James Hardin “Jim” Younger (1848-1902)

Western Outlaw. He was the brother of Cole, John and Bob Younger, and a member of the James-Younger Gang which was formed by his brother Cole along with Frank and Jesse James. Jim Younger joined the Confederate Army during the Civil War and served with Quantrill's Raiders. In 1864, he was captured by Union troops and imprisoned until the end of the war. After the war, he worked on various ranches until he joined the James-Younger Gang in 1873. He participated in the group's banditry until his brother was killed at Roscoe, Missouri in 1874. He left the gang, went west where he worked a ranch in San Luis Obispo, California. In 1876, he returned to the gang and was a part of the Northfield, Minnesota, bank robbery. During that robbery he was shot, captured and sentenced to life imprisonment. Paroled in 1901, he became engaged to his long time lover Alix Mueller, but due to the terms of his parole he couldn't marry, so he committed suicide at age 54.

October 30th, 1902 The Frontier, O'Neill, Holt County, Nebraska newspaper

Younger Sleeps in Cemetery

Lees Summit, MO - The remains of Jim Younger, the bandit who committed suicide in St Paul, Minn, were interred in the family lot in the little cemetery near town on Thursday.

A brief simple service was held at the home of N.S. Fenton where crowds of people passed by the coffin.

The house was crowded and many were unable to gain admittance. Mrs. Fenton, a niece of the Younger boys, led a quartet which sang "Rest, Weary Heart."

Rev S.H. Shiffler of the Presbyterian Church followed in prayer, speaking a few appropriate words, and, then, after another song the casket was removed to the hearse.

The pall bearers were old associates of the Youngers, members of the Quantrell band, and among the mourners were several who had fought with Quantrell, Price and Shelby.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith