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In August of 1876, Jesse and Frank James, the three Younger brothers, Clell Miller, Charlie Pitts and Bill Chadwell (who went
by the alias Stiles) rode into the small town of Albert Lea, Minnesota, some 370 miles from their home in Clay County, Missouri.
They bought eight thoroughbred horses at the City Livery and Sale Stable. This was the beginning step of the most notorious
event in the history of the Old West.
Several members went North to Minneapolis, while the others stayed around Albert Lea. The gang in Minneapolis, under
the lead of Cole Younger and Bill Chadwell, stayed at the Nicollet House, which is at present day Washington Avenue between
Nicollet and Hennepin Avenues. While there, they pretended to be cattlemen or agents looking for a location for a railroad.
A few left the others in Minneapolis to check out Saint Paul. These members were: Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Bill Chadwell,
and Clell Miller. This time, though, the outlaws didn't spend the night in a hotel like they did in Minneapolis, but on a
street. There was a deep cut on the intersection of Sibley and Fifth Streets where they spent the night.
The gang looked at many banks in Saint Paul including: The Savings Bank, The Marine, The First National, The German American,
Farmers and Mechanics, and the Second National Bank. But a member of the gang was recognized by a citizen and had to leave
the area as fast as possible. Since the Twin Cities was now out of the question, the gang looked further South. They looked
at Mankato and Red Wing, but the streets where too lively. They turned to the First National Bank in Northfield.
The bank in Northfield seemed almost too perfect. Not only did it hold thousands of dollars, but also the hated ex-Governor
of Mississippi, Adelbert Ames, had deposited a large sum of money in that bank. Ames also owned a Mill in Northfield and helped
get the city on its feet with John North, whom the city is named after. The gang looked around Northfield for awhile and made
the decision that it was to be the place of the heist.
The plan was simple: they would divide into three groups and come into the city at separate times and take positions around
the Scriver block (where the bank was located) and one group would go into the bank and rob it. It was as easy as that.
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