Jesse James (c. 1876-1882)
Jesse James bore his name while he engaged in his many outlawed activities – a big difference when it comes to other Old West figures. James was pulled into the Civil War after he and his stepfather were ambushed by Union Militia, who were after his brother Frank. It turned out Frank was a Confederate guerilla. Sadly, the stepfather was executed, but James managed to pull through but ended up becoming a part of the Confederacy. When the war ended, James was shot by Union troops but survived and later went on to become an outlaw with his brother Frank who teamed up to rob banks, trains, and stagecoaches. But, seeing his life was on the radar, it was only a matter of time before someone struck him – Bob Ford, a new member of his group. Along with his brother Charlie, Ford faced execution for the crime but was pardoned by the Missouri governor. The Ford brothers used Jesse James’ life as a motivation for a traveling show, but that didn’t turn out too well.
Jesse James
Johnny Appleseed – John Chapman (c. 1840s)
We know a lot of you thought Johnny Appleseed was a figurative character, but we are here to tell you – he was a real person! John Chapman was born in Leominster, MA, in 1774 to a farmer dad who managed to give him a good life no matter what. Chapman did plant some Appleseed but noted for the most part that they were not for simply consuming but more so to make an alcoholic beverage, cider. History has it that cider has essential benefits and was a “must-have” for all dinner tables in American homes. Interestingly, most homes had a small orchard seeing it was of such importance. Chapman would travel around and give away seeds as a “good deed” and, over time, developed an overly generous attitude. The seeds were given to everyone, especially to those in need, to help themselves out.
Johnny Appleseed
