I've spotted several remarks about Jesse James -- who saved my paternal GF's life. According to my uncle and father, GF Fleming was a cowhand riding trail somewhere between TX and MT. Jesse would occasionally like to "lay low" and would join them on the trail under an assumed name. One day Jesse, another cowboy and Grampa Ben were scouting, went over a hill and surprised a band of Indians about to attack a small homestead. According to Grampa, Jesse had his gun out long before the other two did -- literally saving them by being so quick. Gramps was born in 1858, trailed cattle in his younger days, worked as cattle inspector in what is now the Dakotas (inspected herds being sold to the Souix on reservations to prevent miscounting and diseased animals being sold), new Sitting Bull and several other chiefs, and finally homesteaded in MT. Married in 1980's to his 16 yr old wife and had 12 children. 3 were boys named: William McKinley, Benjamin Franklin, and Theodore R (for Robert). I guess I could say I'm descended from Benjamin Franklin.
