Henry Washington Younger


Henry Washington Younger was a businessman and father to the Younger outlaws Cole, Jim, John and Bob. He was the father of fourteen children. He was the son of Colonel Charles Lee Younger and Sarah Sullivan Purcell and married Bersheba Leighton Fristoe in about 1830.

Henry and Bersheba Younger's Children

The family moved to Harrisonville in 1857, and in 1859 Henry was assigned as second mayor of the city.
He was frequently robbed and lost a lot of money. This angered his son Cole who thought he should make a stand. On July 20, 1862 Henry was traveling to Kansas City on a business trip while carrying $1,500 on his person. About one mile south of Westport he was shot three times in the back and killed. It was discovered the killing was politically motivated and not a robbery.
The body was returned to the Youngers who, afraid Union servicemen would dig it up, buried him in an unknown grave.