Saddle up, because this ones a bit of a doozyI'll explain Bass Reeves as best as I can. He was 62 tall and extraordinarily strong. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8584642/bass-reeves, US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles. Deputies would work out of Fort Smith and venture into the Indian Territory with warrants and open warrants. One of Bass Reeves' warrants was for a notorious outlaw named Bob Dozier, who was wanted for a wide range of crimes from cattle and horse rustling, to holding up banks, stores, and stagecoaches to murder, and land swindles. He liked to brag that there was never any crime reported on his beat. Bass raised horses and served as a scout for deputy U.S. marshals going into the Indian Territory. Marshal west of the Mississippi River, although he was never a Ranger nor did he ever live in Texas. Is it a sequel to a prequel? The Reeves family moved to North Twelfth Street, Park Place, in 1889. One of the most infamous men in Indian Territory went by the name Greenleaf. [3], As a freedman, Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Marshal Bass Reeves. Marshals Museums board of directors, said Burton told Reeves story at a Fort Smith National Historic Site Descendants Day event in the early 2000s and helped Reeves receive the notoriety for his bravery and incredible career as a lawman. At times, he dressed himself as a local farmer. The public won't want to miss the unveiling of these pieces on Saturday," said Jessica Hougen, curator of collections and exhibits for the U.S. When Reeves drew his warrant, Story drew his Coltbig mistake. In fact, the Oklahoma City Weekly Times Journal once reported that Reeves was never known to show the slightest excitement, under any circumstance. When they neared Doziers hideout, things turned ugly. Bass was also very quick and accurate with a pistol. He tried to apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the Billy Washington Ranch in the Chickasaw Nation. This was his first taste of work with the US government in an official capacity. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Bass would travel west to Fort Sill, north to Fort Reno and sometimes Fort Supply, picking up and arresting felons who broke federal law in the Indian Territory. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and retired. Marshal badge and bullets that one belonged to U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves. The legendary lawman was said to. He beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. The Arkansas Gazette in September 1884 re-ported Reeves brought 15 prisoners to Fort Smith. He knew that he would have to escape, so he went to what is Oklahoma today and found a HOME with the Seminole and Creek American Indians. Bass Reeves served 35 years as a Deputy United States Marshal in that time he arrested 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 men, he always said that he never shot a man when it was not necessary for him to do so in the discharge of his duty to save his own life. Bass Reeves, a former slave, fiercely defended the Old West during his 32-year tenure as deputy U.S. marshal. At his trial before Judge Parker, Reeves claimed to have shot the man by mistake while cleaning his gun; he was represented by former United States Attorney W. H. H. Clayton, who was a colleague and friend. At the age of 67, Bass Reeves retired from federal service at Oklahoma statehood in 1907. Hold your horses though, because theres no official release date for Bass Reeves just yet. Spears is now leading an effort to erect a bronze statue of Judge Parker downtown. That year he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas, for a short while. As a black man living in the south in the 19th century, records about Reeves are spotty at bestbut the stories paint a picture of a formidable man. Though there were over 200 deputies to choose from in Indian Territory, marshals, judges, and district courts constantly turned to Bass Reeves because they knew that he would deliver results. Reeves was now 69 years old, the only deputy U.S. marshal I have found that started with Judge Parkers regime in 1875 and worked up to Oklahoma statehood in 1907. He does not know what fear is. This claim was backed up with hard evidence, as well soon discover. The details of his sons doings were unpleasant. Over his long career as a lawman, the mustachioed slinger racked up a body count of 14 men. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. He recruited Bass Reeves as one of his deputies because of his knowledge of the territory and tribes. Reeves, a deputy U.S. marshal, was one of many black law officers, sheriffs, deputies, and judges who helped keep law and order alive in the "Wild West.". Reeves was quicker and dropped the outlaw. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Apparently, the six-foot lawman was a talented actor and took on a variety of aliases and disguises as he prowled outlaw country. Reeves became known in the early 1880s for bringing prisoners back to the Fort Smith court in double digits. Marshal. He worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. A little dose of karma eventually came down upon the Colonel. The items will become property of the U.S. This appointment was made by Judge Isaac C. Parker in May of 1975. "The recent collection of Bass Reeves' prized guns from one of his descendants is incredible for the museum. Word of the relationship somehow got out. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass Reevess descendants, the Southwest Times Record reported. The Lone Ranger has appeared in thousands of radio episodes, hundreds of television episodes, hundreds of comic books, six films, and dozens of novels. Many claim this infamous lawman's exploits were the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. The U.S. When the altercation turned physical, Reeves released a well-deserved beatdown on the Colonel. Reeves was over six feet tall and sported a thick black handlebar mustache. One day, a posse cook caught a bullet from Reeves trusty Colt while the lawman was cleaning it. Tontos fictionalized story was far from the only racist part of the adaptation of the Lone Rangers life. Arkansas native Bass Reeves was one of the first black lawmen west of the Mississippi River. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. The federal jail court was in Van Buren for the western district of Arkansas and Indian Territory. Heartbroken, this is when Bass Reeves took matters into his own hands. Art T. Burton, a retired college history professor, has written four critically acclaimed history books on the American Western frontier. . The Creek Nation had a heavy African Indian population, as did the Seminole Nation. At his trial in October 1887, Reeves was found innocent. Tom Wing, history professor with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, feels that Reeves was so well respected by local lawmen that he was offered a light duty job with the Muskogee Police Department. Finally, it came time to bring him down. Bass Reeves Born about Jul 1838 in Crawford, Arkansas, United States Son of [father unknown] and Parilee Washington Stewart [sibling (s) unknown] Husband of Nellie (Jennie) Reeves married about 1864 in Arkansas, United States Husband of Winnie (Sumter) Reeves married 1900 in Muskogee,Oklahoma,United States Descendants Talk about motherly love! Oklahoma became a state in 1907. He appointed [8] James Fagan as U.S. Reeves disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. Reeves and Webb had a gunfight in June 1884 near Bywaters Store, which was a stagecoach stop. Because it was Bass's son the other deputies were reluctant to take the warrant. Adams, Jake Island, Andy Alton and one Smith, larceny.. So, when Reeves learned that his son was a wanted man, the lawman demanded the warrant. All Rights Reserved. When the amendment passed, he moved to Arkansas and became a small-time farmer. Interest was, With a budget of $250 million, this summers Disney movie, The Lone Ranger, will be. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. He bought a small farm and married[6] Nellie Jennie. Marshal credited with being the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. Bass took the warrant and bought his son in for murder shortly thereafter his son convicted and sent to Leavenworth. At others, he took on the guise of an outlaw. He was never KNOWN to make a mistake. Bass Reeves was the first black man to be appointed a U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. Art T. Burton AFRICAN AMERICANS, RUFUS CANNON, FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT FOR WESTERN ARKANSAS, ROBERT L. FORTUNE, FREEDMEN, INDIAN TERRITORY, GRANT JOHNSON, ZEKE MILLER, ISAAC CHARLES PARKER, SEGREGATION If anyone has a chance to come to crawford county, come do it! Typically, local posses accompanied Reeves on his expeditions and stakeouts. [1] He was one of the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. There must be something in the family genes, because a number of Reeves descendants have left serious marks of their own. Reeves's former position as a U.S. A crack shot, he won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him first without suffering a single wound. Marshals Museum. [1] It appears plausible that Reeves was kept in bondage by William Steele Reeves's son, Colonel George R. Reeves -- a Texan sheriff, legislator, and one-time Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives until his death from rabies in 1882. Unlike the other shows, it will not focus on a single ranch or family dynamic, but on the life of an extraordinary man who was a legend of his time. During that time he was sent to arrest some of the most desperate characters that ever infested Indian Territory and endangered life and peace in its borders. He said he took part in the Battle of Pea Ridge, the Battle of Missionary Ridge, and the Battle of Chickamauga. Yes and yes. Until just a few years ago, it was more likely that only readers steeped in the lore of the west or Parkers court knew much about the deep-voiced man who sang softly before going into a gunfight. Bass occasionally would serve as a guide into the Indian Territory for Deputy U.S. .css-gk9meg{display:block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-top:0.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-gk9meg:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.15;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}Celebrities Who Voice Cartoon Characters, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 is About to Commence, The Underworld Crossover of the Century Is Coming. Bynum Colbert, a Choctaw Freedmen, was a veteran of an Arkansas United States Colored Regiment of the Civil War and served seven years with the 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment post-Civil War. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and had to retire. Before Reeves could respond, the gunman shot his belt in half. From judges to supervising marshals, nobody took issue with Reevesexcept, of course, for outlaws. He still always got his manand when they asked him to produce his warrants, he always pulled out the right one. In real life, he carried a .44 caliber . One account recalls how Bass Reeves and George Reeves had an altercation over a card game. In 1907 Bass Reeves' time as a deputy marshal came to an end, because law enforcement was taken over by state agencies after Oklahoma became a state. Marshal? He knew that every chase was potentially his last. He once said he knew the Indian Territory like a cook knows her kitchen. The lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to face him in competition. At Muskogee, Reeves worked under Leo E. Bennett, the former Indian agent for the Five Civilized Tribes, headquartered at the same town. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. [11] The United States Court at Fort Smith, was the largest in the nation. Because Reeves spent his early years in enslavement, even as an adult man, he couldnt read. He was also a black dude. Reeves was also known to love racing his sorrell horse, and would go to extremes to serve writs. The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. Story was the leader of a feared gang of horse thieves who operated under the highly original name of The Tom Story Gang. Despite his instantly-recognizable look, rumor has it that the lawman had a few other tricks up his sleeve. Reeves, it seems, was the most famous of them all. Bass was also taught tactics of disguise in riding horses and stealth in combat. When he retired in 1907, Reeves had on his record over 3,000 arrests of felons. His son was tried and sent to Kansas Leavenworth Prison. Bass Reeves made it impossible for anyone to overlook him as he embarked on a three-decade stint as a deputy lawman under one of the most cutthroat judges in the West. Once And For All, Is The Lone Ranger Based on Bass Reeves? Reeves was interviewed in 1902, and at that time he stated that he had arrested over 3,000 men and women who broke federal law in the Indian Territory. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Good job on the profile!! It seems that Reeves talents were without end. President Ulysses S. Grant appointed a U.S. congressman from Missouri named Isaac C. Parker to take over the Fort Smith federal court in March 1875. Bass Reeves is a part of US Black history. Eventually, his work earned him a place as the hunted. Greenleaf terrorized the area for years, but to Reeves, he was just another bounty. From a glance, Bass Reeves was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. Marshals. He served 11 years at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas before his sentence was commuted; he reportedly lived the rest of his life as a model citizen. Ironically, Reeves was brought up on first-degree murder charges, not manslaughter or criminal negligence, after a new U.S. marshal was hired, the first former Confederate officer Reeves would work for. As the first Black deputy west of the Mississippi River, Reeves arrested more than . Williams son, Colonel George Reeves, was Basss legal owner. In 1897 he was transferred to the Muskogee Federal Court. Over the course of his career, which began when he was in his fifties, mind you, Reeves brought in a tremendous 3,000 felons. Bass Reeves was one of the greatest peace officers in the history of the American western frontier. [5], Reeves was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. His expertise in local languages and culture made him perfectly suited to the job. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Reeves never learned to read, so he memorized his arrest warrants. Gibson, assault with intent to kill; Arthur Copiah, Abe Lincoln, Miss Adeline Grayson and Sally Copiah, alias Long Sally, introducing whiskey in Indian country; J.F. In total, he found at least twelve cards posted promising his demise. Family history states that Bass and George got into an argument over a card game during the Civil War. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. In 1848, George was elected tax collector, and in 1850, he was elected sheriff of Grayson County. He hung up the stirrups at 68 years oldso that he could become another kind of officer. Most people also know that the portrayal of Tonto as the Lone Rangers sidekick is often stereotypical and racist. The Lone Ranger was very real, but he was not the white man seen on movies and TV. As it turns out, the time to draw seemed to come up a lot. The marshal tracked him down and made him an offerand so began a whirlwind tale of adventure, courage, and cold-blooded lawmaking. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. Reeves was a deputy U.S . After his release, he apparently turned his life around and lived out the rest of his life without offense. The same newspaper in March of 1885 reported Reeves bringing in 13 prisoners. Reeves was in a dangerous profession and, unsurprisingly, had a lot of close calls. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and pistol, Reeves, during his long career, developed superior detective skills. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. From 1920-1970, Kennedy explained, the name Bass Reeves, as well as those of Grant Foreman and Robert Fortune were forgotten outside the circle of family and local history. And he got his man as often as any of the deputies. Judge Parker ruled on the situation and acquitted Reeves of all charges. The deputy lawman found himself on the wrong side of the law in 1887. Thanks for your time! Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. Though he had a hard reputation, Reeves was, by all accounts, a mild-mannered and polite man. In 1907, Reeves joined up with the Muskogee law enforcement office in Oklahoma, where he worked for two years. Working mainly the Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory, Reeves would bring more than 3,000 dangerous criminals, outlaws, and murderers to justice - including his own son. . I think Bass Reeves claim to fame is his persistence, and he bounced back after the murder trial.. He handed down a hefty sentence: Life in prison. Bass won many turkey shoots for his master, which in Texas was prestigious for George. Husband of Nellie Reeves and Winnie J. Sumner Reeves Brother of UFN Washington and Jane Reeves, Bass Reeves was born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. He was apparently well dressed, with spit-polished boots and a striking, wide-brimmed hat on his head. Bass Reeves and his family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. Marshal, he arrested 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 men. Other reasons, Kennedy adds, included Reeves age. In 1887, Reeves had to sell his home and farm in the Catcher Community near Van Buren to pay for his first-degree murder defense with attorneys William H.H. Almost a year out from a planned opening of the new $60 million museum, its the lawmans family tree the curator wants most. [3], Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. He was an excellent shooter, but he took this talent to the next level: The lawman was completely ambidextrous. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. Nellie was the mother of all 10 of his children. setTimeout(function(){var t=document.createElement("script");t.setAttribute("src","https://sample.dragonforms.com/getEmbeddedClientScript.do?embeddedsite=TW_dispatch_nl"),t.setAttribute("type","text/javascript"),document.body.appendChild(t)},5); Become a subscriber today and youll recieve a new issue every month plus unlimited access to our full archive of backlogged issues. [1] When Bass was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. Over a thirty-year career, he faced some of the most feared men in America. [5] He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. Some say the Quentin Tarantino movie, Django, was based on his life.[17]. Bass Reeves (2010 Video), Ponderous Productions, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Comedic Facts About Red Skelton, The Kookiest Clown Around, Glamorous Facts About The Countess Of Castiglione, The First Model, Sensational Facts About Louella Parsons, The Queen Of Hollywood Gossip, Extravagant Facts About Mohammad Reza, The Doomed Shah. Reeves could not read or write, but he was a skilled detective, a master of disguise, and an expert tracker. [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. He captured the two gang members in the Red River Valley, but it wasnt exactly simple: The boys mother chased him for three miles, cursing his name the whole time! Bass Reeves was born in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838. Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. The St. Louis Globe Democrat in February 1884 reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners to Fort Smith. Reeves couldnt stay on as a ranger forever. Bass Reeves was born a slave. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. In 1872 the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas (which included 74,000 miles of Indian territory) established quarters in the former barracks building of Fort Smith. Research shows that Reeves stayed in Fort Smith until 1893. Reeves made a name for himself early in his career when he struck out after the famous outlaw Bob Dozier. Well, when Sheridan finished 1883, producers over at the Paramount Network were mighty angry that he wrote it so that there couldnt be a second season. As usual, Reeves struck out with a posse. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his master's son during THE CIVIL WAR. As Sheridan recently told Deadline, they wanted to hold a meeting to discuss how certain characters may have survived their deaths, so Sheridan worked up another peek into the window instead. Tragically, Reeves accidentally shot his cook on one of his trips into the Indian Territory in 1884. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. This page has been accessed 17,324 times. If you didnt think the .css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}Yellowstone extended universe of shows could get any more confusing, well, youd lose that bet today. Though it won't include anyone from the cast of 1883, Bass Reeves will follow the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshall west of the Mississippi River in U.S. history. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. Theres only one catch: Bass Reeves is not an original character. Marshal James Fagan was replaced not long after Judge Parker took over the court with a Union veteran, Daniel P. Upham. [2][3][4] Bass stayed with these Native American tribes and learned their languages until he was freed by the Thirteenth Amendment's abolishment of slavery in 1865. Neither man backed down. As usual, Reeves confronted Story directly. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. He is a member of Western Writers of America and the Chicago Westerners Corral, and was made an honorary territorial marshal by Oklahoma Governor David Walters. [5], Reeves was married twice and had eleven children. Bass Reeves, (born 1838, Crawford county, Arkansas, U.S.died January 12, 1910, Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.), American lawman who was one of the first deputy U.S. marshals of African descent in the American West. He worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. [5][6][7][8], He was a great-uncle of Paul L. 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