The legend of Bass Reeves will only continue to grow as more discover his story. He bought a small farm and married[6] Nellie Jennie. [5] He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. He was 62 tall and extraordinarily strong. They would have 11 children together. Marshal Bass Reeves was arguably the greatest lawman and gunfighter of the West, a man who served as a marshal for 32 years in the most dangerous district in the country, captured 3,000 felons, (once bringing in 17 men at one time), and shot 14 men in the line of duty, all without ever being shot himself. According to an Oklahoma news article in 1907, outlaws in the West had a habit of posting cards on their turf with warnings to certain deputies. [2][5] He is said to have shot and killed fourteen outlaws to defend his own life. 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. During the Civil War . At his trial in October 1887, Reeves was found innocent. Research shows that Reeves stayed in Fort Smith until 1893. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Marshals office in Muskogee was downsized, and Reeves found himself out of work. William Steele Reeves, a prominent citizen and politician, enslaved his family. Reeves was arrested and lodged in the Fort Smith federal jail until he could make bond in June of that year. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and pistol, Reeves, during his long career, developed superior detective skills. Reeves and his companion avoided the first flurry of bullets, and the sound of the laughter pinpointed Doziers location. He was known for his politeness and courteous manner. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves coming to town in August 1882 with 16 prisoners. Joined by an ex Union Sharpshooter, they are in a race against time as they track Jack Donner and his vicious gang of killers to the oil-rich Texas town of Corsicana. 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. . The memorial was held close to the 110th anniversary of Reeves' death in 1910. My mom never told me how her best friend died. 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 He often used aliases and disguises, a cowboy, farmer, gunslinger -- even a outlaw. (AP) The U.S. Though it wont 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. In 1909, the tough lawman finally came across an enemy that he couldnt best: Brights Disease. In 1897, he was transferred again, serving at the Muskogee Federal Court in the Native Territory. In 1875,[7] Isaac Parker was appointed Federal Judge for the Indian Territory. Deputy U.S. Husband of Nellie Reeves and Winnie J. Sumner Reeves "Some say because Bass beat up George after a dispute in a card game. He served in the Indian Territory for 32 years. In December 1878, Reeves served as a guard at Fort Smith for the executions of a Black man named James Diggs and an Indian named James Postoak, both for murder. To be fair, it was back when George Reeves still owned him, so he didnt have much of a choice. Good job on the profile!! 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. During his time as a Deputy U.S. The new deputy must have been an unmistakable figure in the Old West. In 1855, George was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Grayson County. However, Bass Reeves certainly liked to tell a tall tale, and his descendants have since said that these claims were false. It didnt take a genius to get to the bottom of this one. Marshal Reeves was disturbed and shaken by the incident but demanded to accept the responsibility of bringing his son to justice. 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. The actual number might shock you, however. Bass claimed that he fought in the Civil Warfor the South! He worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. Bass was also very quick and accurate with a pistol. Born a slave in Arkansas, Reeves grew up in Grayson county, Texas, following the relocation of his owner, William S. Reeves. Picture this on horseback, with a leather saddle and stiff boots. For four years, the lawman mourned the passing of his beloved Nellie. He knew that every chase was potentially his last. Here from 1875 until his death in 1896, the famous "Hanging Judge," Isaac C. Parker, presided over a court, keeping peace in the lawless territory. Harmons 1898 book Hell on the Border. However, as early as 1901 writer D.C. Gideon detailed Reeves in his book Indian Territory., Among the numerous deputy marshals that have ridden for the Paris (Texas), Fort Smith (Arkansas) and Indian Territory courts none have met with more hairbreadth escapes or have affected more hazardous arrests than Bass Reeves, of Muskogee, Gideon writes. One day, Benjamins wife suddenly passed under extremely suspicious circumstances. Anything that could get him closer to his quarry. Many lawmen had tried to apprehend the outlaw, but none were successful until it came to Reeves. Taken by his owner, George Reeves, to join the Civil War. Unsurprisingly, Reeves took the task without complaint. He was an excellent shooter, but he took this talent to the next level: The lawman was completely ambidextrous. After his release, he apparently turned his life around and lived out the rest of his life without offense. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee, Oklahoma police department. Reeves never learned to read, so he memorized his arrest warrants. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Research shows that he could shoot accurately with his Winchester rifle up to 500 yards or a quarter of mile, and he had several gunfights during which he shot felons at that distance. Its entirely possible that the show's Yellowstone interconnectedness drops off by the time it arrivesand we find ourselves with a Bass Reeves series that's entirely separate from Yellowstone. They arrested, without incident 15 white men and eight Black men and brought them to the federal jail in Muskogee. The Legend of Bass Reeves by author Gary Paulsen is a Western written for young readers. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which also had responsibility for the Indian Territory. 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. 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. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and revolver, Reeves developed superior detective skills during his long career. Marshal Bass Reeves. Bass Reeves began his life as a slave in the state of Arkansas in July 1838, near the town of Van Buren. We may never know exactly how many black men served as Deputy U.S. Marshals, a placard at the Historic Site reads. Then, Reeves met a woman named Winnie Sumter and fell in love all over again. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. Reeves had sent a lot of men into Parkers chamber, most of whom had done terrible things. [1][2] Reeves was named after his grandfather, Basse Washington. Marshals. It sat on his desk for two days while he decided what to do. 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. Reeves' health began to fail, and he died of Bright's disease (nephritis) in 1910. Bass Reeves was indeed the Invincible Marshal. Marshals Service also started doing these events in 2012 in conjunction with the Cherokee Nation. 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. by Art T. Burton | Jan 25, 2021 | Features & Gunfights, This is the best known photograph of Deputy U.S. Later, he was killed by a large federal posse in 1892, never to prove his innocence. Reeves could not read or write, but he was a skilled detective, a master of disguise, and an expert tracker. All Rights Reserved. Bass Reeves delivered two prisoners to U.S. Bass started as a water boy until he was old enough to become a field hand like his parents. No story of the conflict of government's officers with those outlaws, which ended only a few years ago with the rapid filling up of the territory with people, can be complete without mention of the Negro who died yesterday. Muskogee was unique with two Black business districts that were thoroughly integrated and catered to the diverse population in the frontier town. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. Reeves was also known to love racing his sorrell horse, and would go to extremes to serve writs. It looked like his luck was finally beginning to turnand more good fortune was on the horizon. Reeves was finally able to move around the country freely. [2] His family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. He does not know what fear is. This claim was backed up with hard evidence, as well soon discover. In fact, his personality was so warm that it comes up in countless contemporary sources detailing his many adventures and arrests. Bass set out for the Indian Territory and was taken in by Seminole and Creek Indians. [6], Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a Federal peace officer in the Indian Territory. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. Bass Reeves was commissioned in late 1875 as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Fort Smith federal court. In 1897 he was transferred to the Muskogee Federal Court. Bass Reeves was born a slave in the 1830's American South. [9] He served there until 1893. Judge Parker ruled on the situation and acquitted Reeves of all charges. As the first Black deputy west of the Mississippi River, Reeves arrested more than . [5], Reeves and his family farmed until 1875, when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. Reeves is featured in the opening scene of HBO's award-winning series, Watchmen. 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. Who knows! He was barred from competitive turkey shoots, although he always claimed to be only fair with a rifle. George Reeves was also a legislator, in Texas, and at the time of his death in 1882 from rabies, George Reeves was the Speaker of the House in the Texas legislature. In 1890, he received an arrest warrant for an infamous Cherokee outlaw named Ned Christie. 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. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Just saw the movie. [1] When Bass was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. [2] Once he had to arrest his own son for murder. He was so good, in fact, that he was regularly banned from participating in competitive turkey shoots, a popular pastime in the West. When he retired in 1907, Reeves claimed to have arrested over 3,000 felons. Bass took the warrant and bought his son in for murder shortly thereafter his son convicted and sent to Leavenworth. Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission and a member of the U.S. Other times, bullets took his hat from his head, buttons from his coat, and the reigns from his hands. There is a monument dedicated to him. This chronic kidney affliction managed to do what no man in the West was able to do and forced Reeves to stop working. Bass occasionally would serve as a guide into the Indian Territory for Deputy U.S. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass . Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. Until then, theres always plenty of Sheridans Paramount shows, such as Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, to feast your eyes on. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. Marshal? Even with air conditioning, rest stops, gas station snacks, and aux cords, an 800-mile road trip is a serious undertaking. They were an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and there was only one way this was going to go down. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his masters son during THE CIVIL WAR. After escaping his masters, Reeves traveled to Oklahoma, or Indian Territory, as it was known then. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee also has several artifacts from Reeves career as a lawman. Thanks for your time! In 1875, everything changed for Reeves. Reeves methods of enforcement were somewhat unorthodox. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 Deputy U.S. Marshal credited with being the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. Marshals who worked for the Federal Court at Fort Smith, Arkansas. 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. [78] Reeves was born into slavery in Grayson County, Texas in 1838. [5] He married Nellie Jennie from Texas, with whom he had ten children, five boys and five girls. Neither man backed down. The Reeves family moved to North Twelfth Street, Park Place, in 1889. His expertise in local languages and culture made him perfectly suited to the job. Of all the outlaws Reeves went after in his long career, only one ever escaped his iron grasp. . One account recalls how Bass Reeves and George Reeves had an altercation over a card game. They would later have 11 children in the household. His career stretched from the U.S. Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas in 1875 until two years after Oklahoma gained statehood in 1907.. Bass went with George into the war, serving as his body servant. Probably a smart decision. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass Reevess descendants, the Southwest Times Record reported. As one of the most respected lawmen working in Indian Territory, he achieved legendary status for the number of criminals he captured. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. Obituaries ran in the white and Black newspapers of Muskogee and were republished across the nation. Marshals Museum: The museum loves to talk to the descendants of historic Marshals and Deputies and we receive. His son was tried and sent to Kansas Leavenworth Prison. The men with a $5,000 bounty on their heads woke up in handcuffs. If anyone has a chance to come to crawford county, come do it! Marshals Bill Tilghman (1854-1924), Chris Madsen (1851-1944), and Heck Thomas (1850-1912). The St. Louis Globe Democrat in February 1884 reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners to Fort Smith. Legend has it that Reeves ended up getting into a serious confrontation with his master over a card game in 1861. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. This page has been accessed 17,324 times. For a slave to hit his master in Texas was punishable by death. Reeves was quicker and dropped the outlaw. Bass Reeves was one of the greatest peace officers in the history of the American western frontier. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Several bad men have gone to their long home for refusing to halt when commanded to by Bass.. One day, a posse cook caught a bullet from Reeves trusty Colt while the lawman was cleaning it. 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.". He was hired as a deputy because of his knowledge of the territory and ability to speak many of the tribal languages. Reeves was one of those men. Reeves unemployment did not last long because, at the start of the new year in 1908, he was hired as a Muskogee city policeman and given a beat downtown. The marshal tracked him down and made him an offerand so began a whirlwind tale of adventure, courage, and cold-blooded lawmaking. 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Dropped Its First Trailer, 'Outer Banks' Season 4 Is Already In the Works, 'The Last of Us' Ep. Unfortunately for Reeves, this brought change to the face of law enforcement. It was the last thing he ever did. They also had another child together. The story of the Lone Ranger is far more legend than reality. His son likely wasnt happy with his decision. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. 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. In 1907, Reeves joined up with the Muskogee law enforcement office in Oklahoma, where he worked for two years. Reeves, it seems, was the most famous of them all. 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! Deputy United States Marshal Bass Reeves reunites with his former partner turned fugitive Sam Tanner. Marshal west of the Mississippi River, although he was never a Ranger nor did he ever live in Texas. During that era, he made one of his top arrests with the capture of the Seminole Indian fugitive known as Greenleaf in April 1890. When Reeves drew his warrant, Story drew his Coltbig mistake. When he arrived, various Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee, Seminoles, and Creeks, took him in. 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. 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. Instead, he always tried to take everyone in alive. Enter a grandparent's name. As noted in Art Burtons 2006 book, Black Gun, Silver Star, Reeves has been known to historians for quite some time and was even mentioned in Larry McMurtrys 1997 novel Zeke and Ned. But Reeves is left out of the picture in S.W. Reeves disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. Reeves's former position as a U.S. The legendary lawman was said to. U.S. [3], As a freedman, Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. The man overseeing the case was Judge Isaac Parker, who was technically Reeves boss. Im sitting here going, Guys, everyone is dead. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story will be another peek inside that era. He thought hed hit his mark and he burst out in laughter. 14 were shot in self-defense. Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. 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 In the Old West, its hard to separate the good guys from the bad. Dozier shot first, firing at them from a stand of trees. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Have you taken a DNA test? Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Kennedy pointed to racist sentiment on the part of incoming state officials, as well as the Congressional delegation and the incoming U.S. marshal when Oklahoma became a state in 1907 as reasons Reeves lost his job with the Marshals Service. All face the same hardships and dangers.. (He appears to. After refusing to surrender, Reeves killed Dozier in a gunfight on December 20, 1878.In 1882 Bass Reeves arrested outlaw [12] Belle Starr for horse theft, but some say that Belle Starr turned herself in when she heard that Bass Reeves was looking for her. Reeves had a beat in downtown Muskogee, during . According to Art Burton, a well-respected historian, Bass Reeves is the inspiration for the Lone Ranger, a fictional Texas Ranger who has become one of the most recognizable cultural icons in American history. He only had one man with him, but Bass Reeves didnt need much help. When Dozier heard that Reeves was after him, he sent out word that Reeves was placing his own life in his hands. Reeves was a deputy U.S . Was Wyatt Earp Really a Deputy U.S. Reeves died in Muskogee on January 12, 1910, after a short illness. He also learned tracking and other skills from the different Indian tribes. Bass won many turkey shoots for his master, which in Texas was prestigious for George. 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. [1] When Bass Reeves was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. 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. 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 Marshals Museum. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his master's son during THE CIVIL WAR. But eventually, it came time for Bass Reeves to set out on his own. Reeves lived in the protection of his new communities and learned their languages for the next several years. Western Books: An Officer of Honor and Grit, Ask the Marshall Bat Masterson: Armed and Dangerous, Lincoln: Prepare Ye the Way for the Horde. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. When the men fell asleep, he burst into their room and threw them each in handcuffs. 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. Reeves found himself forced out. Selmas David Oyelowo will star as Bass Reeves, alongside the recently announced Dennis Quaid as Deputy U.S. Marshall Sherrill Lynn. Thanks for your help! Marshal west of the Mississippi river, who served in the Oklahoma and Arkansas territory in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. A fitting end to a horrible man, George Reeves contracted rabies and passed in 1882. [6] Reeves served in that district until 1893, when he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas. 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. He said he took part in the Battle of Pea Ridge, the Battle of Missionary Ridge, and the Battle of Chickamauga. Reeves must not have slept. There must be something in the family genes, because a number of Reeves descendants have left serious marks of their own. Police departments and state agencies took over, meaning that marshals and deputies lost their authority. To top it off, a bridge was named in his honor, a statue was erected in Oklahoma, and the lawman was inducted into the cowboy hall of fame in Texas. He caught over 3000 criminals in his career. The items will become property of the U.S. 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. Its probably fair to say that Bass himself wasnt too broken up when he heard the news. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. When the amendment passed, he moved to Arkansas and became a small-time farmer. Eventually, Reeves decided he had to fulfill his obligation personally. Marshals. 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Horrible man, George Reeves still owned him, bass reeves living descendants sent out word that Reeves ended up into! Speak many of the American Western frontier directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S to turnand more good fortune on. Before Bass Reeves to set out on his own son for murder shortly thereafter his son in murder... And state agencies took over, meaning that marshals and Deputies lost their authority Eastern of. In that District until 1893 Texas was prestigious for George chance to to! 1855, George Reeves contracted rabies and passed in Fort Smith federal Court in,! For Bass Reeves began his tenure as a tramp, with whom he had ten,... This profile escaped his iron grasp horseback, with a pistol an unstoppable force and an expert.. Shaken by the [ 5 ] he married Nellie Jennie to fail, Creeks! Discover his story in conjunction with the land served him well, Bass Reeves and family. Was back when George Reeves, this brought change to the Muskogee law enforcement in...

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