The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. Bennie was jealous, angry, and violent. . 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. Eventually, Reeves decided he had to fulfill his obligation personally. http://politicalblindspot.com/the-real-lone-ranger-was-an-african-a https://www.policeone.com/police-heroes/articles/6408028-Police-His Geni requires JavaScript! Reeves had a beat in downtown Muskogee, during . 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. The deputy lawman found himself on the wrong side of the law in 1887. Reeves had a reputation as an expert in Indigenous languages with an intimate knowledge of the land. Reeves was born in Crawford County, in Northwest Arkansas, around 1838. Thought to have been born in the summer of 1838, by the year 1880, Bass and Jennie Reeves had eight children: Sally, Robert, Harriet, Georgia, Alice, Newland, Edgar and Lula. 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. [2][5] He is said to have shot and killed fourteen outlaws to defend his own life. Bass Reeves and his family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. 1.2K views, 17 likes, 3 loves, 29 comments, 16 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from U.S. At this time Bass was married to his wife, Jennie, who was also from Texas, and they had four children. One day, Benjamins wife suddenly passed under extremely suspicious circumstances. Picture this on horseback, with a leather saddle and stiff boots. by Art T. Burton | Jan 25, 2021 | Features & Gunfights, This is the best known photograph of Deputy U.S. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass . Police departments and state agencies took over, meaning that marshals and deputies lost their authority. All were two years in age apart. [5] He was an uncle of Paul L. Brady, the first African-American appointed a Federal Administrative Law Judge (in 1972). Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. It is unclear how, and exactly when, Bass Reeves escaped, but at some point during the Civil War, he gained his freedom. He grew up tending to chores and animals while his 'mammy' cooked and cleaned. Who knows! Family history states that Bass and George got into an argument over a card game during the Civil War. [5], Reeves and his family farmed until 1875, when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. Unlike most of his African-American brothers, REEVES was treated with respect and his legend, even as just a U.S. We may earn a commission from these links. At times, he dressed himself as a local farmer. Reeves had sent a lot of men into Parkers chamber, most of whom had done terrible things. (Reference unknown). During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. The Lone Ranger was very real, but he was not the white man seen on movies and TV. [5] He married Nellie Jennie from Texas, with whom he had ten children, five boys and five girls. Greenleaf had been on the run for 18 years and had murdered three white men and four Indians and had never been arrested. Most people also know that the portrayal of Tonto as the Lone Rangers sidekick is often stereotypical and racist. Despite taking down over 3,000 outlaws and getting into dozens of dust-ups, the rough and tumble lawman never fell victim to any serious injuries. Then, he knocked on the door and asked for a place to rest. Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, "Bass Reeves, the Most Feared U.S. Deputy Marshal", "Judge Paul L. Brady Retires from Job Safety Commission", "Reaves putting Kane feud aside, joining him for 'much bigger cause', "Rangers winger Ryan Reaves discovers the history behind the family name", "Was the Original 'Lone Ranger' a Black Man? Just one grandparent can lead you to many [5] He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. In 1907, Reeves joined up with the Muskogee law enforcement office in Oklahoma, where he worked for two years. He was apparently well dressed, with spit-polished boots and a striking, wide-brimmed hat on his head. He was brought up on first-degree murder charges in January 1886 and relieved of duty. It sat on his desk for two days while he decided what to do. When he retired in 1907, Reeves had on his record over 3,000 arrests of felons. After 1905, Reeves did not arrest as many white felons as he had earlier in his career, due to the large influx of white settlers into the territory and racial attitudes shifting. 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. 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. Research shows that Reeves stayed in Fort Smith until 1893. Over his career, Reeves made a lot of enemies. There must be something in the family genes, because a number of Reeves descendants have left serious marks of their own. A year after moving to Arkansas, Reeves fell in love. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56. Muskogee was unique with two Black business districts that were thoroughly integrated and catered to the diverse population in the frontier town. Marshal Bass Reeves. When Reeves located the cabin of Christie in the Cherokee Nation, his posse burned it down, but Ned escaped capture and death. 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. When Reeves drew his warrant, Story drew his Coltbig mistake. [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. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. 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. A little boy sits transfixed in a movie theater as Reeves brings a crooked white sheriff to justice. Information from: Southwest Times Record, http://www.swtimes.com/, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Reeves was acquitted.[7]. Starring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, 1883 depicted the first Dutton family members to travel the Oregon Trail and settle in Montana, where the Yellowstone Ranch is set in the series. Greenleaf terrorized the area for years, but to Reeves, he was just another bounty. 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. During his time as a Deputy U.S. Here, he learned Indian languages, the lay of the land and complete mastery of pistols and rifles. Reeves, it seems, was the most famous of them all. [6], Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a Federal peace officer in the Indian Territory. But what made him one of the best in the West was his smarts. 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. He often used aliases and disguises, a cowboy, farmer, gunslinger -- even a outlaw. Story was the leader of a feared gang of horse thieves who operated under the highly original name of The Tom Story Gang. [1] When Bass was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. Dozier escaped from Bass Reeves for several years until he tracked Bob Dozier down in the Cherokee Hills. [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. He went back to work as one of the deputies of the Western District of Arkansas at Fort Smith under Judge Isaac C. Parker. Hold your horses though, because theres no official release date for Bass Reeves just yet. 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 thought hed hit his mark and he burst out in laughter. And he got his man as often as any of the deputies. Apparently, each one tried to end Reeves life before he resorted to force. He was never KNOWN to make a mistake. Despite running up against hardened crooks, the 200-pound, six-foot slinger apparently never wavered. As usual, Reeves struck out with a posse. At the outbreak of the Civil War, George was made an officer in the 11th Texas Cavalry Regiment, second in command to Col. William G. Young. 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.. 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. He also learned tracking and other skills from the different Indian tribes. In total, he found at least twelve cards posted promising his demise. 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. 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. Theyre like, there better be a fucking season two because we already picked it up, he recalled. 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. Reeves didnt just take it, though. 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. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. 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 Muskogee was the principal town in the Indian Territory and had a large African American population with many federal offices in town. . Editors of AHM, A Guide to America's Greatest Historic Places, p. 9). Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. They sheltered him from lawmen who sought to return him to slavery. Bass accepted the responsibility for finding his son. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. Bass Reeves was born a slave in Crawford County in July 1838. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed Deputy U.S. [13], In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[43]. Just saw the movie. Bass Reeves was born a slave in the 1830's American South. 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. He bought a small farm and married[6] Nellie Jennie. After serving as a valiant marshals deputy, Reeves worked as a policeman in Muskogee for two years, 1907-1909. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? [2] Once he had to arrest his own son for murder. However, he didnt retire just yet. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves coming to town in August 1882 with 16 prisoners. Their names are listed side by side with other Deputy U.S. That year he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas, for a short while. In 1875,[7] Isaac Parker was appointed Federal Judge for the Indian Territory. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners in April 1884. Despite his brutal methods, Reeves was an honorable man to his core. 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. It was later proven that Ned was not guilty of the crime. Fagan had heard about Reeves, who knew the Territory and could speak several Native languages. Reeves lived in the protection of his new communities and learned their languages for the next several years. [1][2] Reeves was named after his grandfather, Basse Washington. Other blacks were also appointed to this position: Dee Rogers, Bob Fortune, Bill Colbert, Neely Factor, Zeke Moore and Grant Johnson. In the card game Cartaventura Oklahoma, one plays the fictional escape of Bass Reeves with five possible outcomes. By all accounts, he drew quickly and never missed his mark when the time came. 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 became known in the early 1880s for bringing prisoners back to the Fort Smith court in double digits. Legend has it that Reeves ended up getting into a serious confrontation with his master over a card game in 1861. He hunted his son down and clapped him in irons. 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. discoveries. The Legend of Bass Reeves by author Gary Paulsen is a Western written for young readers. Despite never drawing first, Reeves ended up in a lot of shootouts. Bass severely beat George, and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived among the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. 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. But, no matter how well the farm did, Bass Reeves was never meant to be a farmer. [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]. Judge Parkers orders were to bring them in dead or alive. While he lived with the local Indigenous tribes, Bass became a guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory. Her passing absolutely devastated him. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. The series will star David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves, a real-life former slave who became the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi in the 1870s. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. Meet 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, which will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. 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. This court at that time had jurisdiction over most of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. When Reeves faced trial, he was lucky enough to know the right people. He caught over 3000 criminals in his career. Reeves did one thing, and he did it very well: He tracked down outlaws on the lam. 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. Reeves remained with this federal district until 1897, when he was transferred to the new Northern District of Indian Territory at Muskogee. If so, login to add it. George also happened to be the towns sheriff. So, when Reeves learned that his son was a wanted man, the lawman demanded the warrant. He was hired as a deputy because of his knowledge of the territory and ability to speak many of the tribal languages. Bass married Nellie Reeves in 1864, at age 26 in Arkansas, United States. Marshals. 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. Director Isaiah Washington Writers Robert Johnson Isaiah Washington Stars Classic Gunfights: A Deadly Duel at 500 Yards. 14 were shot in self-defense. After a citizens petition and an exemplary prison record, his son was pardoned and was never in trouble with the law again. 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. The deputies' job was to clean up the Indian Territory. Young Bennie quickly became a suspect, and soon enough, he was charged with murder. In 1887, Reeves had to sell his home and farm in the Catcher Community near Van Buren to pay for his first-degree murder defense with attorneys William H.H. After casting off the shackles, Bass embarked on a truly remarkable journey. [1][2] He was named after his grandfather, Bass Washington. As Sheridan recently told Deadline, they wanted to hold a meeting to discuss how certain characters may have survived their deaths, so Sheridan worked up another peek into the window instead. Topping, James H. Mershon and Jacob T. Ayers. U.S. In January 2007, the U.S. Deputy U.S. From a glance, Bass Reeves was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. Dozier was a cattle-rustler and stagecoach bandit with a seriously bad reputation. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass Reevess descendants, the Southwest Times Record reported. [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. He still always got his manand when they asked him to produce his warrants, he always pulled out the right one. He served 11 years at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas before his sentence was commuted; he reportedly lived the rest of his life as a model citizen. Reeves was 58 years old at the time. 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. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his masters son during THE CIVIL WAR. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and had to retire. Despite being disturbed and deeply shaken by the incident, Reeves nonetheless insisted on the responsibility of bringing Bennie to justice. Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his exceptional record. 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. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Bass Reeves was indeed the Invincible Marshal. When the amendment passed, he moved to Arkansas and became a small-time farmer. In the Old West, its hard to separate the good guys from the bad. 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 Later, he was killed by a large federal posse in 1892, never to prove his innocence. At his death, several newspapers, in and out of state, stated he had killed more than 20 men in the line of duty. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. Bass Reeves began his life as a slave in the state of Arkansas in July 1838, near the town of Van Buren. Reeves brought in some of the most dangerous fugitives of the time; he was never wounded despite having his hat and belt shot off on separate occasions. 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. Bass also served as bodyguard, coachman and butler. (AP) The U.S. Two weeks later he returned to Muskogee with his son and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. 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. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. 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. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Other reasons, Kennedy adds, included Reeves age. The legend of Bass Reeves will only continue to grow as more discover his story. [9]Bass Reeves was the first African American Deputy to be appointed west of the Mississippi River. 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. Reeves's . In the late 1870s and early 1880s, most guards, turnkeys, cooks and bailiffs for the Fort Smith federal court were African Americans. The going rate was more than $1,000 for bounties. The U.S. 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. When the men fell asleep, he burst into their room and threw them each in handcuffs. Once And For All, Is The Lone Ranger Based on Bass Reeves? It must have made a lasting impression. Reeves had plenty of shooting to do without the turkeys. He recruited Bass Reeves as one of his deputies because of his knowledge of the territory and tribes. 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. Was hired as a valiant marshals deputy, Reeves was born a slave in the.... Despite being disturbed and deeply shaken by the incident, Reeves made a lot of men into chamber... Their room and threw them each in handcuffs when I made an utterly chilling discovery farm! Reeves police work in the family genes, because a number of Reeves descendants have left serious marks of own. Greatest Historic Places, p. 9 ) the responsibility of bringing Bennie to.... Time came Reeves brings a crooked white sheriff to justice for young readers and four Indians and murdered. Picture this on horseback, with a leather saddle and stiff boots their authority the Western District of state! 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