Frank James Visits

In 1868 my 2^nd cousin Sarah Elizabeth Pearis married David Emmons Johnston born in Pearisburg in 1845. He was well educated and a writer. He became a judge and Vice President of a brand new bank, Princeton Bank & Trust that had recently opened in Princeton West Virginia. Judge Johnston was the attorney for the bank. 

He was also a soldier in the Confederate Army and wrote The Story of a Confederate Boy in the Civil War.

In January 1843 Alexander Franklin James was born and 4 years later he would meet his little brother Jesse. You may know him better as Frank James, bank-robber member of the Younger-James Gang. 

What you may not know is that Frank was very well educated, an avid reader and very well versed in the works of Shakespeare. He was a soldier in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Judge Johnston built a house in Princeton for his family. 

It had 7 fireplaces, 4 bedrooms, 2 kitchens, 2 bathrooms a receiving room and a grand circular staircase. Inside the home was a vertical Schubert piano.

This home, owned by Johnston was one of only two structures that survived the burning of Princeton during the Civil War. A smaller building on the property served as Princeton’s first post office.  

The James Gang happened to be Huntington when they heard rumor of a new bank in Princeton. Frank went to investigate. He arrived in town and entered the bank posing as a salesman. The building was still in the stages of completion and as of yet still did not have a safe. Frank claimed he was a salesman from a company that made safes. He was advised to seek out Mr. Johnston the banks attorney and Vice President. He was invited into the home of the Johnston’s. He stayed for dinner, he played the piano, and he exchanged war stories with Mr. Johnston. The following day Frank left town and returned to Huntington. The bank was not robbed.

Was the bank not robbed because it was small? Because there was not a safe and Frank assumed there was no money? Did he bond with the Johnston’s while he enjoyed an evening of intellectual conversation and music around the piano? Was the fact that Princeton suffered during the Civil War reason to leave them in peace?  

The James Gang did have a policy that they would not “rob a banking institution presided over and owned by an ex-Confederate soldier."

In August of this year the Pearis-Johnston Home was auctioned and demolished.

Probably to make room for a Walmart.

Tomorrow ….. maybe we will chat about Reverend Robert Sallee James.