Jesse James' Great Grandson
Judge Jame R. Ross returned to the crime scene Thursday night, Sept. 8, where his great grandfather and great uncle, Jesse and Frank James, attempted their ill-fated robbery of the First National Bank of Northfield. Vowing not to turn his back on the audience, he gave an account of the James clan to date and answered questions from an overflowing crowd about movie depictions, his great grandfather's fate and the personalities of family members.
He was joined by renowned publisher and historian, Dietmar Kuegler of Wyk auf Foehr, Germany, who spoke to the international significance of the Northfield incident of 1876 and his efforts to tell the story through his publications and an update on bringing the James-Younger Gang to Germany in 2006.
R.L. Wilson, world-famous author and antiquarian, also spoke about significant additions to the Historical Society's raid collection including a replica of the rifle used by A.R. Manning during the raid that Wilson presented to the Historical Society that evening, the 1st of 500 produced by America Remembers.
Click on any of these photos for a hi-res version. Pictured with Wilson, accepting the Manning rifle replica, is NHS Board President Rob Schanilec. Standing with Kuegler, Ross and Wilson is James Gang leader and NHS boad member Chip DeMann. Shaking hands with Ross is NHS Board member Rich Falck and his son, Bennett.
Ross and Wilson will join several other authors, including Al Quie, Jack Koblas, Ernie Schanilec and Maggie Lee for booksignings through the Defeat of Jesse James weekend in the Bridge Square Hospitality Tent.
