Zerelda Mimms James
James c. 1898
Born
Zerelda Amanda Mimms

(1845-07-21)July 21, 1845
Kentucky
DiedNovember 13, 1900(1900-11-13) (aged 55)
Kansas City, Missouri
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1874; died 1882)​
Children4, including Jesse E. James

Zerelda Amanda Mimms James (July 21, 1845 – November 13, 1900) was the wife and first cousin of Jesse James.

Personal life

Zerelda Amanda Mimms was the daughter of Pastor John Wilson Mimms and Mary Elizabeth James. Her mother was sister to Jesse James' father, Robert S. James.

She and Jesse James married on April 24, 1874, while the James-Younger Gang was still in full force. Of the Jameses and Youngers, Jesse was the first to marry. Zerelda and Jesse had four children, two of whom died in infancy:

Death

Mimms died November 13, 1900, in Kansas City, Missouri, and was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kearney, Missouri. Eighteen months after her death, her husband's body was moved from the James family farm to rest next to hers.[2]

Portrayal in films

References

  1. ^ "Henry Lafayette BARR/Mary Susan JAMES". STRAY LEAVES, A JAMES FAMILY IN AMERICA SINCE 1650. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  2. ^ Weiser, Kathy (September 2017). "Zee James – Jesse's "Poor" Wife". Legends of America. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  3. ^ Boggs, Johnny D. (10 June 2011). Jesse James and the Movies. McFarland Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 9780786484966.
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