The following is a Xerox copy of something that has been printed/typed. I do not see a source of what it was copied from so please understand that I can not verify anything on it or refer you to anything other than what the document says. Page 11 "The Younger family plays an important part in the early history of the west. Many legends and myths have been told about them and books were written about the family. Many of these based on legends. So it is hard to determine the difference between facts and fiction. Legends are durable things, and are not without value as part of the folklore of a people. On the other hand, I do not subscribe to the school of professional so-called "debunkers", the truth, yes, but what is the truth? But in the end of the legends, itself may come nearer the actual truth than the "debunker" who writes from the dim distance of decades. Here we will first deal with the proven, established facts. That the Younger's, James, and Dalton's were related, either by blood, marriage or association, and that Cole Younger, and his brothers were the sons of Harry and Beersheba (Sullivan) Younger and Harry is the son of Charles and Sarah (Purcell) Younger. Charles Younger - Charles Younger, Will, B-W 524-528, Independence, MO, Jackson, Co., Nov 11, 1854. Charles Younger deceased record, Apr 7, 1855 Children of Charles and Sarah (Purcell) Younger: Harry W. (Henry) Younger, father of Cole, Bob, and Jim Younger Littleton Younger - Virgenia Younger - wife of Jacob Creek Elizabeth D. Younger - wife of Thomas Wood Lucy S. Younger - wife of Mr. Buster Adeline S. Younger - wife of Lewis Dalton, parents of Dalton Bros. Coleman Younger - Cole Younger was named for his Uncle Coleman (and grandfather of the notorious outlaw Jonnie Ringo (Ringgold) The children of Charles and Sarah Younger, mentioned in Sarah's will, State of Missouri and County of Clay, Liberty Court House, Nov 1858, probated Jan 11, 1859, will book d, P 240-244 Virginia, Jacob Creek, Lucy S. Buster, and Henry W. (Harry) Where does this Will com in? In the Will it states "Given and bequeath to Sophia L. Wilson, Charles F. Wilson, Mary L. and Martha L. Jefferson, Bruce, Sophronia, my children by Parmelia Wilson, sometimes known as Parmelia Younger, (bequests specifics omitted) also- slave Elizabeth age 22, and her 2 children, Catharine and Simipson, I give the name of Younger. Also Fanney, between 35 and 45, and her two children Nathan and Washington. Harry Younger - son of Charles and Sarah (Purcell) Younger. Married Beersheba Sullivan, the daughter of Richard and Mary "Polly" Fristoe Sullivan. Mary Fristoe's father Richard Marshall Fristoe, was one of the first three Judges appointed in Jackson County, MO. The children of Harry and Beersheba Younger - 1. Laura Younger, born 1830 2. Helen Younger, born 1832, married William Kelly 3. Isabel "Bell" Younger - born 1834 married Richard Hall 4. Martha Younger - born 1836, married L. Jones 5. Richard Younger - born 1838 6. Josephine Younger - born 1842, married John Janett 7. Caroline Younger - born 1842, married George Clayton 8. Thomas Coleman (Cole) Younger - born 1844, died 1916 9. Sarah Ann "Sally" Younger 0 born 1845, died 1925, married Jeptha Duncan 10. James H., "Jim" Younger - born 1848, died 1902 11. John Younger 0 born 1850, killed by Pinkerton, 1874 12. Emma Younger, born 1852, died 1900, married Kit Rose 13. Robert Ewing "Bob" Younger - born 1855, died 1889 14. Henrietta "Rett" Younger - born 1856, married Mr. Rollins The Younger Bros, Cole, Johm Bob, Jim, and sister Henrietta "Retta" lived Osccola, St. Clare County, MO. John Younger, killed his first man at age 14, he was shot and killed by W.J. Allen (Capt Lull) a Pinkerton, Dec Mar 17, 1874 is buried in the Yeater Cemetary, St. Clare County, MO. Cole Younger Paul I Wellman, in his book "Dynasty of Western Outlaws, claims that the Younger boys were cousins of the James boys. I am not here to "debunk" the claim at this time, but I do think it merits a little more genealogical research on the families. He also claims that Cole Younger was the father of Pearl Younger. Pearl, was the daughter of Myra Belle Shirley (Belle Starr). Cole always denied he was the father. If his denial is true, why did Belle name her ranch in Oklahoma "Younger Bend"? There is no record of their marriage. Cliff Robertson, who played the part of Cole Younger in the move "The Great Northfield Raid" has this to say "Jesse James would have been a picnic for any good Psychiatrist", "He was either schizo, or paranoid, or hyperthyroid", or maybe all three, but he is the one who made the history books. Cole Younger, Jesse's lieutenant, was completely overlooked. Cole, according to Mr. Robertson, had the real vision, and Jesse James was just an outlaw. This opinion is shared by many of the James historians. Cole was a natural leaders. Jesse on the other hand, was a bent character, he was a sadistic killer with out too many brains, and it's kind of ironic that he got the credit for the Younger masterminding. (Cole was against the Northfield raid.) Mr. Robertson, sites proof for his acquration, that the James gang never functioned as a unit after the Northfield, bank robbery or after Cole Younger was sentence(d) to the Minn. Penitentiary for 25 years for his part in the raid. Other historians have this to say - "Big and portly Cole Younger, had a great interest in religion, but a greater interest in banditry. One thing they most all agree that he was the biggest liar in the county. I am neutralj, so take your choice. Much of the sympathy for the Yougner boys stemmed from the fact that their father, Henry Washington Younger, had been killed on the old Westport (Kansas City) Road in Jackson County by ruffians believe to be Kansas Jayhawkers, lead by Col. Jim Lane. And their mother was forced to set fire to her home shortly after. It is true that the Younger's suffered greatly from the action of those who were against them, but many other families also suffered. Laurence Kansas This brings us to the raid by Quantril on Laurence Kansas. Why was this action taken? Osceola, the county seat of St. Clare County, MO is located on the Osage River near the mouth of the Sac River, and near the Kansas border. Osceola had been burned and ravished by Col Jim Lane and his Kansas Jayhawkers, on Sept 23, 1861. And in retaliation, Cole and Jim Younger had ridden with Quantril Guerrillas when they destroyed Laurence, the hom town of Jim Lane (Jim Lane escaped). The objective was to burn Laurence to the ground, and to kill all the people who lived there. 143 men, women and children were murdered, and Laurence was burned to the ground. Northfield, Minn Robbery Ref Thomas A. Frazer - the ten men who took part in the robbery were Frank and Jesse James, Cole, Jimand Bob Younger Cell Miller, Bill Chadwell, Charlie Pitt. (The last page shows a family tree, wanted poster, and photo of Bob, Jim, Cole, and Retta Younger in a date I can't read} Eva