They didnt always give him that option. While living with the Indians, Bass learned to speak and understand the different Indian languages. Marshal west of the Mississippi River, although he was never a Ranger nor did he ever live in Texas. There is a monument dedicated to him. 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. Greenleaf had been on the run for 18 years and had murdered three white men and four Indians and had never been arrested. Apparently, each one tried to end Reeves life before he resorted to force. 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. 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. Most people know that. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. Reeves was one tough lawman, but apparently, his boss was even tougher. Bass Reeves was born a slave in the 1830's American South. [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 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. Several bad men have gone to their long home for refusing to halt when commanded to by Bass.. It did not seem accidental. It is unclear how, and exactly when, Bass Reeves escaped, but at some point during the Civil War, he gained his freedom. Reeves made a name for himself early in his career when he struck out after the famous outlaw Bob Dozier. The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. Reeves was born into slavery and gained his freedom when he escaped during the Civil War, fled to the Indian Territory (Arkansas and Oklahoma) and lived among the Native Americans. Fagan had heard about Reeves, who knew the Territory and could speak several Native languages. prisoners. Finally, it came time to bring him down. There was a movie made in his honor. 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. Heartbroken, this is when Bass Reeves took matters into his own hands. (He appears to. As the years passed, the American government seized more and more territory. 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. Husband of Nellie Reeves and Winnie J. Sumner Reeves They arrested, without incident 15 white men and eight Black men and brought them to the federal jail in Muskogee. Federal Judge Paul Brady and his wife Xernona were in Fort Smith on Monday (April 11) to donate a gun, U.S. After he died the [16] Muskogee Phoenix wrote of the legendary lawman, In the history of the early days of Eastern Oklahoma the name of Bass Reeves has a place in the front rank among those who cleansed out the old Indian Territory of outlaws and desperadoes. Reeves didn't just take it, though. He was hired as a city policeman in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he served for about two years. It didnt take a genius to get to the bottom of this one. 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. However, the ranger never drew his weapon first. This page has been accessed 17,324 times. [14] He died January 12, 1910 from Bright's disease and although he was buried in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the exact location of his grave is unknown.[15]. 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 often used aliases and disguises, a cowboy, farmer, gunslinger -- even a outlaw. Bass Reeves was born a slave. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. After a citizens petition and an exemplary prison record, his son was pardoned and was never in trouble with the law again. It focuses on the true story of a little-known marshal who patrolled the old Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. Reeves was 58 years old at the time. [6], Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a Federal peace officer in the Indian Territory. They also had another child together. Bass went with George into the war, serving as his body servant. Marshal Reeves was disturbed and shaken by the incident but demanded to accept the responsibility of bringing his son to justice. 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. He was apparently well dressed, with spit-polished boots and a striking, wide-brimmed hat on his head. Good job on the profile!! His wife had an affair. 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 served for two years, in that time there were no crimes on his beat. In 1897 he was transferred to the Muskogee Federal Court. Born into slavery, the Arkansas native became a lauded, and legendary U.S. deputy marshal. I think Bass Reeves claim to fame is his persistence, and he bounced back after the murder trial.. As a black man tasked with law enforcement in unceded, Indigenous territory, Reeves was in a precarious situation. 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. 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. The same newspaper in March of 1885 reported Reeves bringing in 13 prisoners. 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. 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. 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. 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. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Born a slave in Arkansas, Reeves grew up in Grayson county, Texas, following the relocation of his owner, William S. Reeves. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee also has several artifacts from Reeves career as a lawman. Bass Reeves, the gunslinging lawman, left a serious legacy behind. Tragically, Reeves accidentally shot his cook on one of his trips into the Indian Territory in 1884. His son likely wasnt happy with his decision. [2][5] Reeves was initially assigned as a Deputy U.S. Reeves and his family were enslaved by Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. Reeves was headquartered at Calvin in the Choctaw Nation and carried many of his prisoners to the federal commissioner at Pauls Valley in the Chickasaw Nation. Selmas David Oyelowo will star as Bass Reeves, alongside the recently announced Dennis Quaid as Deputy U.S. Marshall Sherrill Lynn. The Lone Ranger has appeared in thousands of radio episodes, hundreds of television episodes, hundreds of comic books, six films, and dozens of novels. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners in April 1884. Reeves is featured in the opening scene of HBO's award-winning series, Watchmen. On November 17, 1907, Indian Territory became the new state of Oklahoma. Judge Parker ruled on the situation and acquitted Reeves of all charges. In fact, his personality was so warm that it comes up in countless contemporary sources detailing his many adventures and arrests. Marshals office in Muskogee was downsized, and Reeves found himself out of work. He knew that every chase was potentially his last. Reeves deputization made history. [5] He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. 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. Probably a smart decision. When he retired in 1907, Reeves had on his record over 3,000 arrests of felons. 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. Bass severely beat George, and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived among the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. [3], Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Yellowstone, set in the present day, follows the Dutton family as they try to protect the largest ranch in the United States from hedge funds and governmental bodies looking to take their generational land away from them. They sheltered him from lawmen who sought to return him to slavery. Two weeks later he returned to Muskogee with his son and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. Unsurprisingly, Reeves took the task without complaint. The memorial was held close to the 110th anniversary of Reeves' death in 1910. The deputies covered an area of 75,000 square miles. For this reason, Reeves found unusual support from the inhabitants of the land he patrolled during his career. Spears also agreed with the National Park Service notes that point out that although Reeves is often credited with as many as 3,000 arrests and as many as 20 outlaws killed in the name of the law, the numbers have to be used with historical caution. Kennedy said they have only been able to verify five people were killed by Reeves, including his cook, which was most likely an accident. For the next ten years, he lived a quiet life on his country farm. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. Their names are listed side by side with other Deputy U.S. Its no wonder he had such a tough reputation among outlaws and lawmen alike. Story was the leader of a feared gang of horse thieves who operated under the highly original name of The Tom Story Gang. [12] Ryan Reaves's grandfather changed the family name from Reeves to Reaves. Bass Reeves began his life as a slave in the state of Arkansas in July 1838, near the town of Van Buren. Webb had earlier killed a Black farmer who accidently burned some grazing land on the Washington Ranch. Sebastian County Circuit Judge Jim Spears, now retired, is credited with leading an effort to prominently enshrine the folk hero in bronze. Many U.S. The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. So, when Reeves learned that his son was a wanted man, the lawman demanded the warrant. He beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. Bass started as a water boy until he was old enough to become a field hand like his parents. 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. [6] Reeves served in that district until 1893, when he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas. Though he had a hard reputation, Reeves was, by all accounts, a mild-mannered and polite man. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. After escaping his masters, Reeves traveled to Oklahoma, or Indian Territory, as it was known then. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. When Dozier heard that Reeves was after him, he sent out word that Reeves was placing his own life in his hands. They would have 11 children together. A man could make a lot of money at itand Reeves was one of the best in the biz. Bass Reeves was the first black man to be appointed a U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. Reeves and his companion avoided the first flurry of bullets, and the sound of the laughter pinpointed Doziers location. It seems that Reeves talents were without end. Bass Reeves was born a slave in Crawford County in July 1838. An article suggests that Bass Reeves may have been the inspiration for the "Lone Ranger" --. There was a fine line between lawmen and outlaws in the Old West, and sometimes, men crossed it. 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's . Not too many years before, he was the target of law enforcement officials himself. Director Isaiah Washington Writers Robert Johnson Isaiah Washington Stars Reeves shot Webb with his Winchester at 500 yards after Webb narrowly missed him several times. Just saw the movie. He and his family were owned by William Steele Reeves, who was originally from Hickman County, Tennessee. Before Reeves could respond, the gunman shot his belt in half. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. Bass Reeves began his life as a slave in the state of Arkansas in July 1838, near the town of Van Buren. When those old gunfighters are sittin around up there in Valhalla discussing who was the, The real law-and-order heros long and Winding road to cinematic and television fame. Obituaries ran in the white and Black newspapers of Muskogee and were republished across the nation. 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. Marshals. 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. The tough man was definitely no stranger to loss in his life, but this was different. When they neared Doziers hideout, things turned ugly. Bass got so upset at being cheated, he beat his master down and knocked him out. In the Old West, its hard to separate the good guys from the bad. Please add Bass to the American Heroes category. Bass claimed that he fought in the Civil Warfor the South! [3] During the American Civil War, Bass parted company with George Reeves. [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. Fortunately, though, he had some connections. The men with a $5,000 bounty on their heads woke up in handcuffs. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, July 1838 - Crawford County, United States, Ozoliiiulsioii Co., ; IS Pearl at., New York. . He became the first black man to work as a deputy west of the Mississippi River. It was later proven that Ned was not guilty of the crime. A little boy sits transfixed in a movie theater as Reeves brings a crooked white sheriff to justice. From judges to supervising marshals, nobody took issue with Reevesexcept, of course, for outlaws. 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. Art T. Burton, a retired college history professor, has written four critically acclaimed history books on the American Western frontier. Here, he learned Indian languages, the lay of the land and complete mastery of pistols and rifles. [5] He was an uncle of Paul L. Brady, the first African-American appointed a Federal Administrative Law Judge (in 1972). Its clear at this point that the deputy tracked down and captured a huge number of outlaws. [9]Bass Reeves was the first African American Deputy to be appointed west of the Mississippi River. [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. Taken by his owner, George Reeves, to join the Civil War. He recruited Bass Reeves as one of his deputies because of his knowledge of the territory and tribes. In 1893, Bass Reeves was transferred to the Eastern District federal court at Paris, Texas. His estate came to less than $500. After the war, Bass Reeves settled down outside Van Buren, Arkansas, and maintained a horse ranch and small farm. The lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to face him in competition. 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. In 1910, he made his final salute. 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. Most people also know that the portrayal of Tonto as the Lone Rangers sidekick is often stereotypical and racist. His expertise in local languages and culture made him perfectly suited to the job. 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.. After the war, George was reelected to the Texas State Legislature, and at his death on September 5, 1882, he was Speaker of the House of Representatives for the State of Texas. The upcoming series, seemingly based on a true story, will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. He was given the name of his owner, William Reeves. This troubled his mother greatly as she thought he wanted to be an outlaw. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. After tracking the notorious outlaw, Reeves captured him without much of a struggle. . Marshal Bass Reeves. Deputies would work out of Fort Smith and venture into the Indian Territory with warrants and open warrants. Reeves couldnt stay on as a ranger forever. He married a woman named Nellie Jennie, and they must have been really into each other. Introducing 'Bass Reeves,' a 'Yellowstone' Spinoff, 'Yellowstone' Season 5 Is "Gonna Be Bloody", Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Native Territory comprised most of what became Eastern Oklahoma on November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. The man overseeing the case was Judge Isaac Parker, who was technically Reeves boss. He was brought up on first-degree murder charges in January 1886 and relieved of duty. Reeves returned fire, striking Dozier in the neck, ending him instantly. Bennie was subsequently captured, tried, and convicted. 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. Have you taken a DNA test? 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. I dont think of any of these as spinoffs, but rather as complete stories that have common roots, Sheridan told Deadline about 1883. 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 After it became one of the most popular shows on television, Paramount greenlit a prequel miniseries titled 1883. 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. The Reeves family moved to North Twelfth Street, Park Place, in 1889. He once said he knew the Indian Territory like a cook knows her kitchen. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. 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. Reeves lived in the protection of his new communities and learned their languages for the next several years. Marshal? It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. After 1900, Muskogee had city police, with two deputy U.S. marshals stationed there, Bass Reeves and a white man David Adams. While he lived with the local Indigenous tribes, Bass became a guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory. [1] He was one of the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his masters son during THE CIVIL WAR. [2][5] Reeves was assigned as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which had responsibility also for the Native reservation Territory. Reeves became known in the early 1880s for bringing prisoners back to the Fort Smith court in double digits. Police departments and state agencies took over, meaning that marshals and deputies lost their authority. Given the 30-odd years he spent as a ranger, this is quite a remarkable achievement. Marshal west of the Mississippi river, who served in the Oklahoma and Arkansas territory in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. [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. 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. This was his first taste of work with the US government in an official capacity. U.S. Other blacks were also appointed to this position: Dee Rogers, Bob Fortune, Bill Colbert, Neely Factor, Zeke Moore and Grant Johnson. Reeves reputation quickly spread across the West. [78] Reeves was born into slavery in Grayson County, Texas in 1838. His likeness has appeared in at least seven television series, four films, a play, two board games, and at least six books. The actual number might shock you, however. Reeves earned his reputation. His son was tried and sent to Kansas Leavenworth Prison. Bass took the warrant and bought his son in for murder shortly thereafter his son convicted and sent to Leavenworth. [11] The United States Court at Fort Smith, was the largest in the nation. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and retired. Evidently, she felt duped and betrayed by the heavily armed deputy. by Art T. Burton | Jan 25, 2021 | Features & Gunfights, This is the best known photograph of Deputy U.S. 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. Since birth, he had witnessed the deepest and darkest parts of humanity. Because Reeves spent his early years in enslavement, even as an adult man, he couldnt read. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. 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