author
Cole Younger
1844–1916
A Confederate guerrilla turned notorious outlaw, he became one of the best-known members of the James–Younger Gang before spending years in prison after the failed Northfield raid. Later in life, he recast his story for the public through lectures and an autobiography.
1 Audiobook
The Story of Cole Younger, by Himself
by Cole Younger
About the author
Born Thomas Coleman Younger in Jackson County, Missouri, in 1844, he grew up in the violent borderland atmosphere of the Civil War era. As a teenager he joined Confederate guerrillas associated with William Clarke Quantrill, an experience that shaped the rest of his life.
After the war, he became a leading figure in the James–Younger Gang, riding with Jesse James and his own brothers Jim, John, and Bob. His outlaw career effectively ended after the gang's disastrous 1876 attempt to rob the bank in Northfield, Minnesota, when he was captured and sent to prison.
Released years later, he lived a very different public life, speaking about his past and helping publish The Story of Cole Younger, by Himself. He died in 1916, remembered as both a product of the Civil War's turmoil and one of the most famous outlaws of the American frontier.