Life, Missouri History Today

Missouri History Today June 22, 1877: Jesse James disguises himself to serve as a pallbearer for his friend.

June 21, 2023

He may have been an outlaw, but that didn’t stop Jesse James from being a good friend. At the height of his infamy, James disguised himself so he could be a pallbearer at the funeral of his good friend John Sallee, Jr. James would evade capture and live for nearly another 5 years, dying at the age of 34 in 1882.. This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store. Photo credit: Jesse James, 1864. [B.J. George Sr. Collection, P0010-023814], The State Historical Society of Missouri, Photograph Collection.