Old West outlaw who began his career by joining a band of Confederate marauders who rode through border states creating havoc against the Union. Younger joined the Frank and Jesse James holdup gang in 1866, soon convincing his brothers to join the gang. The Younger and James brothers committed a string of bank robberies and train holdups throughout Missouri and surrounding states in the 1860s and 1870s. A bloody shootout after the an attempted robbery of the First National Bank on September 7, 1876 resulted in the deaths of many gang members. An ensuing posse caught up with the survivors two weeks later. Again a fatal shootout occurred before Cole and brothers Jim and Bob were captured. He received an official pardon in 1903, eventually reuniting with Frank James in a touring Wild West show. Before his death on February 21, 1916, Younger went on the lecture circuit preaching the evils of crime. DS, one page both sides, 8.25 x 27, April 5, 1915. Membership application for the United Daughters of the Confederacy for Upton Hayes. Document notes that Hayes, 'received a wound in the battle of White Oak which he never fully recovered. He was shot through the body.' Signed at the bottom by Younger on a line of recommendation. In good condition, with light toning, scattered creasing, separation along a couple of horizontal storage folds, tape reinforcement to another folds and document slightly fragile. A rare relic of the Wild West! COA John Reznikoff/University Archives, PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
