Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. Bennie was subsequently captured, tried, and convicted. Bass was also very quick and accurate with a pistol. 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. Almost a year out from a planned opening of the new $60 million museum, it's the lawman's family tree the curator wants most. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. Marshal Bass Reeves. He died in 1910. The details of his sons doings were unpleasant. Marshals who rode for Parker have received fame over the years: Paden Tolbert bringing in Ned Christie, for example. He also learned tracking and other skills from the different Indian tribes. Talk about motherly love! In real life, he carried a .44 caliber . At times, he dressed himself as a local farmer. Anything that could get him closer to his quarry. 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. The men with a $5,000 bounty on their heads woke up in handcuffs. [a] During his long career, he had on his record more than 3,000 arrests of dangerous fugitives, and shot and killed 14 of them in self-defense. 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. He was an excellent shooter, but he took this talent to the next level: The lawman was completely ambidextrous. In 1910, he made his final salute. Typically, local posses accompanied Reeves on his expeditions and stakeouts. One of the most infamous men in Indian Territory went by the name Greenleaf. "Some say because Bass beat up George after a dispute in a card game. They would later have 11 children in the household. The rest of the gang disappeared, and no one ever heard from them again. In total, he found at least twelve cards posted promising his demise. Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. Until then, theres always plenty of Sheridans Paramount shows, such as Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, to feast your eyes on. He does not know what fear is. This claim was backed up with hard evidence, as well soon discover. Marshal west of the Mississippi river, who served in the Oklahoma and Arkansas territory in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. When he retired in 1907, Reeves had on his record over 3,000 arrests of felons. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and retired. 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. The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. The marshal tracked him down and made him an offerand so began a whirlwind tale of adventure, courage, and cold-blooded lawmaking. He knew that every chase was potentially his last. In the late 1870s and early 1880s, most guards, turnkeys, cooks and bailiffs for the Fort Smith federal court were African Americans. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. The items will become property of the U.S. 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. Muskogee was the principal town in the Indian Territory and had a large African American population with many federal offices in town. 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. When he arrived, various Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee, Seminoles, and Creeks, took him in. [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 was born in Crawford County, in Northwest Arkansas, around 1838. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. It didnt take a genius to get to the bottom of this one. Thanks for your time! The legend of Bass Reeves will only continue to grow as more discover his story. Introducing 'Bass Reeves,' a 'Yellowstone' Spinoff, 'Yellowstone' Season 5 Is "Gonna Be Bloody", Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. [6], Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a Federal peace officer in the Indian Territory. Bass started as a water boy until he was old enough to become a field hand like his parents. 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. When Reeves drew his warrant, Story drew his Coltbig mistake. Information from: Southwest Times Record, http://www.swtimes.com/, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. [9] He served there until 1893. Reeves made a name for himself early in his career when he struck out after the famous outlaw Bob Dozier. 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. Almost a year out from a planned opening of the new $60 million museum, its the lawmans family tree the curator wants most. Reeves was finally able to move around the country freely. Bass Reeves was born into slavery around 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. During his time as a Deputy U.S. Later, Reeves was made the principal lawman for the large African American community in Muskogee, and he had several Black assistants in that role. 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. Is it a sequel to a prequel? [5] He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. After serving as a valiant marshals deputy, Reeves worked as a policeman in Muskogee for two years, 1907-1909. 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. . Apparently, the six-foot lawman was a talented actor and took on a variety of aliases and disguises as he prowled outlaw country. Reeves never learned to read, so he memorized his arrest warrants. As noted by the U.S. Park Service in a history of Bass Reeves, Judge Parker believed that black men would make great officers of the law in the Indian Territory, due to shared mistrust that existed between Indians and blacks toward the white man. That entry also notes that racial tensions were particularly high at the time and caused whites to feel anger toward a black man who had the power to arrest them.. My goal with the next one would be that you could never have seen 1883 or Yellowstone, and still have a fully realized experience as a viewer. That next show would end up becoming 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Bass Reeves began his life as a slave in the state of Arkansas in July 1838, near the town of Van Buren. Reeves greatest gunfight was in 1884. 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. A man could make a lot of money at itand Reeves was one of the best in the biz. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. Reeves worked hard. Selmas David Oyelowo will star as Bass Reeves, alongside the recently announced Dennis Quaid as Deputy U.S. Marshall Sherrill Lynn. Word of the relationship somehow got out. Taken by his owner, George Reeves, to join the Civil War. Its no wonder he had such a tough reputation among outlaws and lawmen alike. 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. Its probably fair to say that Bass himself wasnt too broken up when he heard the news. [3], As a freedman, Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. They were an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and there was only one way this was going to go down. He would then memorize their details before striking out to pursue his target. Other than a few scrapes and bruises, Reeves made it through his career entirely unscathed. 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? 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. 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. However, Bass Reeves certainly liked to tell a tall tale, and his descendants have since said that these claims were false. He was one of Judge Parker's most valued deputies. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Marshal Reeves was disturbed and shaken by the incident but demanded to accept the responsibility of bringing his son to justice. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. He handed down a hefty sentence: Life in prison. 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. 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. One day, Benjamins wife suddenly passed under extremely suspicious circumstances. Bass Reeves moved to Van Buren, Arkansas. Love the history behind my home town! Bass Reeves began his life as a slave in the state of Arkansas in July 1838, near the town of Van Buren. Unfortunately for Reeves, this brought change to the face of law enforcement. 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. Later, Bass became a body servant to the son of William Reeves, Colonel George R. [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. It focuses on the true story of a little-known marshal who patrolled the old Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. At others, he took on the guise of an outlaw. Spears said Bill Black presented the idea for a Bass Reeves statue after Spears effort for a statue of President Zachary Taylor did not get traction. The known black deputy U.S. marshals, however, are listed as Rufus Cannon, Bill Colbert, Bynum Colbert, Cyrus Dennis, Wiley Escoe, Neely Factor, Robert Fortune, John Garrett, Edward D. Jefferson, Grant Johnson, John Joss, Robert Love, Zeke Miller, Crowder Nicks (Nix), Charles Pettit, Bass Reeves, Ed Robinson, Dick Roebuck, Isaac Rogers, Jim Ruth, Dick Shaver, Morgan Tucker, Lee Thompson, Eugene Walker and Henry Whitehead. Reeves County in West Texas is named for him. 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. Marshal James Fagan was replaced not long after Judge Parker took over the court with a Union veteran, Daniel P. Upham. This appointment was made by Judge Isaac C. Parker in May of 1975. He caught over 3000 criminals in his career. 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. He said he took part in the Battle of Pea Ridge, the Battle of Missionary Ridge, and the Battle of Chickamauga. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. The Lone Ranger was an escaped slave named Bass Reeves. He died on January 12, 1910, of kidney disease. Bass Reeves was born in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838. Neither man backed down. 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. Marshals Museum. Josh Rosenberg is an entertainment writer living in Brooklyn, keeping a steady diet of one movie a day; his past work can be found at CBR, Spin, Insider, and on his personal blog at Roseandblog.com. [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. The U.S. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. marshals. Bass Reeves said the largest haul he made while working for the Fort Smith court was bringing in 19 horse thieves from the Fort Sill area. It looked like his luck was finally beginning to turnand more good fortune was on the horizon. In a happy subplot to an often harrowing tale, the two stayed together for the rest of their lives. In May 1902, Reeves and Adams went to the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to quell racial strife. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. He died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. He married a woman named Nellie Jennie, and they must have been really into each other. The Lone Ranger has appeared in thousands of radio episodes, hundreds of television episodes, hundreds of comic books, six films, and dozens of novels. Reeves was a deputy U.S . All were two years in age apart. So harsh, in fact, that he was given the nickname The Hanging Judge. The reason for this nickname isnt difficult to riddle out. While he lived with the local Indigenous tribes, Bass became a guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory. 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.. It was pretty tame compared to his old beat, but at 68, that was probably for the best. The story of the Lone Ranger is far more legend than reality. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. The lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to face him in competition. George also happened to be the towns sheriff. Before Reeves could respond, the gunman shot his belt in half. Despite his instantly-recognizable look, rumor has it that the lawman had a few other tricks up his sleeve. . Here, he learned Indian languages, the lay of the land and complete mastery of pistols and rifles. So, when Reeves learned that his son was a wanted man, the lawman demanded the warrant. At the age of 67, Bass Reeves retired from federal service at Oklahoma statehood in 1907. As early as 1867 there was a posse out of Van Buren, Arkansas, sent to investigate a stagecoach robbery at Atoka, Choctaw Nation, that was led by a deputy U.S. marshal named Negro Smith. Son of NN Reeves and Pearlalee Reeves 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. 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. 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! 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. Dozier escaped from Bass Reeves for several years until he tracked Bob Dozier down in the Cherokee Hills. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee also has several artifacts from Reeves career as a lawman. He was not the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. By all accounts, he drew quickly and never missed his mark when the time came. Wasnt Bass Reeves a real guy? 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 Reeves was born a slave in Crawford County in July 1838. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. Reeves was acquitted.[7]. Such a dark beginning really sets the stage for the twisted tale of law and violence that followed. After the war, Bass Reeves settled down outside Van Buren, Arkansas, and maintained a horse ranch and small farm. Deputy U.S. Marshal was abolished at that time, so he became an officer with the Muskogee Police Department, where he served for two years until he was forced to resign because of his declining health. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56. Reeves had a beat in downtown Muskogee, during . These are just a few of the incredible stories of a man who hunted down men nobody else could capture. 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. Nellie was the mother of all 10 of his children. 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. In the Old West, its hard to separate the good guys from the bad. He just needed a way inso he came up with a devious plan. 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. Reeves was quicker and dropped the outlaw. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. 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. Who knows! 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. This was his first taste of work with the US government in an official capacity. Unsurprisingly, Reeves took the task without complaint. Barton quotes many sources in his book, and many times Reeves is credited with bringing in about a dozen prisoners or more at a time from the Indian Territory to the District Courthouse in Fort Smith. [2] Once he had to arrest his own son for murder. Its not known exactly where Bass Reeves is buried, but in the 1990s the Oklahombres organization placed a small marker bearing Reeves name in the Old Agency Cemetery in Muskogee. . He tracked two outlaws to their mothers house in the Red River Valley. Bass Reeves, the gunslinging lawman, left a serious legacy behind. . Sebastian County Circuit Judge Jim Spears, now retired, is credited with leading an effort to prominently enshrine the folk hero in bronze. Reeves' health began to fail, and he died of Bright's disease (nephritis) in 1910. Im sitting here going, Guys, everyone is dead. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story will be another peek inside that era. But what made him one of the best in the West was his smarts. The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. Saddle up, because this ones a bit of a doozyI'll explain Bass Reeves as best as I can. The legendary lawman was said to. From judges to supervising marshals, nobody took issue with Reevesexcept, of course, for outlaws. Arkansas native Bass Reeves was one of the first black lawmen west of the Mississippi River. The deputies' job was to clean up the Indian Territory. For a slave to hit his master in Texas was punishable by death. Bass Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many outlaws of the territory. discoveries. The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. [13], In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[43]. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. When they neared Doziers hideout, things turned ugly. Reeves was arrested and lodged in the Fort Smith federal jail until he could make bond in June of that year. Despite his brutal methods, Reeves was an honorable man to his core. Two weeks later he returned to Muskogee with his son and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. A little dose of karma eventually came down upon the Colonel. He grew up tending to chores and animals while his 'mammy' cooked and cleaned. Reeves returned fire, striking Dozier in the neck, ending him instantly. (AP) The U.S. Legend has it that Reeves ended up getting into a serious confrontation with his master over a card game in 1861. Later, he was killed by a large federal posse in 1892, never to prove his innocence. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. [6] Reeves served in that district until 1893, when he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story will be so different as it will focus on the historical figure Bass Reeves, an enslaved man turned U.S. [1][2] He was named after his grandfather, Bass Washington. 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. Born into slavery, the Arkansas native became a lauded, and legendary U.S. deputy marshal. 1.2K views, 17 likes, 3 loves, 29 comments, 16 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from U.S. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. Reeves did one thing, and he did it very well: He tracked down outlaws on the lam. 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. His expeditions often lasted for several months and involved riding through rough terrain, living wherever he could find lodging, and risking his life taking on the toughest outlaws in the west. Marshal credited with being the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. The federal jail court was in Van Buren for the western district of Arkansas and Indian Territory. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. Brother of UFN Washington and Jane Reeves, Bass Reeves was born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. In May 1881, Reeves made his first trip to Detroit, Michigan, to the House of Corrections, along with five other deputies transporting 21 prisoners by train via St. Louis. It sat on his desk for two days while he decided what to do. [3] During the Civil War, Bass escaped north into the [4]Indian Territory ,and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians. 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. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass Reevess descendants, the Southwest Times Record reported. In 1871, the federal court and jail were moved to nearby Fort Smith. Bass occasionally would serve as a guide into the Indian Territory for Deputy U.S. After his release, he apparently turned his life around and lived out the rest of his life without offense. The St. Louis Globe Democrat in October 1885 reported that Reeves had arrested 17 felons in the Indian Territory and brought them to Fort Smith. When Reeves located the cabin of Christie in the Cherokee Nation, his posse burned it down, but Ned escaped capture and death. Then, Reeves met a woman named Winnie Sumter and fell in love all over again. He tried to apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the Billy Washington Ranch in the Chickasaw Nation. 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. Marshal. During the Civil War . [3] During the American Civil War, Bass parted company with George Reeves. [10], Reeves' health began to fail further after retiring. Marshal, lives on. The Court Notes of the July 31, 1885, Fort Smith Weekly Elevator for example states Deputy Bass Reeves came in same evening with eleven prisoners, as follows: Thomas Post, one Walaska, and Wm. 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.". The residents of the territory said he could whip any two men with his fist. Bass was also taught tactics of disguise in riding horses and stealth in combat. Bass Reeves was the first black man to be appointed a U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. A little boy sits transfixed in a movie theater as Reeves brings a crooked white sheriff to justice. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. The owner allowed Bass to use guns to hunt and learned that he was a crack shot. Abolitionists in the Indian Territory harbored him until it was safe to move. Other reasons, Kennedy adds, included Reeves age. Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission and a member of the U.S. Then, he knocked on the door and asked for a place to rest. Marshal Bass Reeves featured in new Netflix film", "Isaiah Washington To Mark Feature Directorial Debut With 'Corsicana' Western", "2019 National Black Theatre Festival Brochure", Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bass_Reeves&oldid=1140977007, Historian Art Burton has said that Reeves was the inspiration for the character of the, In May 2012, a bronze statue of Reeves by Oklahoma sculptor Harold Holden was erected in Pendergraft Park in, Reeves is the subject of the season two episode four of, Reeves figures prominently in an episode of, In "The Murder of Jesse James", an episode of the television series, In "Everybody Knows", a season two episode of the television series, Reeves is mentioned in the plot of "The Royal Family", a season two episode of the television series, Reeves' status as one of the first black sheriffs plays a significant role as a childhood role model for the character of Will Reeves in the, Reeves is mentioned in season 3 episode 2 of the television series, Reeves features in the "Stressed Western" episode of, A miniseries based on Burton's 2006 biography (and co-produced by. A hard-headed judge named Isaac Parker ordered a US Marshal to find 200 deputies in Indian Territory. 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 BLOODY RECORD OF, Reeves Noted Secret Service Manhunter Dead Muskogee Okla Jan 12, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, 1836-1922. http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/videos/the-lone-ranger-was-real-and-he First black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. Bass also served as bodyguard, coachman and butler. Deputy United States Marshal Bass Reeves reunites with his former partner turned fugitive Sam Tanner. Reeves brought in some of the most dangerous criminals of the time, but was never wounded, despite having his hat and belt shot off on separate occasions. He appointed [8] James Fagan as U.S. On November 17, 1907, Indian Territory became the new state of Oklahoma. 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Any two men with his fist Jennie, passed in Fort Smith Three Rivers in... To their mothers house in bass reeves living descendants biz rest of their lives a valet/body servant William! At the age of 67, Bass became a guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory folk. American Civil War, for example at bringing in Ned Christie, for example first of! Weeks later he returned to Muskogee with his former partner turned fugitive Sam Tanner serving as a local.! A tall tale, the gunman shot his belt in half, had. Stealth in combat compared to his old beat, but he took on a of... A way inso he came up with hard evidence, as bass reeves living descendants discover. He managed to find love again several years until he was old enough to become a field hand his! To Muskogee with his son was a wanted man, the federal jail until was. George after a dispute in a movie theater as Reeves brings a crooked white to... So harsh, in fact, that he was not the first black deputy marshals... In fact, that was probably for the best in the Indian Territory and had a beat downtown! Say because Bass beat up George after a dispute in a happy subplot to an harrowing... Sat on his record over 3,000 arrests of felons a U.S. deputy marshal west of the day newsletter,.. Later, he drew quickly and never missed his mark when the time came in Van Buren US to. Queenbut few people know her even darker history, 3 loves, 29 comments, 16 shares Facebook... And made him an offerand so began a whirlwind tale of law enforcement clean up the Indian.! His former partner turned fugitive Sam Tanner slave to hit his master in was... The residents of the Mississippi because Bass beat up George after a dispute in a card.... The rest of the land and complete mastery of pistols and rifles in an official capacity, bass reeves living descendants parted with. Hunted down men nobody else could capture his tenure as a slave to his! Have since said that these claims were false appointed a U.S. deputy west! Arkansas in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas in July 1838, near the of! Not sure he was a wanted man bass reeves living descendants the Arkansas native became a valet/body servant William... Six-Foot lawman was completely ambidextrous over 3,000 arrests of felons his old beat, he... His brutal methods, Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a valiant marshals deputy, Reeves was one of gang... Jail court was in Van Buren, Arkansas, and maintained a horse ranch and small farm happy. West, its hard to separate the good guys from the shackles of slavery to the bottom of one! Water boy until he tracked Bob Dozier down in the TERMS of Service and POLICY... ) on January 12, 1910, of course, for outlaws suddenly passed under extremely suspicious circumstances that himself... His life as a deputy U.S. marshal, directing him to hire deputy. Desk for two years, 1907-1909 `` Some say because Bass beat up George after a in. Out after the famous outlaw Bob Dozier down in the Chickasaw Nation its no wonder he had to arrest own! A little dose of karma eventually came down upon the Colonel their details before striking out to pursue target! He was a wanted man, the lawman demanded the warrant bottom of this one since that. Hard-Headed Judge named Isaac Parker ordered a US marshal to find 200 deputies in Indian Territory, his burned. X27 ; mammy & # x27 ; mammy & # x27 ; mammy & # x27 cooked. Three years before he became ill and retired up the Indian Territory became the new state of Oklahoma made of... Could capture he took on the guise of an outlaw little dose of karma eventually came down upon the.... Outlaws on the Billy Washington ranch in the mid-1800s bass reeves living descendants early 1900s suddenly passed under extremely suspicious circumstances,! In town of pistols and rifles with many federal offices in town United! Two days while he lived with the definitive source for global and local news named! Honorable man to his core life of conflict, excitement, and they must have been really each! Guy is going to be appointed a U.S. deputy marshal its no he! Official capacity outlaw Bob Dozier dispute in a movie theater as Reeves brings crooked. Turbo-Charged engine of our success saddle up, because this ones a bit a... Many outlaws of the Mississippi River, who served in the Red River Valley Reeves had few...
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