In 1881 (or possibly 1882), Maryville had a scare that outlaw Jesse James was staying at Dr. David Mulholland’s home, next door to First National Bank President Joseph Jackson’s landmark mansion at Lincoln and Walnut. Bankers were reported to have either sent their cash out of town or locked it up in the vault. This story is told by Joseph Jackson. A big hole in the story is that Mulholland’s obituary says he taught school in Maryville and Andrew County, but makes no mention of teaching in Jesse’s home area of Clay County. Jesse was killed in St. Joseph in 1882.
Jackson’s story appears in the March 9, 1905, issue of the Nodaway Tribune, which was its 18-page “Old Settler’s Issue”—a treasure trove of stories about early Nodaway County. Some of the stories are true, but a lot of those old settlers had tall tales to tell.
“Maryville’s banks have never suffered from robbers, but we got a lively scare once. “Jesse James came to Maryville. He Came on a Visit.
“It was really an innocent little social errand that t brought him here, but we didn’t know what to expect, you see. “Jesse James and I both went to school to the same teacher–Dr. David Mulholland, one of Nodaway County’s pioneer physicians, is now dead.
“I didn’t attend school at the same time as Jesse James, so I didn’t know him. “Some time in 1881 or 1882, Dr. Mulholland came to me and said: ‘I want to tell you something in the strictest confidence, because we are old friends and neighbors.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Jesse James is in town!’ he said.
“I was surprised and thought, of course, that a raid might be on any time, so I asked him how he knew anything about it.
“Jesse James is at my house,” he went on.
“The other information had surprised me, but this was worse yet for the doctor and I was living in adjoining properties.” (at Lincoln and Walnut)
“He went on to explain that Jesse James, being an old pupil of his, had wished to pay him a visit and had come on without the doctor knowing anything about it until the visitor got here.
“I think he has only come for a visit and feel sure he doesn’t mean to do any crime–but – couldn’t commit feel just right without telling you about it,’ the doctor said.
“Well. Mr. (John) Terhune (First National’s Cashier of the Bank) and I thought, as did the doctor, that the great outlaw was really only anxious to see his old teacher–but just the same, we didn’t propose taking any chances! “So we sent to outside banks all the money we could possibly spare from the daily business, and then we kept nearly all the rest locked inside our vaults.
“We didn’t intend that Jesse James and his gang should get any money except what was in the drawer, if they raided us. And had they come that time, they would have been a badly sold lot, for it would have been like raiding a peanut stand.
Note: Cashier of the Bank (especially in institutional, regulatory, or historical contexts) is a high-ranking, executive, or managerial position responsible for managing the bank’s cash flow, vault, and compliance with financial regulations.
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Word is Jesse James spent the night next door to the bank president — must’ve been the only time a robber booked a room with complimentary financial advice.
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Jesse stayed by the bank president’s place that night. Guess even outlaws appreciate good neighborhood watch… and good interest rates.
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They say Jesse slept next door to Joseph Jackson. Maybe he wanted a firsthand look at the vault — or at least a stronger pillow.
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Jesse James at the bank president’s neighbor’s house: classic West-meets-welcome-wagon. “Howdy, I’m Jesse. Any chance you’ve got biscuits or a gold bar?”
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When the bank president heard Jesse was next door, he called the sheriff. Jesse called the mortgage broker.
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Jesse spending the night by the bank president — either a bold move, or the earliest example of “location, location, looting.”
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Local gossip: Jesse crashed next door to Joseph Jackson. They say he left a thank-you note: “Nice place — would rob again.”
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Jesse James choosing a room next to the bank president shows two things: he liked neighbors, and he had questionable taste in real estate.
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That night in Maryville: Joseph Jackson worried about ledgers, Jesse James worried about bedbugs. Neither got much sleep.
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Jesse slept across from the bank president; rumor has it they compared portfolios — one of cattle, one of coin. Both agreed on high risk, high reward.
