Making_of_an

Frank James was born in 1843, and like many young boy's he only
knew the farm life around home. Growing up in Missouri, he helped
around the farm. Suffering the loss of his father, Robert James, he
grew up without his father, being the only child of three to remember
his father. His mother went through two more marriage's as Frank continued to grow around the farm.

Steping out on his own at an early age, Frank James had joined the
home guards at his youthful age. An age of youth, which brought an
early influence of Politic's as the Civil war approched. His political
views gave rise to the approching war, as the boarder wars became a driving force behind Frank as he, like many others, rose to the war that commence in 1861.

There was nothing civil about the war, as it began to ravaish the land
across the south. Gone from home, Frank left his family behind, as
he continued to roam near and far during the war. His mother would
miss his presence at the farm, as Frank continue to ride the country
side. His return to the farm was "limited" to little time over the next
many, many years. An actual account of the most time spent at the
farm was given by his mother Zerelda James Samuel, to book author
Robertus Love.

Death and despair, loss and ruin, left no confidence to a "broken"
society, as Frank James briefly returned home to Clay, county, Mo.
The Making of an Outlaw occured over several years, as Frank seen the destruction of life both near and far. Returning home in the early
part of 1866, the beginning of his career as an outlaw occured on the
cold early February 13th day of 1866. Frank's return home found his
brother Jesse, suffering from a wound he had recieved at the end of
the war.

The politic's of war, destruction of the world Frank James had once
known evolved into continuing acts of outlawery, as the people near and far suffered greatly. No other place to begin his outlaw activities
and regain what had been lost other than the bank of Liberty, Mo.
Confederate money had no value as the old Confederacy laid ruined.
Old Dixie suffered greatly as General Sherman marched south on to
Atlanta. Sherman "Exalted" how cruel acts could be, as the burning
of many farms and towns made its way to Atlanta.

The effects of war produced a new breed of men. A time had came for others to make their self gain. No other place would suit the men
who suffered the ravaish of war, than the place which housed money
at the Liberty bank. The gain and spoils of war, extended as Frank
entered the liberty bank on February 13, 1866. The gun made Frank confident with self assurance as he survived his four years during the
civil war.

On February 13, 1866 two men entered the liberty bank relieving it of its contents. The style of dress, can be attrubited to Frank James
and his use of overcoat's over the next many years. An overcoat that
would become Frank James's style and trademark, as the new found
James Gang commence after that cold February day in 1866.