Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale holds the grave of a woman whose surname carries far more public noise than her own life. Jessie Estell James, also known as Estelle Jessie James Baumel, was a granddaughter of Jesse Woodson James. I find the contrast compelling: a famous outlaw dominates the family legend, while his granddaughter’s biography survives through a much quieter sequence of birth, marriage, family, and death.
She was born on August 27, 1906, and died on February 2, 1987. Between those dates lay 80 years, beginning in Kansas City, Missouri, and ending in Huntington Beach, California. Her story deserves to be read at that human scale rather than borrowed wholesale from her grandfather’s notoriety.
Names and an Uncertain County
Jessie Estell appears in several forms, including Estelle Jessie James and Jessie Estelle James Baumel. I treat those as variations referring to the same woman, rather than evidence of several separate relatives. Her married surname was Baumel.
Kansas City is the consistent birthplace. The county is less settled: family compilations identify either Clay County or Jackson County. Because Kansas City extends across county boundaries, the disagreement cannot be resolved simply by assuming that one familiar county must be correct.
Her death date also helps settle a small arithmetic problem. An August 27, 1906, birth followed by a February 2, 1987, death makes her 80, not 81. I prefer the age that fits the dates rather than repeating the larger number sometimes attached to her name.
Her Parents Jesse and Stella
Jessie’s father, Jesse Edwards James, was born on August 31, 1875. He was also known as Jesse Edward James, Jesse E. James, and, during childhood, Tim Edwards. The latter name helped conceal his connection to his father, the outlaw.
After Jesse Woodson James was murdered in 1882, his son lived in Kansas City. He later faced a train robbery prosecution and was acquitted in 1899. That same year, he published Jesse James, My Father. He owned a pawn shop, qualified to practice law in Missouri in 1906, and eventually appeared in films about the family history.
Those activities belong to Jessie’s father. I would not transfer his writing, legal career, or screen appearances to her merely because she shared his household and surname.
Her mother was Stella Frances McGowan, whose surname also appears as McGowen. Stella and Jesse married in 1900, although accounts disagree about the precise January day. Stella died in 1971; the exact date is also inconsistent. Her independent professional life is not established in the available biographical details.
Three Sisters in the James Household
Jessie was one of four daughters. Her sisters were Lucille Martha James, Josephine Frances James, and Ethel Rose James. Their names also appear with spelling variations and married surnames: Lewis, Ross, and Owens, respectively.
Lucille was born around 1900, Josephine around 1902 or 1903, and Ethel around 1908. I retain those approximate dates because the details vary. A neat family table should not create precision that the underlying family chronology cannot support.
| Family member | Relationship to Jessie | Identifying detail |
|---|---|---|
| Jesse Edwards James | Father | Lawyer and author, born 1875 |
| Stella Frances McGowan | Mother | Married Jesse in 1900 |
| Lucille Martha James Lewis | Sister | Born around 1900 |
| Josephine Frances James Ross | Sister | Born around 1902 or 1903 |
| Ethel Rose James Owens | Sister | Born around 1908 |
The family later became associated with Los Angeles. I would not insist on a particular moving date without firmer confirmation, but California clearly became central to Jessie’s adult life.
Marriage and the Baumel Family
Jessie is recorded as marrying Mervin B. Baumel in Los Angeles on May 23, 1931. His first name also appears as Mervyn. The marriage date and further household details come through compiled family history, so I keep that degree of uncertainty visible.
Mervin is listed as born on April 18, 1907, in San Francisco, the son of Frederick John Baumel and Emma Louise Bernhard. His death is recorded as March 28, 1961, in Los Angeles, with burial at Forest Lawn in Glendale.
Family genealogy lists at least one son and one daughter: Donald James Baumel and Diane June Baumel, both associated with 1933 birth dates. Donald is listed with a 2011 death year. Those entries do not establish a complete biography for either child, and no death should be assumed for Diane from an incomplete family summary.
I find the Baumel chapter important because it gives Jessie an adult identity beyond the James name. It also leaves room for what remains unknown, including her occupation and everyday interests.
Understanding the Earlier Generations
Jessie’s paternal grandparents were Jesse Woodson James and Zerelda Amanda Mimms James. Her great-grandparents through Jesse Woodson were Robert S. James and Zerelda Elizabeth Cole James. Frank James, Jesse Woodson’s brother, was her great-uncle.
The two Zereldas can easily cause confusion. Zerelda Amanda Mimms was the outlaw’s wife and Jessie’s grandmother. Zerelda Elizabeth Cole was the outlaw’s mother and Jessie’s great-grandmother. I keep their full names together because a repeated first name can otherwise blur an entire generation.
Jessie was born 24 years after her grandfather’s death. She could inherit his surname and the public curiosity surrounding it, but she could not have known him personally.
FAQ
When did Jessie Estell James die?
She died on February 2, 1987, in Huntington Beach, California. Based on her August 27, 1906, birth date, she was 80.
Where was she buried?
Her burial is recorded at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. She was not buried in the James family cemetery in Kearney, Missouri.
Was Jessie Estell James an outlaw?
No criminal career is established for her. She is known chiefly through her family relationships, including her descent from Jesse Woodson James.
What was her net worth?
No reliable personal financial figure is established.
