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

Jesse James Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, bank and train robber, guerrilla and leader of the James–Younger Gang. Raised in the " Little Dixie" area of Western Missouri, James and his family maintained st ...

Personal life

Zerelda Amanda Mimms was the daughter of

Pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

John Wilson Mimms and Mary Elizabeth James. Her mother was sister to

' father,

Robert S. James Rev. Robert Salle James (July 17, 1818 – August 18, 1850) was an American Baptist minister and one of the founders of William Jewell College in 1849 in Liberty, Missouri. He was the father of the outlaws Frank and Jesse James. Biography Robert ...

. 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: * Jesse Edward "Tim" James (August 31, 1875 – March 26, 1951) * Twins Gould and Montgomery James (born February 28, 1878 and died in infancy) * Mary Susan James (July 17, 1879–October 11, 1935)

Death

Mimms died November 13, 1900 in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the List of United States cities by populat ...

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.

Portrayal in films

*2007: In '' The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' by Mary-Louise Parker *2001: In '' American Outlaws'' by Ali Larter *1995: In ''

Frank and Jesse ''Frank and Jesse'' (also known as ''Frank & Jesse'') is a 1994 American biographical Western film written and directed by Robert Boris and starring Rob Lowe as Jesse James and Bill Paxton as Frank James. Based on the story of Jesse James, the f ...

'' by

Maria Pitillo Maria Pitillo (born January 8, 1966) is an American retired actress. She has starred in films and on television, most notably as Audrey Timmonds in ''Godzilla'' (1998). She also had a recurring role on the TV series '' Providence''. Early life Pi ...

*1980: In '' The Long Riders'' by

Savannah Smith Boucher Savannah Smith Boucher (born October 28, 1943), known professionally as Savannah Smith before 1985, is an American actress originally from Springhill, Louisiana. Her younger sister, Sherry Boucher, is a former actress who was the third wife of a ...

*1949: In ''

I Shot Jesse James ''I Shot Jesse James'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Samuel Fuller about the murder of Jesse James by Robert Ford and Robert Ford's life afterwards. The story is built around a fictional rivalry between Ford and his eventual kill ...

'' by

Barbara Woodell Barbara Woodell (May 25, 1910 – January 16, 1997) was an American film and television actress, born in Lewistown, Illinois. Selected filmography * ''Lady, Let's Dance'' (1944) * '' The Mysterious Mr. Valentine'' (1946) * ''Carnegie Hall'' ...

*1957: In ''

The True Story of Jesse James ''The True Story of Jesse James'' is a 1957 American Western drama film adapted from Henry King's 1939 film ''Jesse James'', which was only loosely based on James' life. It was directed by Nicholas Ray, with Robert Wagner portraying Jesse James ...

'' by Hope Lange *1953: In '' The Great Jesse James Raid'' by Barbara Woodell *1939: In ''

'' by Nancy Kelly *1927: In ''

'' by Nora Lane *1921: In ''

Jesse James as the Outlaw ''Jesse James as the Outlaw'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Franklin B. Coates, cast designed by Edgar Kellar and starring Jesse James, Jr., Diana Reed and Marguerite Hungerford. It is the sequel of '' Jesse James Under t ...

'' by Marguerite Hungerford

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mims, Zerelda 1845 births 1900 deaths James–Younger Gang People from Missouri