The Northfield Bank Raid: Minnesotans Foil the James Younger Gang

The speaker will arrive in costume to relate an important historical event where Minnesotans, our ancestors, were key players in ending the reign of terror spread by one of the most notorious outlaw gangs in history. In late August, early September of 1876, the James-Younger Gang rode into Minnesota intent on robbing a number of prosperous banks in the southern part of the state. The gang was made up of eight and maybe nine of the most infamous desperadoes in the world of banditry. The core of the gang was made up of Jesse and Frank James, along with the three Younger brothers; Cole, Jim and Bob.

Why Minnesota? Why now? For ten years the James-Younger Gang had robbed and killed all over the mid-west with impunity, spreading a reign of terror wherever they went. The law, including the Pinkerton Agency was catching up with them. To escape the heat, the gang needed to find a new location for their criminal endeavors.

One of the gang members had, at one time, lived in Minnesota and knew that the state’s population was composed of hard-working, industrious people, many of them recent immigrants who farmed, ran businesses and put their money in banks that were “fat” with their deposits. The gang also knew that two of their old enemies from the Civil War had funds in the First National Bank in Northfield.

The gang believed that it would be a simple matter to ride into the state, into the banks and make forced withdrawals at the point their guns. They greatly underestimated the ardor and the resolve of the people of Minnesota. In the days when there was no FDIC to protect their savings, we the people of Minnesota were not about to let the James and Youngers come into our state and steal our future. The shootout that ensued would spell the end of the James-Younger Gang.

Hear and see the events of September 7, 1876 play out before you as Arn Kind brings this exciting historical event to life.