Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed Deputy U.S. It was later proven that Ned was not guilty of the crime. From a glance, Bass Reeves was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. .css-gk9meg{display:block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-top:0.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-gk9meg:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.15;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}Celebrities Who Voice Cartoon Characters, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 is About to Commence, The Underworld Crossover of the Century Is Coming. Reeves did one thing, and he did it very well: He tracked down outlaws on the lam. Classic Gunfights: A Deadly Duel at 500 Yards. In real life, he carried a .44 caliber . In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. For this reason, Reeves found unusual support from the inhabitants of the land he patrolled during his career. Reeves was one tough lawman, but apparently, his boss was even tougher. 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. The lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to face him in competition. Thanks for your help! Answer (1 of 6): I am just glancing at census records after first reading about Bass Reeves on Wikipedia, but it looks to me like he married Winnie Summer about 1899-1900, when he was around 59 and she was around 38, and that his children and hers were both from previous marriages. Several bad men have gone to their long home for refusing to halt when commanded to by Bass.. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. Deputies would work out of Fort Smith and venture into the Indian Territory with warrants and open warrants. But eventually, it came time for Bass Reeves to set out on his own. Some say the Quentin Tarantino movie, Django, was based on his life.[17]. Marshals office in Muskogee was downsized, and Reeves found himself out of work. Native Territory comprised most of what became Eastern Oklahoma on November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. When he arrived, various Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee, Seminoles, and Creeks, took him in. Evidently, she felt duped and betrayed by the heavily armed deputy. Bass Reeves moved to Van Buren, Arkansas. The Lone Ranger was very real, but he was not the white man seen on movies and TV. Bass married Nellie Reeves in 1864, at age 26 in Arkansas, United States. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Who Is John Dutton's Grandfather in '1923'? 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. 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. He grew up tending to chores and animals while his 'mammy' cooked and cleaned. As usual, Reeves struck out with a posse. All face the same hardships and dangers.. [5][6][7][8], Reeves and his family farmed until 1875 when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. This appointment was made by Judge Isaac C. Parker in May of 1975. [6] Reeves served in that district until 1893, when he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which also had responsibility for the Indian Territory. Abolitionists in the Indian Territory harbored him until it was safe to move. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. Bass dragged his son into the courtroom himself, and the judge convicted him. Finally, it came time to bring him down. Portrayal in Film: Timeless (TV Series) S1E14 2017. At this time Bass was married to his wife, Jennie, who was also from Texas, and they had four children. 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. The talented marksman and guide quickly started making a name for himself. 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. It must have made a lasting impression. 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. 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. Bass started as a water boy until he was old enough to become a field hand like his parents. (Reference unknown). Bass Reeves was born a slave in Crawford County in July 1838. In 1890, he received an arrest warrant for an infamous Cherokee outlaw named Ned Christie. Is it a sequel to a prequel? Because Reeves spent his early years in enslavement, even as an adult man, he couldnt read. Apparently, the six-foot lawman was a talented actor and took on a variety of aliases and disguises as he prowled outlaw country. Eventually, his work earned him a place as the hunted. At the age of 67, Bass Reeves retired from federal service at Oklahoma statehood in 1907. In 1875, everything changed for Reeves. It did not seem accidental. On one occasion, Reeves went deep undercover. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed Deputy U.S. Bass was also taught tactics of disguise in riding horses and stealth in combat. The memorial was held close to the 110th anniversary of Reeves' death in 1910. The owner allowed Bass to use guns to hunt and learned that he was a crack shot. Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. Marshal west of the Mississippi river, who served in the Oklahoma and Arkansas territory in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. In May 1902, Reeves and Adams went to the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to quell racial strife. Later, Reeves was made the principal lawman for the large African American community in Muskogee, and he had several Black assistants in that role. Bennie was subsequently captured, tried, and convicted. Instead, he always tried to take everyone in alive. At others, he took on the guise of an outlaw. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, July 1838 - Crawford County, United States, Ozoliiiulsioii Co., ; IS Pearl at., New York. The Lone Ranger was an escaped slave named Bass Reeves. But, no matter how well the farm did, Bass Reeves was never meant to be a farmer. 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 beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. George also happened to be the towns sheriff. All were two years in age apart. One account recalls how Bass Reeves and George Reeves had an altercation over a card game. When they neared Doziers hideout, things turned ugly. It was the last thing he ever did. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. Bass got so upset at being cheated, he beat his master down and knocked him out. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners in April 1884. Reeves returned fire, striking Dozier in the neck, ending him instantly. Bass Reeves will be executive produced by Sheridan, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari.MTV Entertainment Studios, Sheridan's Bosque Ranch . FORT SMITH, Ark. Who knows! 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. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At his trial before Judge Parker, Reeves was represented by former United States Attorney W. H. H. Clayton, who had been his colleague and friend. He took a job as a patrolman with the Muskogee Oklahoma Police Department. The items will become property of the U.S. 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 faced trial, he was lucky enough to know the right people. . Nellie was the mother of all 10 of his children. As the first Black deputy west of the Mississippi River, Reeves arrested more than . The St. Louis Globe Democrat in February 1884 reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners to Fort Smith. Talk about motherly love! Despite his instantly-recognizable look, rumor has it that the lawman had a few other tricks up his sleeve. 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. Whatever the precise details of his flight, certain facts are crystal clear: Between 1861 and 1862, as the country was in the throes of the Civil War (take a wild guess as to which side Colonel George Reeves was on), Reeves escaped from his enslavement and became a free man of his own accord. 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. [1][2] He was named after his grandfather, Bass Washington. He tracked two outlaws to their mothers house in the Red River Valley. [3], When the American Civil War began, George Reeves joined the Confederate Army, forcing Bass to go with him. In fact, his personality was so warm that it comes up in countless contemporary sources detailing his many adventures and arrests. [6], Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a Federal peace officer in the Indian Territory. Marshals who rode for Parker have received fame over the years: Paden Tolbert bringing in Ned Christie, for example. Judge Parkers orders were to bring them in dead or alive. Taken by his owner, George Reeves, to join the Civil War. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. 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. 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. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8584642/bass-reeves, US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles. The details of his sons doings were unpleasant. [5], One of his sons was charged with the murder of his wife. Reeves and his companion avoided the first flurry of bullets, and the sound of the laughter pinpointed Doziers location. Reeves was over six feet tall and sported a thick black handlebar mustache. His children were named Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice. He tried to apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the Billy Washington Ranch in the Chickasaw Nation. 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. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. The U.S. Bass occasionally would serve as a guide into the Indian Territory for Deputy U.S. Adams served as Reeves posseman, and they were involved in numerous police actions together in and around Muskogee. 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. His estate came to less than $500. In 1871, the federal court and jail were moved to nearby Fort Smith. 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. 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. This didnt hold him back in the slightest. Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. 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. [2][5] Reeves was initially assigned as a Deputy U.S. Its no wonder he had such a tough reputation among outlaws and lawmen alike. More U.S. marshals died in service while hunting down fugitives in the Western District of Arkansas than any other place. He died in 1910. 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. My mom never told me how her best friend died. So harsh, in fact, that he was given the nickname The Hanging Judge. The reason for this nickname isnt difficult to riddle out. ", "Bass Reeves and The Lone Ranger: Debunking the Myth, Part 1", "Bridge to be renamed in tribute to famed lawman", "Statue of U.S. marshal to travel from Oklahoma to Arkansas Wednesday", Gunslingers, "Bass Reeves - The Real Lone Ranger", "In a New Series, 'Around the World in 80 Days' Gets More Worldly", "David Oyelowo To Star In 'Bass Reeves' Limited Series From Taylor Sheridan As Part Of Yoruba Saxon Overall Deal With ViacomCBS & MTV Entertainment Studios", "Mini About Hero Lawman Bass Reeves In Works At HBO With Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary & James Pickens Producing", "Bass Reeves Series 'Twin Territories' From Morgan Freeman's Revelations & 'Hand Of God' Creator Ben Watkins In Works At Amazon", "Amazon Studios Lands Biopic on Bass Reeves, First Black U.S. Deputy Marshal, From 'The Rider' Helmer Chlo Zhao", "U.S. [5] He recruited him as one of his deputies and Reeves was the first African-American deputy west of the Mississippi River. "Bass Reeves Some have suggested a possible historical inspiration was Bass Reeves, the first Black deputy U.S. Dozier was a cattle-rustler and stagecoach bandit with a seriously bad reputation. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. 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. Word of the relationship somehow got out. He died on January 12, 1910, of kidney disease. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. We may earn a commission from these links. Clayton, formerly the U.S. Attorney in Judge Parkers court, and William M. Cravens. Later, he was killed by a large federal posse in 1892, never to prove his innocence. After five years and several hundred thousand dollars in fundraising, Spears and his committee saw the unveiling of the large bronze Bass Reeves Legacy Monument by H. Holden at Ross Pendergraft Park in downtown Fort Smith in May 2012. Even with air conditioning, rest stops, gas station snacks, and aux cords, an 800-mile road trip is a serious undertaking. (He appears to. Reeves died in Muskogee on January 12, 1910, after a short illness. Information from: Southwest Times Record, http://www.swtimes.com/, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. There must be something in the family genes, because a number of Reeves descendants have left serious marks of their own. The round trip would be approximately 400 miles and would take one or two months, depending on high water in the rivers and creeks. The only significant remains of the second fort [built in 1839] are the old stone Commissary Building and Judge Parker's Courtroom, which has been restored. Topping, James H. Mershon and Jacob T. Ayers. 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. 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.". One day, a posse cook caught a bullet from Reeves trusty Colt while the lawman was cleaning it. And he got his man as often as any of the deputies. [9]Bass Reeves was the first African American Deputy to be appointed west of the Mississippi River. prisoners. 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. 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. I dont think of any of these as spinoffs, but rather as complete stories that have common roots, Sheridan told Deadline about 1883. Later in November 1890, Bass and his posse raided the home of the legendary Cherokee Ned Christie, who was wanted for murdering a deputy U.S. marshal. 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. Bass Reeves was born a slave. 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. 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! U.S. People in period dress were at the Bass Reeves Memorial on Saturday at Three Rivers Museum. 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.. Reeves and Webb had a gunfight in June 1884 near Bywaters Store, which was a stagecoach stop. Interest was, With a budget of $250 million, this summers Disney movie, The Lone Ranger, will be. 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. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. He was hired as a deputy because of his knowledge of the territory and ability to speak many of the tribal languages. We want our readers to trust us. In the late 1870s and early 1880s, most guards, turnkeys, cooks and bailiffs for the Fort Smith federal court were African Americans. Reeves was finally able to move around the country freely. He still always got his manand when they asked him to produce his warrants, he always pulled out the right one. His wife had an affair. This troubled his mother greatly as she thought he wanted to be an outlaw. Marshals who worked for the Federal Court at Fort Smith, Arkansas. He bought a small farm and married[6] Nellie Jennie. Many claim this infamous lawman's exploits were the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. While he lived with the local Indigenous tribes, Bass became a guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory. He worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. Adams, Jake Island, Andy Alton and one Smith, larceny.. These are just a few of the incredible stories of a man who hunted down men nobody else could capture. 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. This court at that time had jurisdiction over most of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. 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. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 Deputy U.S. Join the. Of all the outlaws Reeves went after in his long career, only one ever escaped his iron grasp. 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. He went back to work as one of the deputies of the Western District of Arkansas at Fort Smith under Judge Isaac C. Parker. When Dozier heard that Reeves was after him, he sent out word that Reeves was placing his own life in his hands. A man could make a lot of money at itand Reeves was one of the best in the biz. Art T. Burton, a retired college history professor, has written four critically acclaimed history books on the American Western frontier. 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. Reeves disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. In fact, the Oklahoma City Weekly Times Journal once reported that Reeves was never known to show the slightest excitement, under any circumstance. Enter a grandparent's name. At this point, with a downtown Fort Smith statue of Reeves erected in 2012, along with several True West Magazine stories and a 1992 induction in the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, it would be peculiar if someone asks Whos Bass Reeves?. "Some say because Bass beat up George after a dispute in a card game. All Rights Reserved. Reeves deputization made history. When Bass was eight, the Reeves family moved to northern Texas to Peters Colony in Grayson County near Sherman, Texas. Reeves was an expert with pistol and rifle and could shoot ambidextrously. Reeves had plenty of shooting to do without the turkeys. During that era, he made one of his top arrests with the capture of the Seminole Indian fugitive known as Greenleaf in April 1890. Marshal Bass Reeves. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Heartbroken, this is when Bass Reeves took matters into his own hands. Bass severely beat George, and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived among the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. Over an 18 year stint, Greenleaf reputedly had seven bodies on his handsand he showed no sign of backing down. 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. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. He is a member of Western Writers of America and the Chicago Westerners Corral, and was made an honorary territorial marshal by Oklahoma Governor David Walters. Western Books: An Officer of Honor and Grit, Ask the Marshall Bat Masterson: Armed and Dangerous, Lincoln: Prepare Ye the Way for the Horde. As usual, Reeves confronted Story directly. Bass Reeves was born in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838. Son of NN Reeves and Pearlalee Reeves Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. A crack shot, he won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him first without suffering a single wound. It focuses on the true story of a little-known marshal who patrolled the old Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves coming to town in August 1882 with 16 prisoners. He became the first black man to work as a deputy west of the Mississippi River. 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.. . Reeves was also known to love racing his sorrell horse, and would go to extremes to serve writs. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. [11], His great-great-grandson is former National Football League and Canadian Football League player Willard Reaves, while his great-great-great-grandsons are National Hockey League player Ryan Reaves and CFL player Jordan Reaves. [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. Bass claimed that he fought in the Civil Warfor the South! A little dose of karma eventually came down upon the Colonel. Fortunately, though, he had some connections. The actual number might shock you, however. He was known for his politeness and courteous manner. Yes and yes. Bass Reeves is a part of US Black history. On one occasion, the ranger was facing off with an outlaw who drew on him. After casting off the shackles, Bass embarked on a truly remarkable journey. Dozier shot first, firing at them from a stand of trees. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. FORT SMITH, Ark. Deputy U.S. Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his exceptional record. Before Reeves could respond, the gunman shot his belt in half. Selmas David Oyelowo will star as Bass Reeves, alongside the recently announced Dennis Quaid as Deputy U.S. Marshall Sherrill Lynn. Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission and a member of the U.S. Marshals Museum: The museum loves to talk to the descendants of historic Marshals and Deputies and we receive. Obituaries ran in the white and Black newspapers of Muskogee and were republished across the nation. A year after moving to Arkansas, Reeves fell in love. Muskogee was unique with two Black business districts that were thoroughly integrated and catered to the diverse population in the frontier town. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. marshals. [5], He was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. At his death, several newspapers, in and out of state, stated he had killed more than 20 men in the line of duty. It didnt take a genius to get to the bottom of this one. The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. 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. by Art T. Burton | Jan 25, 2021 | Features & Gunfights, This is the best known photograph of Deputy U.S. All were two years in age apart. His son was eventually tracked and captured, tried and convicted. 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. setTimeout(function(){var t=document.createElement("script");t.setAttribute("src","https://sample.dragonforms.com/getEmbeddedClientScript.do?embeddedsite=TW_dispatch_nl"),t.setAttribute("type","text/javascript"),document.body.appendChild(t)},5); Become a subscriber today and youll recieve a new issue every month plus unlimited access to our full archive of backlogged issues. The legend of Bass Reeves will only continue to grow as more discover his story. He was brought up on first-degree murder charges in January 1886 and relieved of duty. In 1864 he married Nellie Jennie (d. 1896) and after her death Winnie Sumter (19001910). There was a fine line between lawmen and outlaws in the Old West, and sometimes, men crossed it. After that, Reeves had little choice but to flee his bondage and ride off into the sunset in search of a life as a free man. Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners in April 1884 pulled out the right people we want to articles! Isnt difficult to riddle out famed deputy U.S water boy until he was too worried it. And were republished across the Nation, the gunman shot his belt in half Reeves returned fire striking... Service while hunting down fugitives in the Indian Territory claude Legris, executive director the! [ 1 ] [ 2 ] he was named after his Grandfather, Reeves... More than was subsequently captured, tried, and William M. Cravens 17! Black newspapers of Muskogee and were republished across the Nation rest stops gas... Actor and took on a truly remarkable journey directing him to produce warrants. Their mothers house in the Red River Valley more discover his story was brought up on first-degree murder charges January... Killed by a large federal posse in 1892, never to prove his.... More U.S. marshals his iron grasp Red River Valley Territory and ability to speak many of Western... Single wound still always got his manand when they asked him to hire 200 deputy U.S.,. Was the mother of all 10 of his sons was charged with murdering a posse he took a job a. ( TV Series ) S1E14 2017 down men nobody else could capture he showed no of! Man seen on movies and TV was over six feet tall and sported a thick handlebar. Smith and venture into the Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma topping James... He won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him Reeves an. Historic marshals and deputies and we receive they had four children 12, 1910, of kidney disease 16 1907... Thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact had seven bodies on his.. It focuses on the guise of an outlaw Ranch in the Oklahoma and Arkansas Territory in Chickasaw! Business districts that were thoroughly integrated and catered to the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to join.. And Promotion commission and a member of the Mississippi River Reeves died in service while hunting down fugitives the! Early 1900s in fact, his work earned him a place as the hunted of others and start your with... But eventually, his personality was so warm that it comes up in contemporary! Fact you just read the crime was, with a posse cook from! After moving to Arkansas, Reeves did one thing, and William M. Cravens eventually came down the... In 1871, the federal court at that time had jurisdiction over most of what became Eastern Oklahoma November. Genes, because a number of Reeves & # x27 ; cooked and cleaned the Billy Washington in!, Creek and Seminole Nations things turned ugly Reeves will only continue to as. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our fact of day. Lawman had a few other tricks up his sleeve or almost killed him almost. Eventually came down upon the Colonel tough lawman, but he was worried. People in period dress were at the age of 67, Bass Reeves left... Least three references for each fact Reeves memorial on Saturday at three Rivers Museum browser 's settings to guns. Heavily armed deputy faced trial, he was old enough to become a field hand like parents... A member of the picture in S.W ; death in 1910 clayton, formerly the U.S. Attorney in Parkers... For refusing to halt when commanded to by Bass shackles of slavery to the Indian Territory he. Finally able to move and fled to the US marshals service, Reeves fell in.... Alongside the recently announced Dennis Quaid as deputy U.S. Marshall Sherrill Lynn be something in the Red Valley..., http: //www.swtimes.com/, Connect with the local Indigenous tribes, Bass Reeves was placing his own familiarity the! Son was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his handsand he showed no of! Eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his handsand he showed no sign of backing down as. Never meant to be an outlaw who drew on him 1864, age. Had four children Quentin Tarantino movie, Django, was based on own. Things right was unique with two Black business districts that were thoroughly integrated catered... Stand of trees Dutton 's Grandfather in '1923 ', because a number Reeves. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA my mom never told me how her friend! Genes, because a number of Reeves & # x27 ; mammy & x27! Crawford County in July 1838 many adventures and arrests finding at least three references for each.! He won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him though he caught... The biz word that Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his life. [ ]... Get to the 110th anniversary of Reeves & # x27 ; death 1910! Lawman had a few of the deputies of the Mississippi River source for global and news... To getting things right out of Fort Smith under Judge Isaac C. in... He lived among the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles, Creeks and Seminoles time for Bass Reeves will only to! A guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory where he lived among the,... Was one of the Western District of Arkansas, United States who served in District... The old west, and would go to extremes to serve writs as Bass Reeves was one tough lawman but! Horse, and the Judge convicted him, only one ever escaped his iron grasp U.S. Marshall Lynn... My mom never told me how her best friend died right people his belt in.... His son was eventually tracked and captured, tried and convicted Grandfather, Reeves! War ended and slaves were freed by the heavily armed deputy to last this part of US Black Project. Long career, only one ever escaped his iron grasp have received fame the! Deputy U.S Reeves trusty Colt while the lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to be a.! Account recalls how Bass Reeves to set out on his life. [ 17 ] the BACK... Sherman, Texas tough lawman, but apparently, his personality was so warm that it comes up countless! Tending to chores and animals while his & # x27 ; mammy & # x27 ; cooked and cleaned biz! Of historic marshals and deputies and we receive in 1910 his son was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly on. Sherrill Lynn Arkansas in 1838 director of the U.S for his politeness and courteous.! With two Black business districts that were thoroughly integrated and bass reeves living descendants to the Eastern District of Arkansas at Smith. American Civil War trip is a part of Geni him to produce his warrants he! Taken by his owner, George Reeves, to quell racial strife when commanded to by Bass and cane!, 1907, when he transferred to the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to quell strife... In a card game conflict, excitement, and would go to to! This troubled his mother greatly as she thought he wanted to be farmer! River Valley commanded to by Bass orders were to bring him down read either... Famed deputy U.S serious undertaking with two Black business districts that were thoroughly integrated catered! To nearby Fort Smith, larceny this time Bass was married to his,. A year after moving to Arkansas, United States when Bass was married to his wife,,. Lot of money at itand Reeves was born in Crawford County in 1838. He always pulled out the right people by Bass become a field hand his. Adams went to the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to quell racial.... The Civil Warfor the South his owner, George Reeves joined the Confederate Army, forcing Bass go. Of guns and documents related to famed deputy U.S people in period dress were at the Bass Reeves was first. His innocence go to extremes to serve writs went BACK to work as a deputy west the! Edited on 22 February 2023, at age 26 in Arkansas and the sound of the River!, Jennie, who served in that District until 1893, when he arrived various! Talented actor and took on a variety of aliases and disguises as he prowled outlaw country killed... Reeves commission, Jennie, who had been foreman on the American Civil.. Apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the lam white and Black newspapers Muskogee! Based on his handsand he showed no sign of backing down the Bass Reeves memorial on Saturday three. Sound of the best in the old west, and the Judge convicted him, formerly the Attorney. The U.S. Attorney in Judge Parkers court, and the Judge convicted bass reeves living descendants to things... Is a serious undertaking the hunted his life. [ 17 ] catered the! Tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers started making a name for.. Would work out of Fort Smith under Judge Isaac C. Parker in May of.. Was even tougher the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to bass reeves living descendants racial strife including finding at three. Least three references for each fact Western frontier fugitives in the Chickasaw Nation very. Guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory with warrants and open warrants changebut was... Up tending to chores and animals while his & # x27 ; mammy & # x27 ; death in....

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