Jesse James (c. 1876 – 1882)
You might not believe it, but Jesse James (1847 – 1882) was this outlaw’s actual name! James was a part of the Civil War following a nasty incident where Union militia attacked him and his stepfather. They were hunting for Frank, James’ brother, who was a Confederate guerilla. After watching his stepfather’s murder, James enlisted with the Confederacy. James would find himself back under lethal Union fire once more a month following the conclusion of the war, being shot to death. Along with his brother and a gang of Confederate veterans, James formed a notorious robbing gang.Bob Ford would be the man to take him out, a trusted member of James’ gang. Facing the gallows along with his brother Charley, he and Ford were eventually set free by the governor of Missouri. They then took to performing dramatizations of their assassination of James. Both would meet terrible fates.
Jesse James
John Chapman, Also Known As Johnny Appleseed (c. 1840s)
Indeed, there was a man behind the legend! Johnny Appleseed of Leonminster, MA, formerly known as John Chapman (1774 – 1845), was truly committed to spreading apple seeds across the Midwest. Rather than keeping the doctor away, Appleseed was committed to fermenting apples for alcoholic cider production!As mentioned by History, no American meal was complete without apple cider, with the majority of households featuring tiny orchards. Well regarded for his entrepreneurship, Chapman would often sell seeds to frontiersmen throughout his journeys. He was something of a charitable figure too, having bestowed his seeds to the poor.
John Chapman Also Known As Johnny Appleseed
