Marshals Museum: The museum loves to talk to the descendants of historic Marshals and Deputies and we receive. Many claim this infamous lawman's exploits were the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. Bass Reeves will be executive produced by Sheridan, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari.MTV Entertainment Studios, Sheridan's Bosque Ranch . Fortunately, he had another useful skill. They had 11 children: William Reeves, Edgar Reeves, Lulu Reeves, Sally Reeves, Robert Reeves, Harriet Reeves, George Reeves, Alice Mae Reeves, Newland Reeves, Benjamin Bennie Reeves and Bass Reeves Jr. Bass married Winnie Reeves in 1864, at age 26 in Arkansas, United States. [2][3] "[4] Bass Reeves fled north into the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians until he was freed by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. Bass Reeves (July 1838 January 12, 1910) was an American law enforcement official, historically noted as the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. As a black man tasked with law enforcement in unceded, Indigenous territory, Reeves was in a precarious situation. Two weeks later he returned to Muskogee with his son and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. Many lawmen had tried to apprehend the outlaw, but none were successful until it came to Reeves. Marshals office in Muskogee was downsized, and Reeves found himself out of work. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56. Early in the war, the 11th Texas Cavalry Regiment fought at the Battle of Chustenahlah in the Indian Territory and the Battle of Pea Ridge, also known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern. Bass Reeves and his family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. He once said he knew the Indian Territory like a cook knows her kitchen. He does not know what fear is. This claim was backed up with hard evidence, as well soon discover. His long muscular arms have attached to them a pair of hands that would do credit to a giant and they handle a revolver with the ease and grace acquired only after years of practice. He went back to work as one of the deputies of the Western District of Arkansas at Fort Smith under Judge Isaac C. Parker. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. 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. Reeves would take on any job, no matter how dangerous, so it didnt surprise anyone when he took on an arrest warrant for Tom Story. Reeves and his companion avoided the first flurry of bullets, and the sound of the laughter pinpointed Doziers location. The Lone Ranger was very real, but he was not the white man seen on movies and TV. 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. All were two years in age apart. The rest of the gang disappeared, and no one ever heard from them again. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. For a slave to hit his master in Texas was punishable by death. Editors of AHM, A Guide to America's Greatest Historic Places, p. 9). We may earn a commission from these links. He tried to apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the Billy Washington Ranch in the Chickasaw Nation. [5] He was an uncle of Paul L. Brady, the first African-American appointed a Federal Administrative Law Judge (in 1972). From a glance, Bass Reeves was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. Marshals who rode for Parker have received fame over the years: Paden Tolbert bringing in Ned Christie, for example. There was a fine line between lawmen and outlaws in the Old West, and sometimes, men crossed it. My mom never told me how her best friend died. People in period dress were at the Bass Reeves Memorial on Saturday at Three Rivers Museum. The talented marksman and guide quickly started making a name for himself. They didnt always give him that option. After his capture by Reeves, residents came from as far as 20 miles to see that Greenleaf was in handcuffs before they took him to Fort Smith. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. During the Civil War . Bass Reeves was born a slave. Bass Reeves was born a slave, but died a respected lawman, having served in the Indian Territory (and later Oklahoma), Arkansas and Texas, the National Park Service states. Marshal Bass Reeves. 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 was given the name of his owner, William Reeves. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. Despite his brutal methods, Reeves was an honorable man to his core. Deputy United States Marshal Bass Reeves reunites with his former partner turned fugitive Sam Tanner. Bennie was subsequently captured, tried, and convicted. Police departments and state agencies took over, meaning that marshals and deputies lost their authority. He was a real-life gunslinger and lawman who lived from 1838 to 1910, and he was said to have recorded over 3,000 arrests during his lifetime. Bass Reeves is often called the 'greatest frontier hero in American history.' He was the first Black Deputy U.S. Bass Reeves is a part of US Black history. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass Reevess descendants, the Southwest Times Record reported. Though it hasnt been explicitly stated, many outlets have just been calling the series Bass Reeves. He died in 1910. [1] When Bass was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. Other blacks were also appointed to this position: Dee Rogers, Bob Fortune, Bill Colbert, Neely Factor, Zeke Moore and Grant Johnson. After some malfeasance and misappropriations of federal funds, William Story was fired as the judge of the Western District of Arkansas federal court at Fort Smith. He liked to brag that there was never any crime reported on his beat. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Reeves. As it turns out, the time to draw seemed to come up a lot. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 Deputy U.S. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass . A fitting end to a horrible man, George Reeves contracted rabies and passed in 1882. A year after moving to Arkansas, Reeves fell in love. He served his time in Ft. Leavenworth in Kansas before being released and living the rest of his life as a responsible and model citizen. He tracked two outlaws to their mothers house in the Red River Valley. Well, as a deputy in Indian Territory, Bass Reeves rode his horse from Fort Smith to Fort Renoa distance of 800 mileson more than one occasion. While working as a water boy and field hand with his family as a youngster, Bass would originate and sing songs about guns, rifles, knives, robberies and killings. At this point, with a downtown Fort Smith statue of Reeves erected in 2012, along with several True West Magazine stories and a 1992 induction in the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, it would be peculiar if someone asks Whos Bass Reeves?. This chronic kidney affliction managed to do what no man in the West was able to do and forced Reeves to stop working. This appointment was made by Judge Isaac C. Parker in May of 1975. Though he had a hard reputation, Reeves was, by all accounts, a mild-mannered and polite man. Being ambidextrous he always wore two Colt pistols and he rarely missed his mark. Its clear at this point that the deputy tracked down and captured a huge number of outlaws. Reeves County in West Texas is named for him. In 1855, George was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Grayson County. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. However, he didnt retire just yet. Finally, it came time to bring him down. William Steele Reeves, a prominent citizen and politician, enslaved his family. His son was eventually tracked and captured, tried and convicted. 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. 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. (Reference unknown). Reeves was a deputy U.S . But theres one last twist in this story: Bennie received a pardon in 1914. Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. He bought a small farm and married[6] Nellie Jennie. Bass raised horses and served as a scout for deputy U.S. marshals going into the Indian Territory. Its a sequel to a prequel (of sorts), but it can still be viewed and enjoyed separate from Yellowstone. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. Eventually, Reeves decided he had to fulfill his obligation personally. [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. Reeves disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. He became the first black man to work as a deputy west of the Mississippi River. Western Books: An Officer of Honor and Grit, Ask the Marshall Bat Masterson: Armed and Dangerous, Lincoln: Prepare Ye the Way for the Horde. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. Just one grandparent can lead you to many As one of the most respected lawmen working in Indian Territory, he achieved legendary status for the number of criminals he captured. Im sitting here going, Guys, everyone is dead. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story will be another peek inside that era. Just one close call like that would be enough for us to hang up our hats for good, but to Reeves, it was just another part of the job. As the first Black deputy west of the Mississippi River, Reeves arrested more than . 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. In fact, his personality was so warm that it comes up in countless contemporary sources detailing his many adventures and arrests. . The question, however, opens up an opportunity to talk about one of the best stories around: Born into slavery in Crawford County; escaped servitude during the Civil War; possibly fought for the Union with the Keetoowah Cherokees; survived dozens of gunfights riding for Judge Isaac C. Parker as one of the first black U.S. deputy marshals west of the Mississippi; acquitted of murder for the death of his cook; arrested his son, Benjamin, for shooting his wife, Castella, in a jealous rage. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery. When he arrived, various Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee, Seminoles, and Creeks, took him in. Bass Reeves was indeed the Invincible Marshal. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. While working as a water boy and field hand with his family as a youngster, Bass would originate and sing songs about guns, rifles, knives, robberies and killings. The men with a $5,000 bounty on their heads woke up in handcuffs. All face the same hardships and dangers.. When Reeves located the cabin of Christie in the Cherokee Nation, his posse burned it down, but Ned escaped capture and death. Reeves' health began to fail, and he died of Bright's disease (nephritis) in 1910. [1] Bass Reeves may have served Colonel George R. Reeves, the son of William Reeves, the owner of Bass Reeves when he was a slave. Join the. Reeves didn't just take it, though. Reeves had a beat in downtown Muskogee, during . Who knows! [2] He served for two years before he became ill and retired. Scandalous Facts About Hollywood Celebrities, Lawyers Reveal Their Most Jaw-Dropping Court Cases, Extravagant Facts About Josephine Baker, The Black Pearl of Paris, Couldnt Pay Me To Go Back: Absolutely Wild Stories Of High School Drama, Catherine The Great Was a Mighty EmpressUntil Her Brutal Downfall, These Mortifying Mistakes Make Us Want To Hit Undo. [1][2] Reeves was named after his grandfather, Basse Washington. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. Thanks for your help! Reeves greatest gunfight was in 1884. We want our readers to trust us. Bass Reeves was born a slave in the 1830's American South. Reeves was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame in 2013; he's had bronze statues erected in his likeness, and a bridge in Oklahoma now bears his name. Father of Benjamin Bass Reeves; Homer Reeves; Robert Reeves; Newland Reeves; Edgar Reeves and 8 others; Sally Reeves; Harriet Reeves; Georgia Reeves; Alice Reeves; Lula Reeves; Bass Reeves, Jr.; George Reeves and Private less To be fair, it was back when George Reeves still owned him, so he didnt have much of a choice. He was not the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. 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. [5], Reeves was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. On one occasion, the ranger was facing off with an outlaw who drew on him. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. Reeves was quicker and dropped the outlaw. He was brought up on first-degree murder charges in January 1886 and relieved of duty. He was one of Judge Parker's most valued deputies. 1 of 3 In a statue of Bass Reeves residing in the Lamar County Courthouse, sculptor Eddie Dixon arms the famed lawman with a double-barreled shotgun. .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. Theres only one catch: Bass Reeves is not an original character. The only significant remains of the second fort [built in 1839] are the old stone Commissary Building and Judge Parker's Courtroom, which has been restored. In the late 1870s, although Reeves was a deputy U.S. marshal, much of his work was as a posseman for other deputy U.S. marshals, including Robert J. Obituaries ran in the white and Black newspapers of Muskogee and were republished across the nation. Sebastian County Circuit Judge Jim Spears, now retired, is credited with leading an effort to prominently enshrine the folk hero in bronze. 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. For example, his grand-nephew, Paul L. Brady, a prominent civil rights activist, became the first black administrative law judge in 1972. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. His children were named Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice. 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. Adams, Jake Island, Andy Alton and one Smith, larceny.. 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. Its no wonder he had such a tough reputation among outlaws and lawmen alike. Since birth, he had witnessed the deepest and darkest parts of humanity. . [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. There must be something in the family genes, because a number of Reeves descendants have left serious marks of their own. Over the course of his career, which began when he was in his fifties, mind you, Reeves brought in a tremendous 3,000 felons. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Many historians believe that Reeves would later go on to be partial inspiration for the Lone Ranger. So, this semi-biographical series about a real guy is going to be part of the Yellowstone series? 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. They arrested, without incident 15 white men and eight Black men and brought them to the federal jail in Muskogee. Research shows that Reeves stayed in Fort Smith until 1893. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. Reeves eventually tracked Dozier down to a hideout in Cherokee territory. [8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Reeves). He retired at 70 years old and lived out his remaining time in some much-needed peace. Bass Reeves, the gunslinging lawman, left a serious legacy behind. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. Reeves could not read or write, but he was a skilled detective, a master of disguise, and an expert tracker. Legend has it that Reeves ended up getting into a serious confrontation with his master over a card game in 1861. Bass Reeves was one of the greatest peace officers in the history of the American western frontier. Heartbroken, this is when Bass Reeves took matters into his own hands. Of all the outlaws Reeves went after in his long career, only one ever escaped his iron grasp. A hard-headed judge named Isaac Parker ordered a US Marshal to find 200 deputies in Indian Territory. Many claim this infamous lawmans exploits were the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. Bass Reeves was the first black man to be appointed a U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. Were always looking for your input! 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. The tough man was definitely no stranger to loss in his life, but this was different. Not too many years before, he was the target of law enforcement officials himself. In the show, that little boy is quickly ushered out of the movie theater by his terrified parents as the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre unfolds. https://www.history.com/news/bass-reeves-real-lone-ranger-a-black-man?fbclid=IwAR0asILqInym_qDhFQ6IT9BbdE2dGdj4VPwfbV8ZARrW8OvilyOg9M-8zos, Categories: Crawford County, Arkansas, Slaves | American Heroes | Crawford County, Arkansas | Fort Smith, Arkansas | US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles | Wild Wild West | African-American Notables | Notables, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. Tontos fictionalized story was far from the only racist part of the adaptation of the Lone Rangers life. 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. The legend of Bass Reeves will only continue to grow as more discover his story. Reeves was over six feet tall and sported a thick black handlebar mustache. In 1864 he married Nellie Jennie (d. 1896) and after her death Winnie Sumter (19001910). Young Bennie quickly became a suspect, and soon enough, he was charged with murder. So harsh, in fact, that he was given the nickname The Hanging Judge. The reason for this nickname isnt difficult to riddle out. He knew that every chase was potentially his last. Tragically, Reeves accidentally shot his cook on one of his trips into the Indian Territory in 1884. At his trial in October 1887, Reeves was found innocent. (AP) The U.S. 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! And The Three Guardsmen was a name given to a group who became legendary in their pursuit of many outlaws of the late 19th century: Deputy U.S. 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. Reeves was acquitted.[7]. Deputies would work out of Fort Smith and venture into the Indian Territory with warrants and open warrants. Marshals Museum. Selma 's David Oyelowo will. Saddle up, because this ones a bit of a doozyI'll explain Bass Reeves as best as I can. Marshal James Fagan was replaced not long after Judge Parker took over the court with a Union veteran, Daniel P. Upham. Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. As a ranger, Reeves was usually the hunter. 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. . 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.". Almost a year out from a planned opening of the new $60 million museum, its the lawmans family tree the curator wants most. The Lone Ranger was an escaped slave named Bass Reeves. Answer (1 of 6): I am just glancing at census records after first reading about Bass Reeves on Wikipedia, but it looks to me like he married Winnie Summer about 1899-1900, when he was around 59 and she was around 38, and that his children and hers were both from previous marriages. Good job on the profile!! When Reeves drew his warrant, Story drew his Coltbig mistake. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which also had responsibility for the Indian Territory. Eventually, he moved to Arkansas where he settled down, got married, had 10 children and his knowledge of THE INDIAN territories and the fact that he spoke several native languages landed him a job as the first African-American U.S. He was never KNOWN to make a mistake. In 1909, the tough lawman finally came across an enemy that he couldnt best: Brights Disease. He served in the Indian Territory for 32 years. On November 17, 1907, Indian Territory became the new state of Oklahoma. Her passing absolutely devastated him. Later, Reeves was made the principal lawman for the large African American community in Muskogee, and he had several Black assistants in that role. [9], Reeves worked for 32 years as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory and became one of Judge Parker's most valued deputies. Please add Bass to the American Heroes category. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, which is in the process of constructing a building on the Arkansas River in Fort Smith for a national museum, has among its collection of artifacts a Spencer rifle Reeves took from a Civil War battlefield and two pistols Reeves purchased later during his career. Specifically fort smith where judge parkers court house is located. Marshals Service also started doing these events in 2012 in conjunction with the Cherokee Nation. When Bass was eight, the Reeves family moved to northern Texas to Peters Colony in Grayson County near Sherman, Texas. The round trip would be approximately 400 miles and would take one or two months, depending on high water in the rivers and creeks. [2] Once he had to arrest his own son for murder. Judge Parker ruled on the situation and acquitted Reeves of all charges. 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