Jesse James

Robert Scholl, a great grandson of William Milton Scholl, relates a story as to how William knew the James brothers. William happened to come across Jesse who was riding a tired horse. Jesse wanted to trade horses. William agreed and Jesse rode off in a hurry. A week later William found his horse back in the barn, it seems Jesse or someone he knew had returned it. Robert claims to have read this story in a “history book” but he was not sure where it was.

I have heard a similar version of the story in which Jesse “borrowed” a couple of William’s horses from the barn. The horses were later returned.
A book, Jesse James and the Civil War in Missouri, makes mention of time possibly spent in Callaway County by Jesse.

"One interesting story about Jesse James during this time (1877 – 1882) comes from Callaway County, Missouri. Some people in the county believe Jesse lived there for a few months under the name of Johnson, while he was hiding from the law officers trying to find him. He supposedly came to the old Unity Baptist Church southwest of Fulton one day saying he was a traveling singing teacher. The minister of the church put him in charge of the children’s Sunday school singing sessions, and he was very popular with the children.

But shortly after Jesse began teaching singing as “Brother Johnson” people began asking questions about who he was and where he came from. The prosecuting attorney of Callaway County decided there was a good chance that “Brother Johnson” was, in fact the outlaw Jesse James and decided to have him arrested. Someone who liked Jesse heard about the plan and told “Brother Johnson.” On the day the sheriff and his deputies came to get “Brother Johnson” they found he had vanished. He was never seen in Callaway County again.

No one knows whether or not the story about Jesse in Callaway County is true, but it is true that time was running out for Jesse James" (Dyer, R. 1984. P 62).

It should also be noted that not all historians agree on the story of Jesse teaching in Callaway County. If anyone has additional information regarding this story please contact me.

On a somewhat related note, Jesse James’ son, Jesse Edward James married a Stella Frances McGowan. Stella was a 3rd cousin twice removed to William Milton Scholl. The connection is through the Boone Family. Stella is a descendant of Daniel Boone (the Daniel Boone we read about in history books) while William Milton is a descendant of Daniel’s brother, Edward Boone.