
held strong attractions for them and
often they returned here. During
these visits many persons knew of
the event but would rather die than
betray them.
The last raid of the Younger gang
took place in Northfield, Mimi, on
September Z, 1916. They dashed in
to the village at noon. The gang con-
sisted of Cole, James and Bob Young !
er, Frank and Jesse James, Clell Mil
Ter, Charlie Pitts and Bill Caldwell,
all former Quantrell men. Three of
the men rode into the public square
and stood talking. A few minutes
later the other five came in, yelling
anr shooting as they galloped. The |
first three-Bob Younger, Charlie
Pitts and Jesse James-ran into the
First National bank. Haywood was
the cashier. He slammed the inner |
door of the safe. They drew knife
across his throat, but he refused to
open up. Two other clerks fed and |
in doing so were wounded. Haywood |
heroically stood his ground. Citizens |
by this time realized what was up
and began firing into the bank and
on the gang outside. i
Hurry up; It's getting not out |
here!" shouted one of those outside
The three in the bank rushed out.
One of them looked back and saw
Haywood taking something out of a
drawer and with quick, backward
shot put a bullet through his brain.
1t has been claimed that Jesse James
did the shooting. Bill Cnadwell and
Clell Miller were killed on the ride
out OF town. Jim Younger's horse
was killed and Jim wounded.
Posses Immediately took, up the
pursuit. The banaits were run to
cover two days later and they fought
like cornered tigers. Frank and
Jesse James with their usual luck es-
capped. Jim, Cole and Bob Younger
and Charlie Pitts, all wounded, final
" beat back their pursuers and got
away. Two days later they were
trapped again and Pitts killed. The
Youngers then surrendered. At their
rial they plead guilty and were SEN
fenced for life, there being no capital
punishment in Minnesota.
During the closing years of his
lie Cole Younger became reticent
about his bandit career. He always
I, x,;a of