It'll Take Blood: The History of the Rainsbarger Brothers

During the 1880's, five brothers in Hardin County, Iowa would become known as 'Iowa's Most Famous Outlaws' and referred to as the 'Jesse James Gang of Hardin County'. The Rainsbargers were accused of stealing horses, and cattle, making counterfeit money, deadly assaults, and even murder!

When a local man, known as Enoch 'Horsethief' Johnson is found dead, the citizens of Steamboat Rock and Eldora, Iowa join forces to eradicate their towns of the Rainsbarger 'Gang'. Another local, William Hiserodt, known as Black Bill, leads the movement against the brothers as they fight to survive!

'The Rainsbargers are old offenders and they have been a terrible curse to this county. They have lived almost exclusively by dishonesty, and when any attempt had been made to bring them to punishment, they would send out their incendiaries and thieves and intimidate persons into silence.'

-The Eldora Herald

Were the Rainsbargers really responsible for the crimes of which they were accused? It'll Take Blood, is a historical work complete with pictures, newspaper clippings, and affidavits from the time of the Rainsbargers.

Author, Chris Scanlan, is the fourth great-grandson to William Rainsbarger. His debut novel, The Rainsbarger Brothers, is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.