Description:

Cole Younger
Stillwater, MN, June 3, 1900
Rare Cole Younger ALS: "one of the guards killed himself," Serving Life Sentence in Prison
ALS

Cole Younger (1844-1916). Autographed letter signed "Cole Younger" to verso of a double-sided handwritten letter entirely in Younger's hand. Stillwater, MN, June 3, 1900. 2pp, measuring 12" x 8". Age toning and vertical mailing folds. Light creases to corners. Overall, very good condition.

In full:

"My Dearest friend Cora,
We have not heard from you this week but hope you are well and happy not forgetting Clair, Wynnis and Mr. Bennett. Kiss my little angel Wynnis many times for me. Not has a day never passes that I think of all of you and what a sweet lovely little friend she is. If I could I would have sent Clair money to get him a new wheel as soon as Jim told me he had lost his You remember Jim never spoke to me about his losing his wheel so I did not learn of it until you wrote. Well I hope the day will yet come when I can prove my friendship by good works. Has Mr. Bennett made his trip west yet? Did he go by the way of K.C.? We haven't any news on whether leaves the first of the next month Think some of McMullen as a candidate for the legislature from the north part of the country. Dr Chance of the 13th regiment will take his place He seems to be a nice lively fellow and I think I will like him.
We had a very nice entertainment here on Decoration Day. I suppose you seen in the papers where one of the guards killed himself. He was usher when you first came up, you remember him. Everything here is about the same as at yours, It is fearfully dry, the mills will have to shut down soon if it don't rain as there is no logs in the river. I have not heard from Texas or MO for some time there was a son of an old friend of mine here the other day, his name was Fraisthuis lives in K.C. now but was raised in Cass County is at present connected with the stockyards in K.C. Now my noble friend and faithful and true soldier in the cause of humanity I will close hoping god will help you and your sweet children and all may yet be well and happy. Remember me to all friends with all love many kisses to the children not forgetting the twins.
Always your true friend
Cole Younger."

Younger was a Confederate guerrilla turned outlaw leader of the James-Younger Gang. After a Union soldier killed his father, he joined William Clarke Quantrill's "bushwhackers" during the Civil War. Though many guerrillas settled down afterward, Younger and his brothers continued into outlawry, drawing the pursuit of the Pinkerton Agency following the 1874 Gad's Hill train robbery. That same year, Pinkerton agents killed his brothers John and Jim in a roadside gunfight.

In 1876, the gang's attempted bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota, collapsed when armed townspeople fought back. Cole, wounded in a final shootout with a posse, was captured and sentenced to life in prison. Paroled in 1901, he later wrote a memoir portraying himself as a Confederate avenger and publicly embraced Christianity in 1912. He died in Lee's Summit, Missouri, in 1916.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 12"
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