Several years ago I had the opportunity to meet John J.

Friday, November 30, 2001

Several years ago I had the opportunity to meet John J. Kolbas of Burnsville, an author and expert on Jesse James and his gang. John was at the Freeborn County Historical Museum to give a speech on this gang which was involved in an attempted bank robbery up in Northfield on Sept. 7, 1876. Part of his talk and discussion was based on a possible county connection with this gang just prior to the Northfield robbery.

Now John has written a new book, &uot;Faithful Unto Death,&uot; about the James-Younger gang and their futile attempt to rob a Minnesota bank. His book is published by the Northfield Historical Society Press.

There’s a real challenge for anyone doing research on Jesse and his brother Frank James, the Younger brothers, and their bad guy associates of that era. Thanks to several Hollywood films (some fairly good and others really bad), local legends, and other confusion, there’s all too much false information about these characters. John’s book tries to separate the wheat (true facts) from the chaff (worthless tales).

In fact, I even encountered a local legend about Jesse James. In the Oct. 8, 1985, issue of the Tribune was an article I wrote about the John Niebuhr Farmhouse of Mansfield Township. This building had just been listed on the National Register of Historical Places. My interview was with Herb Niebuhr, grandson of John Niebuhr, and owner of this outstanding home in 1985.

Here’s the excerpt from the Tribune I sent to John Kolbas after our visit a few years ago:

&uot;The two-story white wooden farm home has been a part of Mansfield Township for so long that (several) interesting legends and tales have been told and retold about the huge house.

&uot;According to the wildest of these yarns, Jesse James the Missouri outlaw stayed at the house on his way to or from the disastrous bank robbery at Northfield on Sept. 7, 1876. (Herb) Niebuhr says, ‘I’ve heard this Jesse James story so many times, I’m beginning to actually believe it.’

&uot;One version of the legend even has James getting into a shootout with another hotel guest in the upstairs hallway. Niebuhr recalls one believer in this part of the legend even offering to show him where a bullet from Jesse’s pistol entered a doorway.

&uot;There are several obvious facts which refute the James legend. First, there’s no proof that the James gang even came through Freeborn County on their way to or from Northfield. Second, the Missouri outlaw wasn’t too likely to stay with a (German) family which could barely speak English in 1876. Third, the Niebuhr house wasn’t built until 1878 or 1879.&uot;

The historic John Niebuhr Farmhouse was destroyed by fire on May 2, 1997.

My comment about Jesse James not being in the county may have been logical. However, research done by John Kolbas indicates that Jim Younger and another gang member may have purchased eight horses in Albert Lea and trained them at a place in Oakland Township owned by a Joseph Brown.

This is just one aspect regarding the James-Younger gang depicted in John’s new book. Another aspect is based on the events leading up to and after the gun battle near Madelia which resulted in the capture of the Younger brothers on Sept. 21, 1876. Still another aspect covered in his book is a factual recap of the Minnesota part of this gang’s demise.

John Kolbas is also the author of six books on the lives of Minnesota authors F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sinclair Lewis, plus 500 short stories, articles and poems.

Copies of &uot;Faithful unto Death&uot; may be obtained by calling the Northfield Historical Society at 507-645-9268, or ordering online at www.northfieldhistory.org. The hardcover, signed, first edition book sells for $29.95 (tax included), plus $3.95 shipping and handling.

John Kolbas will be personalizing copies of his book on Thursday, Dec. 6, as part of the Northfield Winter Walk from 5-9 p.m. at the Northfield Historical Society, 408 Division St.

Feature writer Ed Shannon’s column appears Fridays in the Tribune.