Jesse James in Muhlenberg County
Preface: While reading the events below, it must be explained to some that Mercer, Kentucky has faded almost into nonexistence. It was once a thriving coal mining community located on old Highway 62 between Powderly and Central City. Mercer Church still exists on the second road called Highway 62.
- July 1880—Jesse, Dick, and Bill arrive in Adairville, Kentucky and stay at the Hite farm, relatives of Jesse and fellow gang member Wood Hite. After a few days, Jesse and Dick leave the Hite place (Bill stays) and continue onto Nashville, Tennessee.
- Aug. 1880—A man named Clarence Rutherford, a friend of the Hite family, is arrested for a murder in Adairville, Kentucky. Rutherford’s brother asks Jesse to brake his brother out of jail. Jesse agrees and rounds up his gang. A few days before the planned jailbreak, Rutherford’s brother tells Jesse not to go through with it. Jesse feels his time has been wasted and is furious, since he has already traveled back to Adairville. Eventually, Jesse and gang members Dick Liddil and Bill Ryan decide to rob a tourist filled stagecoach in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, so that their trip to the Bluegrass State isn’t a complete loss.
- Sept. 3, 1880—Jesse and Bill rob a sightseeing stagecoach near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky (Dick had backed out of the planned robbery a few days prior). Jesse and Bill end up stealing several pieces of jewelry from the passengers (including a watch which is later discovered in Jesse’s house after his murder) and ride off with around $2,000 in cash.
- Oct. 1880—Jesse begins planning to rob the Dovey Coal Mines’ payroll, located in Mercer, Kentucky. He plans to rob the payroll from the general store owned by the Dovey family. He expects that the take will be a large one.
- Oct. 15, 1880—Jesse James, Bill Ryan, and Dick Liddil rob the Doveys’ store, expecting the payroll to be there. However, it is not and the trio ends up stealing only $13 worth of cash and one watch. After the robbery, the robbers end up fleeing back towards Nashville.
- Late Oct. 1880—Jesse, Bill, and Dick reach Nashville. They stay at Frank’s house and Frank ends up employing Dick and Bill to work on his ranch, although he doesn’t trust them and probably only does so to humor Jesse.
Note that Muhlenberg History indicates the watch was returned to the Dovey family years later by the James family.