The Life of Jesse James Trivia Quiz

Answer: Robin Hood

Jesse James has often been called the American Robin Hood. Jesse often captivated the hearts of even those he robbed. He was always the one in the lead when they robbed the bank and he was always the last to leave, often saluting his victims with a wave and a smile as he departed. He would sometimes stuff bank cash into female customers' handbags or male customers' breast pockets.

Answer: William Quantrill's Raiders

William Quantrill's Raiders were Yankee haters. Although the Raiders wore Confederate gray uniforms and invaded communities sympathetic to the North, they were not wholly sanctioned by the Confederate Congress as were the many other thousands of battalions and regiments fighting to keep the Union forces off Southern turf. They were renegades who seem to enjoy looting and pillaging Some of their plunder, whether cash or contraband, was indeed transported to the South, but most of it was retained by Quantrill and his robber band.

Answer: Baptist Minister

Robert James enjoyed his position as high-collar preacher at the Kearney Baptist Church and spent more time during the week preparing his Sabbath-day fire sermons than pushing a plow; he was not lazy, but too easily lost himself in his own drive to beat the citizens over the heads with words of repentance. When gold was discovered in California, at Sutter's Mill, Robert packed his Bible in a Saratoga trunk and headed west to stake a claim. He promised to send for his wife and the children, but he died before he was able to pan an ounce of even fool's gold.

Answer: he was mentally handicapped

Archie was born mentally handicapped. Jesse and Frank protected their half-brother with care and in case any of the community bullies taunted his handicap the perpetrator would earn a set of black eyes and a painful kick in the pants.

Answer: they were bandits

Following the war between the states, the young Jesse James and his brother Frank, disillusioned by the outcome of the war, turned to a life of crime. For fifteen years the notorious James brothers terrorized the banks and trains in Kansas and Missouri. Jesse, the younger of the two, became the colorful mastermind.

Answer: The robbery of the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, MO

The 1866 robbery of the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, MO, northeast of Kansas City. The gang made off with $62,000 which oddly, was to be their largest single heist. It was the first daylight bank robber in history. The gang robbed banks and killed many who stood in their way for the next eight years.

Answer: they robbed their first train

On July 21, 1873, the James Gang robbed the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad at Adair, Iowa. The gang had learned that $75,000 dollars in gold was to be transported on the train. The gang broke into a handcar house and stole track tools. They then removed the track bars and spikes from a length of rail.

They tied ropes to the rail, and when the train was past the point of being able to stop, they pulled the rail out. The engineer was killed and the fireman was badly injured. The Gang was disappointed when they found that the gold shipment was not onboard.

In frustration they entered the train and robbed all of the passengers, getting away with a mere $6000. Train crews and passengers alike were now fearful that they could become the next victims of the now infamous train robbing James Gang.

Answer: James and Younger Gang

Three other significant members of the gang were Jesse and Frank's cousins Cole, Jim and Bob Younger. Other members seven members of Quantrill's old band (including Ben Cooper, Frank Gregg, Red Monkus, and others).

Answer: Nashville

After being endlessly pursued by a succession of posses, the brothers crossed into Tennessee, hurting and starving. They had lived off the earth for many months, stopping to eat only when necessary. Pale and thin they decided they could not go on any further. The pair telegraphed for their families and, near Nashville, lived with them incognito for nearly three years.

Answer: $10,000

In 1881, Missouri's governor, Thomas Crittenden, had had enough of the legend of Jesse James. He offered an enormous reward of $10,000 to anyone bringing in Jesse and Frank James, dead or alive. There had never been a bounty so high on an American criminal's head. On April 3, 1882, Jesse James was killed in his own home by Bob Ford.