James Robert Cummins
Encyclopedia
James Robert Cummins or Cummings, aka: "Windy Jim" (January 31, 1847 - July 9, 1929) was an American criminal.
Cummins lived near Kearney, Missouri
and rode with Quantrill's Raiders
during the Civil War, most often assigned to follow “Bloody” Bill Anderson. A known horse thief, he joined up with the James-Younger Gang
after the war and was involved in the train robberies at Winston and Blue Cut, Missouri. He was suspected of being involved in the plot to kill Jesse James
because his sister, Artella Cummins, married Robert Ford
, Jesse’s killer. After the breakup of the James Gang, he became a farmer in Arkansas and actually tried to turn himself in several times, but no one believed he was really Jim Cummins. At the age of 63 he married Florence Sherwood and lived to an old age. He died in the Old Soldiers Home
at Higginsville Missouri on July 9, 1929.
Cummins lived near Kearney, Missouri
Kearney, Missouri
Kearney is a city in Clay County, Missouri, United States. The population was estimated to be 8,599 in 2008. It is most famous for being the birthplace of Jesse James, and there is an annual festival in the third weekend of September to recognize the notorious outlaw.Kearney was unofficially...
and rode with Quantrill's Raiders
Quantrill's Raiders
Quantrill's Raiders were a loosely organized force of pro-Confederate Partisan rangers, "bushwhackers", who fought in the American Civil War under the leadership of William Clarke Quantrill...
during the Civil War, most often assigned to follow “Bloody” Bill Anderson. A known horse thief, he joined up with the James-Younger Gang
James-Younger gang
The James-Younger Gang was a notable 19th-century gang of American outlaws that included Jesse James.The gang was centered in the state of Missouri. Membership fluctuated from robbery to robbery, as the outlaws' raids were usually separated by many months...
after the war and was involved in the train robberies at Winston and Blue Cut, Missouri. He was suspected of being involved in the plot to kill Jesse James
Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary...
because his sister, Artella Cummins, married Robert Ford
Robert Ford (outlaw)
Robert Newton "Bob" Ford was an American outlaw best known for killing his gang leader Jesse James in 1882. Ford was shot to death by Edward O'Kelley in his tent saloon with a shotgun blast to the front upper body...
, Jesse’s killer. After the breakup of the James Gang, he became a farmer in Arkansas and actually tried to turn himself in several times, but no one believed he was really Jim Cummins. At the age of 63 he married Florence Sherwood and lived to an old age. He died in the Old Soldiers Home
Old soldiers' home
An old soldiers' home is a military veteran's retirement home, nursing home, or hospital, or sometimes even an institution for the care of the widows and orphans of a nation's soldiers, sailors, and marines, etc.-United States:...
at Higginsville Missouri on July 9, 1929.