There is a definite connection between Jesse James' family and the Howard family. Both families came to Missouri from Logan County, Kentucky where they were early settlers. The families lived close by and were knew each other well. Tillman Howard West, son of Mary Mourning Howard, married Elizabeth James, sister of Jesse's father, Robert S. James. Tillman West and his wife Elizabeth also moved west to northwest Missouri and were well known to Jesse James and family. When Robert S. James died in California in 1850, Tillman Howard West, not their mother Zerelda, was appointed legal guardian over Frank and Jesse James and helped support the James family for a time. Tillman Howard West was a successful business man in Westport, so he had the financial resources to support the James family. Of course, later on Jesse James would use Mr. Howard as his most famous alias. The Howard name comes from Jesse's family connection to the Howard family.