The James Boys In Kentucky
© Sandi Gorin
James Brothers in Elkton, KY
JAMES BROTHERS EAT AT ELKTON (Glasgow Times): A century of memories for Mrs. Ella STINNET McCLAID begins with her encounter with Jesse and Frank James. Her experiences, spanning 105 years, recall stories of her father as sheriff of Todd County, a tale about the Ku Klux Klan terrorizing the countryside and memories of her courting days of the 1880's. Born Christmas Day, 1862, on a "steep hill" between Elkton and Kirkmansville, Ky., Mrs. McClaid today dwells on her memories. For the past four years she's been cared for in the home here of Mrs. Ann NORFOLK.
Like the time when her "Papa" was managing the Nick and Will Hotel in Elktotn. "One bright summer day about half past one o'clock," she said, "Jesse James and his brother, Frank, rode up to the door and dismounted. They asked my father to give them dinner." Because serving time for the noon meal was over, her father told the two men that they'd have to wait until supper. However, after they explained that they'd been "in the saddle since before dawn", her father said they could have some warmed left-overs. "While they waited for the food they conversed with Papa, just like anybody else. They talked about horses and they told him they were bound for their mother's for the night. Mrs. James had remarrieddd - I don't remember what her name was then - and she lived on the Nashville road bestween Russellville and Adairville." The brother ate, rested for a while and before climbing back in the saddle, "left me a five dollar bill under one of the plates." But I gave it back and told them that my Papa didn't allow me to take money. As he left, though, Jessee pressed it in my hand and I kept it.
The next day at 2 o'clock the news came to Elkton that the James brothers had robbed the bank at Russellville, a caper that according to history was pulled off on March 20, 1868. Asked if she or her father knew who the fancy strangers were when they dined at the Nick and Will, Mrs. McClaid indignantly and emphaticall yelled, "No!" (From Louisville Courier-Journal, April 21, 1968).