One note. Many years ago, the late county historian, Vivian Rousseau, published a book called "Background of a Bank" which was not only the history of a particular bank, but of the downtown area of Glasgow - and much beyond. She included a LOT of information on the James Brothers. This was originally published in 1980. Several years ago, I received permisison from Mr. Matthews, who had been president of the bank cited, to reprint this book, which I did and it is entitled "The Way We Were". Vivian covered Jesse and Frank James in several chapters of this book and in great detail. Here is an portion: (this also printed in an old edition of the Glasgow Times). "Frank James, Teacher. Miss Mary Beals, long-time resident of Glasgow, daughter and siser of the Beals herein mentioned respectively, can verify the following, having often heard the happenings discussed. The people of Glasgow know where the Sinking Spring School house is an what excellent people live in that district, but there is a bit of history connected with this school district, which is probably unknown to many. In 1877, when Mr. John H. Beals, one of our well-known and best citizens, was chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sinking Spring School district, Esquire Payne, a friend of Mr. Beals, came to him and introduced a young man by the name of Hiram Hudson, who made application to Mr. Beals for the position of teacher in the Sinking Spring district for the Spring term. "Mr. Beals talked with the young man and found that he was well educated, intelligent, and of pleasing address, so he consented for Mr. Hudson to teach the school, but, entered into a contract, witnessed by Esquire Payne, that if the young man's work was not satisfactory, Mr. Beals cold discharge him at the end of any month. This was a subscription school and each parent paid so much tuitiion for each child. Mr. Hudson entered upon his duties with much enthusiasm and real ability, so the patrons and pupils alike were delighted with him. When the time came to select a teacher for the fall school, or free school, Mr. Hudson was chosen and accepted the place. "Again he made great success of his work; the pupils were fond of him and the parents felt their children were progressing splendidly. Mr. Hudson knew not only what to teach, but how to teach it. He disciplined his school well, but retained the love of his pupils. "When spring came, Mr. Hudson endeavored to get up a subscription school, but could get only 24 pupils and he thought 30 was as few as he could afford to begin work with, so he decided to move to a vacant store room, a short distance from Oil City and here he opened a school, in all his contract and reports required by law, he signed his name Hiram Hudson. Among his pupils at Sinking Spring were Mr. Isaac Beals, Miss Callie Beals, Miss Nora Dollins, Mrs Mary Dollins Perrin, the Misses Crabbe, and many others. At the close of the third school, Mr. Hudson returned to his home in Missouri. "Following this, the Sinking Spring community was startled, shocked, to hear that Mr. Hiram Hudson, the gifted school teacher, and polished gentleman, was none other than the notorious bank and stage robber, Frank James, and that while posing as a school teacher, he was in reality "hiding out." And he and his brother, Jesse James, had robbed a bank in Missouri, the authorities in Missouri had been working on the case for months and finally traced Frank to Barren County. A description was sent her which tallied exactly with the description of Prof. Hiram Hudson." In other records, which I can't put my fingers on at the moment, it was stated by one of the former pupils, that the conductor of the L&N would slow the train down at the school, which sat close to the track, and toss out newspapers and magazines that passengers had left behind. Hiram would use these with his students. It was also stated that on occasion he would dismiss school because he had a visitor - a man who rode up on a horse. They would take off for a period of time and then he would return for the next school day. It is believed that his visitor was Jesse who was known in the area because of the robbery of the Mammoth Cave stage coach and who had been seen with Frank on a tour in Mammoth Cave. Sandi Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html GGP: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/