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Essay Directory
2007 - 2008 Essays
Liberty Ladies
College: A Modern Educational Experience
by Alyssa Emery
Liberty Rising:
the 1934 Fire
by Rachel Ibok
Zerelda Mimms James:
Lover of a
Bandit
by Lindsey Melvin
2006 - 2007 Essays
Convention City
by
Lilia Toson
David Rice Atchison:
A Champion of the
People
by
Jesus Lopez
Dr. Seymore Pearley -
Clay County's First
African American Dentist
by Hayley VanderStel
Humphrey “Yankee” Smith
by Jonathan Entzminger
Missouri City in Black and White
or
Rebuilding a Culture
by Devin DeMoure
The Drake Constitution: When Missouri White
Men Could Not Vote
by
Kali Shipley
The Other James Brother
by Madison McGraw
White Oak: A Tender Side
of the Racial
Divide
by
Evelaca Dobbins
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 Madison
McGraw is a sophomore at William Jewell College. She is a member of CUA
and co-edits short fiction for the campus literary magazine, Inscape.
With her current studies in English Literature, Madison plans to pursue a
career in writing, publishing, and/or teaching. In her free time, she
enjoys reading, playing guitar, and the many pleasures of procrastination.
Madison would like to thank the academy and her roommates.
The Other James Brother
The
beautiful and poetic James Farm was just as I had imagined it.
Snow-covered fresh footprints and century-old memories alike, beckoning me
back to 1875 Kearney, Missouri. As I approached the farm entrance, I
expected to hear horses’ hooves clacking against the icy path and the barn
door to open, revealing the infamous James brothers. Rather, my nostalgic
atmosphere evaporated as I shut the door of my 2000 Hyundai, rounded the
corner of the farm house, and bumped into a purring air conditioning unit.
I am not a Clay County native, but there I was, submerged in local
history. While researching my
 own
relations in the county archives, I discovered another James relative:
Perry Samuel, the African American step-brother of Frank and Jesse James.
Although 1920 census records provide little detailed information, it is
curious that the birthplace of his mother and father change from Kentucky
and Missouri respectively (1900), to Virginia and “unknown” (1920). In the
same 1920 census, Perry and his family are listed as mulattos, advancing
the idea of Dr. Reuben Samuel being Perry’s father. There are numerous
possibilities as to why such inconsistency occurred. Was he trying to hint
towards his true family, the Samuel-James? Historians generally
accept that Perry was the illegitimate son of Dr. Reuben Samuel (Frank and
Jesse James’ step-father) and Charlotte, the James family’s slave woman.
As I began my research, I realized what really made Perry special was that
the Samuel-James family treated him as kin—with respect and kindness.
I
speculated about this unique relationship while touring the James Farm,
and I believe that, at first glance, Perry’s story is interesting because
of the illegitimate birth scandal. The heart of the story and the real
scandal of the time, however, was that the Samuel-James family treated
Perry as one of their own. Perry’s acceptance into the family is ironic,
given that the family members were southern sympathizers (Dr. Samuel was
tortured on many accounts by Union troops). Technically, Perry was never a
slave; he was born after Emancipation and remained at the James Farm for
years as a servant. The family included him in their photos, and he lived
in the farm house. Adult slaves who worked as servants typically occupied
separate quarters, while the children slept either in the kitchen or in
the loft with the James boys. Robert James (Jim) Hall (a descendent of
Fannie Samuel Hall) recalled he “had many meals at the same table with
Perry” (Hall 3). Zerelda James Samuel, the mother of Frank and Jesse James
and wife of Dr. Samuel, did collect money from the Clay County courts on
several occasions for “keeping a pauper negro boy named Perry” (Petty).
Because the area was devastated by the Civil War, this exchange was
probably intended as an act of thrift rather than degradation. Many other
area families collected on their former slaves as well. Even so, existing
members of the Hall family recalled that they were raised with Perry as
their uncle and part of the family (Hall 3). Jim Hall mentions calling him
“nigger Perry” as a child, but “when we were older and we had kids we
called him ‘Uncle Perry’” (Hall 3). Perry was an integral part of life at
the James’ Farm, not only because of his house chores, but also because he
was a family member who offered the kindness and support necessary for the
James’ to thrive in times of crisis.
Without a doubt, Perry was literally Zerelda’s right hand after her arm
was amputated in the Pinkerton Raid, when agents threw flaming rags at the
house in an attempt to capture Frank and Jesse. The brothers were away at
the time, but Zerelda was injured, and young Archie Samuel died. Legend
also has it that Perry served as a watch-out for the James boys.
Supposedly, he saddled Jesse’s horse the night before Jesse left for St.
Joseph (where Jesse was killed). Perry’s frequent aid to not only Zerelda, but also to Frank and Jesse, revealed how he was like a younger
brother to the James boys: looking up to and protecting them just like any
younger sibling would. Even though the Samuel-James were an outlaw
family, they were strong in character, so I believe Perry must have been
kin. It is more than possible to imagine respectable train-robbing bandits
as role-models to Perry.
As a
young adult, Perry stayed on the farm with Zerelda many years. Family
members remember Zerelda being quite a handful, hiding liquor around the
house and such, but Perry was dedicated to her. However, like most young
men, Perry fell in love and he married Littie Harris in 1893. According to an
article by Jack Ventimiglia, Zerelda gave Perry the family violin when he
left since he was the only one who could play it. With no other family
member listed as an accomplished musician, Perry probably taught himself
to play. After seeing the care he exerted in other areas of his life, such
industriousness would not be surprising. Unfortunately, Perry’s first
marriage was cut short, and Littie died within a few years. Perry then
married Susie Willis in 1900, and became a wage worker at a flour mill in
Liberty, Missouri.
It
could be said that Perry then went on to lead his own, independent life,
but I do not know if he would have told us the same. Yes, he lived free,
but I do not think Perry would tell us that anyone can live independently
from his or her family. Among Perry Samuel’s descendents are Dora Mae
Samuel, Freda Mae Fields, Marla Smith, and Sonja Smith. Though these women
are his offspring, articles explain that they had as few glimpses of
Perry’s past as I did. In 2003, the James Farm honored Perry’s living
relatives with the dedication of the renovated slave quarters. However, I
believe Perry spent more time in the farmhouse, not the slave quarters.
Even
in his old age, Perry kept close ties to the James Family, and defended
them unconditionally. Locals say long after Jesse James died, a man once
came to Liberty claiming to be Jesse. Jack Wymore recounts, “Perry lit
right into him. Perry said he knew Jesse James and they were friends from
the very beginning . . . that was the end of that” (Ventimiglia). This
occasion was perhaps one of the few times that Perry ever raised his voice
to another. Perry’s neighbors recall him as “fair-skinned and quiet,”
mentioning his kinship but never elaborating on the subject (Ventimiglia).
Despite this respect from neighbors, instances still occurred of community
members jeering at Perry for his mixed race. Great-granddaughter Marla
Smith says, “They used to call him ‘Pinky on a horse named Stinky’” (Ventimiglia).
Perry’s close relationship to the Samuel-James endured long after the
deaths of Zerelda, Frank and Jesse. He continued to visit the James’
farm to hunt groundhogs with Jesse Hall, his half nephew (Hall 4). Jim
Hall remembers, “John T. took care that Perry had a place to live”
commenting upon Perry’s ties to the James descendents (Hall 4). In a
letter from Stella James (Jesse James’ grand-daughter) to H. Hoffman, she
writes about stopping by Perry’s place for a casual family visit. His
family relations operated just like any other family regardless of his
mixed race.
Upon
Perry’s death, some speculated about foul play, but after an autopsy, the
cause of death was identified as coronary sclerosis and natural causes.
Unfortunately, Perry’s obituaries pay more tribute to his infamous
step-brothers (the KC Star headlined “James Boys’ Aid Dead”) rather than
to him. Perry Samuel is buried in Liberty, Missouri, in an unmarked grave
in what was the African-American section at Fairview Cemetery. Many people
attended Perry’s funeral because, as I discovered, he was well-known and a
highly respected man in the community. One photograph of Perry is a family
photo on the set of Under the Black Flag (a movie documenting the
life of Frank and Jesse James). He is sitting front and center with a
proud grin on his face. Just looking at him, I had to smile back. This
photo alone was enough to make me positive that Perry was happy with what
he accomplished in life.
Standing in the very
room that Perry had so often inhabited, I realized I had unearthed a life.
While I researched Perry Samuel, I felt as though I had been adopted into
a family of people who also knew him—whether through their own research or
otherwise. Being somewhat of a stranger, Perry gave me a different
perspective. In my search for Perry Samuel, I encountered numerous people
who treated me how I imagine the Samuel-James would have treated Perry:
with kindness and respect. I met people whom I didn’t know, but there
existed a common tie among us. Be it through thought, action, or blood, we
often find kin all around—Perry would have understood that. I believe
Perry’s strong sense of family brought him a profound understanding of
self-worth and the knowledge that family and relation are all a matter of
perspective—a perspective I now share.
Works Cited
Hall, Robert James.
Interview with Elizabeth Murphy. Jan. 17, 2006.
Petty, Evelyn. “The
History of Clay County Chapter XVII: 45th Installment.” The
Liberty Tribune. 28 Dec. 1972.
Ventimiglia, Jack “Miles.”
“Perry Samuel.” Liberty Sun-News. 10 June 1998.
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