I have discussed in four previous editions of Progress Notes the history of Jesse and Frank James in Miller County. The narratives were accompanied by several interesting photos of the James brothers as well as the Civil War renegade, Quantrill.
For background leading to this week’s Progress Notes you can review those stories at these earlier Progress Notes websites:
This week I want to discuss one part of the interesting story of the Darryl Zanuck produced movie about Jesse James released in 1939 which was shot at the Lake of the Ozarks.
To read the entire narrative about the making of the movie, I will refer you to this website rather than copy it here as it is rather long (you will need to scroll half way down the website page to get to the section about the James movie):
However, I am going to copy here an account Dwight Weaver (photo 05) wrote about the part of the James movie shot at the Lake of the Ozarks which tells the story of the filming of Jesse jumping a horse off a bluff at the Lake, one of the most remembered scenes of the entire movie.
05 Dwight Weaver
Dwight’s narrative is located in his book:
History and Geography of Lake of the Ozarks
Volume Two
Jesse James at Lake of the Ozarks
p. 108
In October of 1938, Twentieth Century Fox Corporation came to the Ozarks to film the motion picture “Jesse James.” They chose the Pineville area in McDonald County, Missouri, as their primary filming location because the setting was one steeped in Jesse James lore, and the town had a main street that still resembled an Ozark town of the 1870’s and 80’s. The picture was filmed in Technicolor featuring Tyrone Power as Jesse Woodson James and Henry Fonda as Frank James.
Other notable supporting cast members included Nancy Kelly, Randolph Scott, Donald Meek, Jane Darwell and John Carradine.
Scene director, Otto Brower, was unable to find a location in the Pineville vicinity suitable for filming one particular episode that ended with Frank and Jesse riding their horses off a cliff into a river.
Scouts for the film company made a search through the Ozarks for a likely location and finally settled on Shawnee Bend at Lake of the Ozarks.
Shawnee Bend is one of the Lake’s largest peninsulas covering nearly 6000 acres. In 1938 it was heavily wooded and virtually uninhabited. Only one little traveled dirt road led to the chosen spot where Lake water laps at the based of a vertical bluff 50 to 70 feet high along the south side of the Bend. This site is two miles upstream from the junction of the Osage and the Grand Glaize close to the 21 mile mark of the main channel (photo 14).
14 Shawnee Bend Bluff - 21 Mile Marker Click image for larger view
One of the reasons for choosing the location was because access to the site could be controlled. There was concern about clandestine operatives sneaking into the area to capture unauthorized film footage, and of local people crowding the Lake to watch the filming, thus cluttering the background with images out of character with the time period and creating inappropriate noise. The single road in the uninhabited isolated area made road traffic easy to control. To prevent unauthorized viewing from the water, game wardens were hired to patrol the Lake and all boats and pleasure cruises in the vicinity owned and rented by resorts, camps and marinas were leased by the film company. The Governor McClurg Excursion Boat (photo 15) and 24 other boats under lease were allowed to anchor at a distance and at locations chosen by the company, to watch the drama unfold.
15 Governor McClurg
The excursion boat operators who participated sold out to capacity crowds. But unknown to the local viewers, cameramen, sound technicians, wardrobe people, directors, make up artists, actors and stunt men, they were about to witness a milestone event in the history of motion pictures …one that would have a lasting impact upon America’s greatest entertainment industry.
It is unnecessary to recount the life and times of Jesse James here because it is a story so often told over the past one hundred years that even children being born in the Ozarks today, quickly learn who Jesse James was. Jesse belongs to Missouri history and to a period of lawlessness during the years following the Civil War that caused many Americans to call Missouri “The Robber State” or the “Outlaw State” during the 1860’s, 70’s and 80’s.
The filming of the Jesse James story in 1938 by Twentieth Century Fox was the first time Jesse was immortalized on movie film and the first time that the studio had come to the Ozarks to produce a movie.
From 1917 to the early 1930’s, color in film was an evolving process. It wasn’t until the 1930’s that photographic technology finally perfected a Technicolor process that brought true, stunning color to the screen. Spectacular, audience-winning productions began to roll off in reels by major motion picture studios. It was the launch of not only the Jesse James movie, but memorable award winners like Gone With The Wind and The Wizard of Oz.
Critics took issue with the fast and loose ways that the filmmakers played with the Jesse James facts. The film simply wasn’t as historically accurate or honest as the purists would have liked. Nonetheless, the movie proved to be a blockbuster and featured some of the nation’s most beloved actors of that day and age. But in 1938, these opinions and facts about the movie were yet unborn.
The film company chose Kelly’s Arrowhead Lodge along Highway 54 in Lake Ozark for head quarters and, by prior arrangement, leased every room for the use of their crew (photo 16).
16 Kelly's Arrowhead Lodge Click image for larger view
Otto Brower and his assistant, Hal Herman, had the production of the movie underway for nearly two years before arriving in the Ozarks. The production would end up costing $2 million. Their filming at Pineville required a crew of 200 over a period of five to six weeks. They arrived at Lake of the Ozarks with a group of 60. Much to the disappointment of locals, Tyron Power, Henry Fonda and the other popular stars of the film were not present. The filming at the Lake was to be done with stunt men and doubles. They brought a stunt horse with them but acquired other horses needed for the chase scene from the Frank Harris stable, a local concern.
Men preparing the site where the filming would take place spent several days getting things ready. At the cliff’s edge a metal chute or “dumping platform,” as some people called it, was constructed to send the horse over the cliff edge. In the wooded area leading up to the dumping platform trip bands were positioned in the brush to bring galloping horses down so they would appear to be shot from under their riders. The riders were experienced stunt men from the studio whose profession it was to take the risk thus preventing injury to the stars.
On the designated day the film crew left Gore’s Boat Yard at 8:00 a.m. using barges to haul personnel and equipment (photo 17).
17 Gore's Boat Yard Click image for larger view
In later years Gore’s Boat Yard would become Port Arrowhead.
The horse making the leap was blindfolded, loaded onto the greased chute, and the first leap was made at 9:00 a.m. If you watch the film, you will notice that the horse made its plunge rump first and the stunt man was propelled off the horse. The fall broke the horse’s back. The rider was unhurt. The horse’s body sank into the Lake and it was 30 minutes before the body of the horse was found and dragged to a nearby cove.
A second jump with a different horse was made shortly after noon. This take was more successful than the first and neither the rider nor the horse was hurt, although the horse was momentarily stunned by the fall. Two different cameras were used in the filming, their shots being taken at different angles so that it appeared that two riders made the leap instead of one. As the second jump was concluded, another horse was towed into the water at the base of the bluff and Tyron’s stand in double swam to the horse and led it ashore, thus completing the dramatic scene. Sound taped during the leap could not be used and was added later.
The movie was released in 1939 and although upstaged by Gone With The Wind and the Wizard ofOz, it was deemed successful. But then one of the great fears of Twentieth Fox that some clandestine operative would shoot unauthorized film footage came true. Someone captured footage of the chase scene in the woods and the incident in which the first horse lost its life. This unauthorized footage became the rallying point of a scandal that broke over how the horses were mistreated. The film has earned its place in history because of this. The public outcry led to the creation of the American Humane Association’s Film and Television Unit. Since the release of this first Jesse James movie the American Humane Association has monitored all filming in the United States that uses animals and since 1989 the phrase “no animals were harmed during the making of this picture” has been applied to films granted the organization’s seal of approval.
Jesse James changed Missouri history by the crimes he committed and in 1938 his ghost seems to have played a role in changing how the motion picture industry does business today.
Over the years some folklore about this event in the history of Lake of the Ozarks has given birth to misinformation. People have variously claimed that the filming was done at the 15 mile mark, and also at the Palisades near the 27 mile mark. But neither of these sites have bluffs that meet the water; they are footed by long talus slopes. In addition, the real site at the 21 mile mark has two distinct bluff features that can be plainly seen in the film (photos 18 and 19).
18 Shawnee Bend Bluff - 21 Mile Marker Click image for larger view
19 Location of jump of Horse Click image for larger view
It has been claimed that the stunt rider, who rode the first horse off the cliff, was so seriously injured that afterwards he spent two months in the hospital recuperating… but published accounts from 1938 indicate that no one was injured.
No historical plaque marks the location where the filming was done along the south side of Shawnee Bend, but the photos that accompany this narrative identify the location. They can be seen by anyone boating close to the bluff face.
The Zanuck film produced in 1939 was quite a hit then, especially in Missouri, but also across the entire nation. David Statler, our website expert, has extracted from the film for us the scene of the horse and Jesse jumping off the cliff:
Note: If you don't see the video player controls below, just Right-Click in the video area and select "Play/Pause" to start the video.
If you would like to view the movie “Jesse James,” it can be ordered on line from www.amazon.com.
Karen Smith, one of our board members, found a very interesting collection of articles published long ago in some of the early Kansas City newspapers which were collected by historian John O'Brien, who lives in the Kansas City area. John posted them to the Wyandotte County KS Rootsweb list. These are original articles written by Kansas City newspaper reporters who were reporting about the events surrounding the shooting of Jesse James. In addition, the collection includes many newspaper articles having to do with the James family history up until the early 1900’s. I found these original newspaper accounts to be absolutely fascinating revealing a number of things I hadn’t known before. For example, I didn’t know that when yet young living at home Jesse and Frank’s step father was hanged by Northern extremists nor that Jesse and Frank were beaten and tortured at the same time. I also didn’t know that Jesse James Jr., son of Jesse, was a model child who worked to support his widowed mother and later graduated with honors from law school. Another thing I learned from these original newspaper articles was that the body of Jesse James and his burial were positively witnessed by many people. After reading so many eye witness accounts as described in these newspaper articles, it is hard to believe some latter day claims that Jesse escaped the law and died naturally at some unknown location. The repentance and rehabilitation of Frank James has been described by others but not nearly as replete with details as contained in some of the original newspaper accounts.
Because this collection is very long, I will place it here as an attachment for those who are interested. However, if you have had some unanswered questions about the Jesse James story here is the place to get some answers (photo 20):
20 Jesse and Frank James Kansas City Daily Times Articles Click image to read entire document in PDF format
The story of Jesse James in Miller County was covered in some detail at the previous Progress Notes I listed above. These stories mainly had to do with Jesse and Frank roving the countryside with the bushwhacker Quantrill. However, Peggy Hake collected some anecdotes indicating that Frank and Jesse often surreptitiously visited south Miller County and the surrounding vicinity to visit their cousin, Mildred (James) Wall, wife of ‘Black Jim Wall,’ who lived near the Faith community. Here is a photo of Black Jim Wall and his family followed by a caption listing their names (photo 21):
21 James and Mildred Wall and Faith Community Click image for larger view
Front – Chester Wall, Frank, King Shackleford, Catlett Wall, 2 children unknown, Mildred Wall, Black Jim Wall, Solomon (Bud) Cochran, Franklin James Wall.
Back – James Watt Plemmons, Betty Wall, Charlie Thomas, Ida Wall, Ollie Wall, Cora Lulu Wall, baby Jesse, Stella Wall Shackleford. 4 children unknown
SOME INTERESTING QUOTES ABOUT JESSE AND FRANK JAMES IN CENTRAL MISSOURI
Some of this information was found in the book, "The First 100 Years of Crocker", written by Nellie Stites Wills in 1968:
In the eighteen sixties and seventies, Jesse James (1847-1882) and Frank James (1843-1915) frequented the backwoods trails of this territory.
They often visited their cousin, the wife of Black Jim Wall, who owned and operated a trading post, mill and post office called Faith which was located in Richwoods Township, Miller County, southwest of Iberia (photo 23).
23 Mildred and James Wall
In their home were fed 7 sons (Frank, Peach, Cat, Floyd, Will, Chester and Jesse) and 5 daughters (Betty, Ida, Ollie, Cora, and Stella).
Mr. and Mrs. Brownie Miller lived on a farm, now owned by John Ichord, surrounding the Madden Church. They lived on the trail leading to the Wall home and were considered their neighbors. On one occasion, after they had complied with a request for water to drink, they had a very friendly conversation with the mild mannered Frank James. Having met him previously in the Wall home, there was no mistaken identity concerning him, his beautiful horse or his brilliant diamond.
An individual who had a midnight ride with one of the James boys was Jim McMillian. He was returning home on horseback from a courting date with Ollie Porter (Mitchell) when he heard hoof sounds approaching from behind. A man riding a horse of recognizable worth came up quickly by his side and for a while talked small talk in a very friendly manner. Then quite abruptly, he asked, "Are the James boys any where around?" Young Jim's reply was, "If I thought so, I'd be home." Then, the horseman smiled and said, "You are riding with one right now." With that introduction over, it was as before until the crossroads separated them and the dark woods covered the two. Through the mind of one of them keeping time with his horse's hoof beats, there were two after thoughts cutting deep in his mind - - What a horse! What a man!
From the Associated Press news release in the Springfield, MO Daily News (1968): The mother of the late Walter (Big Train) Johnson, famed pitcher for the Washington Senators, is dead. Minnie O. Johnson died Sunday. She was 100 years old. She was born in Wayne County, Indiana, and one of Mrs. Johnson's favorite stories was how as a child she had taken care of the guns of Jesse and Frank James when the notorious robbers were lodged overnight at her farm home in Dixon, MO
Several years ago I visited with Wm./Bill Cochran before his death and he told me an interesting story about Frank James......Bill could remember Frank coming to the Faith community of southern Richwoods Township and visiting with some of the kinfolks of Jesse and Frank James. He was speaking of the Wall family-----Jim and Mildred (James) Wall who operated a trading post, blacksmith shop, and post office in their home called "Faith". It is said that Mildred James Wall was a cousin to Frank and Jesse James and all were born in the state of Virginia......Jesse Woodson James (1847-1882) and Alexander Franklin James (1843-1919) were born in the Old Dominion State and were sons of Robert Sallee James (1818-1875) and Zerelda Cole (1825-1911). Their ancestors came to America before the Revolutionary War from Pembrokshire, Wales and settled in Goochland Co., Virginia.
Bill Cochran told me he could remember when on a warm summer evening, the folks in the neighborhood would gather at the Wall home and music could be heard ringing out across the hills.......An old piano would be pushed under a tree with other stringed instruments keeping time to the lively music. He said that Frank James played a fiddle and joined the others in singing and playing the 'hill music'. Bill Cochran was a wonderful storyteller and he certainly held my attention during the evening I visited him.
You can read more interesting information about the Faith Community near where Black Jim and Mildred (James) Wall lived on our own website as written by Peggy’s daughter Kelly Warman-Stallings.
The Wall family history in Miller County is somewhat complicated because of some uncertainty over who was Black Jim Wall’s father. However, Black Jim Wall’s death certificate quite plainly records his father was Harvey Wall who is thought to have been the son of Adam Wall III (photos 25 and 26).
25 Black James Wall - Died 1928
26 Death Certificate - James Milton Wall Click image to view document in PDF format
Another son of Adam Wall III was also named James Wall, who would have been Black Jim’s uncle. The occurrence of two James Wall’s so closely related is sometimes given as the reason for Black Jim Wall’s name. Apparently, he was of darker skin or hair than his Uncle James Wall, son of Adam Wall III. So to avoid confusion between references to the two James’s, the darker haired James acquired his nickname. At any rate, most of the Miller County Walls can trace their ancestry back to one of these two James Walls. My wife Judy’s great grandfather was Adam Floyd Wall, son of James Wall and grandson of Adam Wall III. In this photo Judy’s grandmother, Ella, is standing between Adam Floyd Wall and his wife, Susannah (photo 27).
27 Adam Floyd and Susannah Wall, Ella, Alma, Oliver, Emma and Anna
Judy is a fourth cousin to Black Jim Wall who was a nephew of Judy’s great great grandfather, the other James Wall who apparently was of lighter colored skin or hair. Many other people I know are of Wall descendency. In fact, you probably ought to assume that about any long time south Miller County family has some “Wall” in them.
For those who want more information about the Wall families in Miller County I am attaching a Wall family history summary researched by Barbara Pemberton, the recently deceased wife of Don Pemberton, an Iberia born Miller County native who also is a Wall descendent (photo 28).
28 WALL Family History by Barbara Pemberton Click image to read entire document in PDF format
Barbara’s history explains the link between the two James Walls although her emphasis is on the lighter colored James Wall from which her husband Don descended.
This winter has become long and drawn out, even now as we head into March, the month when spring is supposed to begin. To be sure, sometimes winter scenes have beauty, especially if you can look at them through the window of a warm and cozy room (photos 29 and 30).
29 Beautiful
30 Sparkling
But this winter the snow has been relentless and caused much discomfort and difficulty as the following photos from the Vernon Publishing Company reveal (photos 31 - 34).
31 Oh no, snow again! Area residents headed out early Wednesday morning, Feb. 9,
as snow started falling late Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday,
blanketing the area with as much as three inches of snow. Area roads were again
snow covered and all schools in the area cancelled classes Wednesday and Thursday,
when morning temperatures dipped to as low as -13°. The piles of snow primarily are
from the 15-20 inches of snow that fell on the area Feb. 1. Photo by Heather Finch-Leuthen - Vernon Publishing Company
32 Maple Street covered in Eldon Photo courtesy of Vernon Publishing Company
33 Even though the snow in St. Elizabeth had to be pushed into piles along roads
and at parking lots, Miss Kitty said her business was closed only one day last week
thanks to
prompt and good response by the village and volunteers. Submitted photo - Vernon Publishing Company
34 10-foot high piles of snow are more common than not in Miller County after
15-20 inches of snow fell on the area last Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 1 and 2.
This pile was created Sunday afternoon when a contractor cleaned off the Tuscumbia
School parking lots in preparation to students coming back on Monday. Photo by Ginny Duffield - Vernon Publishing Company
But one hundred or more years ago few had cars and travel needs were usually not very distant. Snow could become a burden, of course, especially for farmers, but attitudes toward snow many times were serene and admiring as the following photos taken in the hilly river town of Tuscumbia indicate (photos 35 - 44).
35 Snow and Sliding - Possum Trot in Tuscumbia
36 Goosebottom from Shutin Bridge
37 Hillside sliding in Tuscumbia
38 J.R. Wells in Snow
39 Sliding Hill in Tuscumbia
40 Snow Scene from South of the River
41 Tuscumbia flooded Goosebottom after Snow
42 Tuscumbia in Winter - 1883
43 J.R. Wells unloading at Tuscumbia
44 Ice Skating
Third from Left: Ella Fendorf Swanson
Sixth from Left: Rose James Fendorf, Mother of Helen Phillips
That’s all for this week.
Joe Pryor
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Joe Pryor
