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Submitted: 1/10/21 • Approved: 1/10/21 • Last Updated: 1/13/21 • R827449-G0-S3
9 Jul 1847 Kearney, Clay Co, MO
10 Jul 1929 Higginsville, LaFayette Co, MO
James "Jim" Robert Cummins was also known as "Windy Jim" and also used the alias surname "Johnson" on occasion. Jim was a farmer, soldier, criminal, author, and many claim he was the last living member of the James Gang, the son of Samuel R. Cummins and Eleanor "China" Crossett. Born and raised in Kearney, MO, his family were neighbors of the James family. They attended the same school and church.
At the age of 15 he witnessed Union soldiers ordered by Captain Salmon (Solomon) Bigelow to commondeer provisions and stock for the Union Army, threatening his mother. He shot and killed 3 of the soldiers, wounding another who rode off with the fifth soldier, thus began his life as a fugitive and an outlaw.
He took up with Joseph O. Shelby shortly after, then rode with Quantrill's Raiders, and joined the Confederate military. Took part in the attempted arrest and subsequent shooting of Captain Salmon (also seen as Solomon) G. Bigelow of Plattsburgh, Clinton Co, MO formerly of the 48th Enrolled Missouri Infantry Union and his brother in 1864.
In 1866 Jim joined the James Gang in Liberty, MO at the request of Frank James and claims he caught up with the Gang just after the robbery (Peace time America's first daytime bank robbery at the Clay County Savings Bank.) on 13th of February 1866.
Jim spent many years in the company of the James - Younger Gangs participating in a variety of illegal activities before having a falling out with Jesse James over the murder of Ed Miller who was his good friend. Once he found out Jesse killed Ed, he let the word get out to Ed's friends and family which he felt led to an earlier death than might have been expected for Jesse.
Jim left the area for Wyoming and opened a shoe store. This may have been where his alias surname "Johnson" was used. He married Florence Sherwood in around 1910 and died a widower at the Higginsville Confederate Soldiers Home in Higginsville, MO July 9, 1929. He is buried in the Higginsville Confederate Cemetery.
Contributed on 1/10/21
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Record #: 827449