Archie Samuel

Who was Archie Samuel?

Archie Peyton Samuel was the half brother of American outlaws Frank James and Jesse James.

Born in 1866, he was the last child born to Zeralda James Samuel and her third husband Dr. Reuben Samuel. He had three siblings from the same parents, Sarah Ellen, John Thomas and Fanny Quantrill.

He also had 5 half-siblings, from his father's side, and possibly a sixth one Perry Samuel born of a slave, and on his mothers side Frank James, Robert B. James, Jesse James and Susan Lavenia James.

Archie had a hard time growing up, his elder half-brothers Frank and Jesse were always in trouble with the law, so the Samuel farm was often ransacked. Archie may also have suffered from mental retardation.

On January 26, 1875 detectives hoping to track down Frank and Jesse surrounded the farm, they threw a bomb through the window, Archie believed the bomb was a log, so he threw it into the fire, it exploded, killing him instantly and wounding his mother.