Marshal. Her passing absolutely devastated him. But for a man whose true story rivals Wild. The same newspaper in March of 1885 reported Reeves bringing in 13 prisoners. Bass Reeves moved to Van Buren, Arkansas. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. He was also a black dude. 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. [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 disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. 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. 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. Typically, local posses accompanied Reeves on his expeditions and stakeouts. 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Dropped Its First Trailer, 'Outer Banks' Season 4 Is Already In the Works, 'The Last of Us' Ep. When Reeves located the cabin of Christie in the Cherokee Nation, his posse burned it down, but Ned escaped capture and death. In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? His likeness has appeared in at least seven television series, four films, a play, two board games, and at least six books. [1] It appears plausible that Reeves was kept in bondage by William Steele Reeves's son, Colonel George R. Reeves -- a Texan sheriff, legislator, and one-time Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives until his death from rabies in 1882. 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. Who knows! 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. Because it was Bass's son the other deputies were reluctant to take the warrant. Theres only one catch: Bass Reeves is not an original character. On one occasion, Reeves went deep undercover. For the next ten years, he lived a quiet life on his country farm. There must be something in the family genes, because a number of Reeves descendants have left serious marks of their own. 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. This is one gunslinger who wont soon be forgotten, so dive in and discover the action-packed life of Bass Reeves. Eventually, Reeves decided he had to fulfill his obligation personally. 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. The details of his sons doings were unpleasant. 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. Bass Reeves is a part of US Black history. Though it hasnt been explicitly stated, many outlets have just been calling the series Bass Reeves. Reeves was an expert with pistol and rifle and could shoot ambidextrously. 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. Bass Reeves was the first black man to be appointed a U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. Bass Reeves was born in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838. 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. 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. (Reference unknown). Reeves made a name for himself early in his career when he struck out after the famous outlaw Bob Dozier. FORT SMITH, Ark. A fitting end to a horrible man, George Reeves contracted rabies and passed in 1882. After his release, he apparently turned his life around and lived out the rest of his life without offense. They would later have 11 children in the household. He would then memorize their details before striking out to pursue his target. 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. The Arkansas Gazette in September 1884 re-ported Reeves brought 15 prisoners to Fort Smith. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. 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. One account recalls how Bass Reeves and George Reeves had an altercation over a card game. Well, the show was last announced as 1883: The Bass Reeves Story back in May 2022. In the Old West, its hard to separate the good guys from the bad. According to the letter of the law, it didnt matter who they were. 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. 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. [5], He was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. When Reeves faced trial, he was lucky enough to know the right people. [3] During the Civil War, Bass escaped north into the [4]Indian Territory ,and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians. 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. When the men fell asleep, he burst into their room and threw them each in handcuffs. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. He was apparently well dressed, with spit-polished boots and a striking, wide-brimmed hat on his head. On November 17, 1907, Indian Territory became the new state of Oklahoma. The round trip would be approximately 400 miles and would take one or two months, depending on high water in the rivers and creeks. He was not the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. Reeves was interviewed in 1902, and at that time he stated that he had arrested over 3,000 men and women who broke federal law in the Indian Territory. The upcoming series, seemingly based on a true story, will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Apparently, each one tried to end Reeves life before he resorted to force. The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. At the age of 67, Bass Reeves retired from federal service at Oklahoma statehood in 1907. He hunted his son down and clapped him in irons. One day, Benjamins wife suddenly passed under extremely suspicious circumstances. 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. In 1848, George was elected tax collector, and in 1850, he was elected sheriff of Grayson County. This was his first taste of work with the US government in an official capacity. When Bass was eight, the Reeves family moved to northern Texas to Peters Colony in Grayson County near Sherman, Texas. 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. Over an 18 year stint, Greenleaf reputedly had seven bodies on his handsand he showed no sign of backing down. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 Deputy U.S. Western Books: An Officer of Honor and Grit, Ask the Marshall Bat Masterson: Armed and Dangerous, Lincoln: Prepare Ye the Way for the Horde. After escaping his masters, Reeves traveled to Oklahoma, or Indian Territory, as it was known then. This didnt hold him back in the slightest. Their names are listed side by side with other Deputy U.S. The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. 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. Editors of AHM, A Guide to America's Greatest Historic Places, p. 9). Apparently, Christie didnt make things easy, and he escaped. In 1907, Reeves joined up with the Muskogee law enforcement office in Oklahoma, where he worked for two years. Bass Reeves worked with lawman such as [10] Heck Thomas, Bud Ledbetter, and Bill Tilghman. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. .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. 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 Dozier was a cattle-rustler and stagecoach bandit with a seriously bad reputation. Bass Reeves delivered two prisoners to U.S. Reeves remained with this federal district until 1897, when he was transferred to the new Northern District of Indian Territory at Muskogee. (He appears to. This court at that time had jurisdiction over most of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Marshals who rode for Parker have received fame over the years: Paden Tolbert bringing in Ned Christie, for example. 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. Bass accepted the responsibility for finding his son. [1][2] Reeves was named after his grandfather, Basse Washington. Meet 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, which will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. This page has been accessed 17,324 times. Reeves and his posse burned Christies home to the ground. Though it won't include anyone from the cast of 1883, Bass Reeves will follow the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshall west of the Mississippi River in U.S. history. The cook didnt survive and Reeves went on trial for murder. 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. Marshal west of the Mississippi river, who served in the Oklahoma and Arkansas territory in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. In real life, he carried a .44 caliber . His expertise in local languages and culture made him perfectly suited to the job. Police departments and state agencies took over, meaning that marshals and deputies lost their authority. Adams served as Reeves posseman, and they were involved in numerous police actions together in and around Muskogee. He appointed [8] James Fagan as U.S. In 1893, Bass Reeves was transferred to the Eastern District federal court at Paris, Texas. [10], Reeves' health began to fail further after retiring. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. A crack shot, he won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him first without suffering a single wound. In Black Gun, Silver Star, Burton recounts some stories from Adam Grayson, a former resident of Indian Territory, saying that Reeves tore up at least one warrant for a prisoner who outraced his sorrell steed. [9] He served there until 1893. The owner allowed Bass to use guns to hunt and learned that he was a crack shot. Many U.S. While living with the Indians, Bass learned to speak and understand the different Indian languages. Director Isaiah Washington Writers Robert Johnson Isaiah Washington Stars When Reeves drew his warrant, Story drew his Coltbig mistake. Bass Reeves was born a slave. Despite his brutal methods, Reeves was an honorable man to his core. In January 2007, the U.S. In 1890, he received an arrest warrant for an infamous Cherokee outlaw named Ned Christie. The U.S. The Fort Smith National Historic Site has a room dedicated to the history of black lawmen and local military units. Marshals Service also started doing these events in 2012 in conjunction with the Cherokee Nation. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. As usual, Reeves confronted Story directly. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. Fortunately, he had another useful skill. Bass severely beat George, and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived among the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. In a happy subplot to an often harrowing tale, the two stayed together for the rest of their lives. They arrested, without incident 15 white men and eight Black men and brought them to the federal jail in Muskogee. 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. [13], In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[43]. Bass went with George into the war, serving as his body servant. Deputy U.S. This troubled his mother greatly as she thought he wanted to be an outlaw. Judge Parkers orders were to bring them in dead or alive. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. The Lone Ranger was an escaped slave named Bass Reeves. Just saw the movie. Until then, theres always plenty of Sheridans Paramount shows, such as Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, to feast your eyes on. 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. A year after moving to Arkansas, Reeves fell in love. Reeves greatest gunfight was in 1884. Reeves never learned to read, so he memorized his arrest warrants. 14 were shot in self-defense. 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 At his trial in October 1887, Reeves was found innocent. 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. Most marshals were afraid to take the caseno one wanted to track down the son of the infamous Bass Reeves. Bass Reeves was born a slave in Crawford County in July 1838. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. While he lived with the local Indigenous tribes, Bass became a guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory. For the next 11 years, Bennie Reeves sat in Fort Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. Reeves was arrested and lodged in the Fort Smith federal jail until he could make bond in June of that year. Native Territory comprised most of what became Eastern Oklahoma on November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. Reeves couldnt stay on as a ranger forever. By all accounts, he drew quickly and never missed his mark when the time came. Over his long career as a lawman, the mustachioed slinger racked up a body count of 14 men. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. 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. Other blacks were also appointed to this position: Dee Rogers, Bob Fortune, Bill Colbert, Neely Factor, Zeke Moore and Grant Johnson. 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. Bass Reeves, the gunslinging lawman, left a serious legacy behind. He was so good, in fact, that he was regularly banned from participating in competitive turkey shoots, a popular pastime in the West. Once And For All, Is The Lone Ranger Based on Bass Reeves? 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. 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 died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910. Marshal Bass Reeves. He caught over 3000 criminals in his career. Word of the relationship somehow got out. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, July 1838 - Crawford County, United States, Ozoliiiulsioii Co., ; IS Pearl at., New York. Moreso, they knew that he would get the job done cleanly and fairly. When the altercation turned physical, Reeves released a well-deserved beatdown on the Colonel. It was later proven that Ned was not guilty of the crime. Topping, James H. Mershon and Jacob T. Ayers. Have you taken a DNA test? Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. Marshals office in Muskogee was downsized, and Reeves found himself out of work. Marshal Reeves was disturbed and shaken by the incident but demanded to accept the responsibility of bringing his son to justice. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Bass was also taught tactics of disguise in riding horses and stealth in combat. [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]. The rest of the gang disappeared, and no one ever heard from them again. He also learned tracking and other skills from the different Indian tribes. For this reason, Reeves found unusual support from the inhabitants of the land he patrolled during his career. Harmons 1898 book Hell on the Border. However, as early as 1901 writer D.C. Gideon detailed Reeves in his book Indian Territory., Among the numerous deputy marshals that have ridden for the Paris (Texas), Fort Smith (Arkansas) and Indian Territory courts none have met with more hairbreadth escapes or have affected more hazardous arrests than Bass Reeves, of Muskogee, Gideon writes. 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. Bass Reeves was born a slave in the 1830's American South. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. 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. When they neared Doziers hideout, things turned ugly. Over a thirty-year career, he faced some of the most feared men in America. He was hired as a deputy because of his knowledge of the territory and ability to speak many of the tribal languages. . 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.. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and had to retire. [5] He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. Reeves died in Muskogee on January 12, 1910, after a short illness. Marshals. [78] Reeves was born into slavery in Grayson County, Texas in 1838. Marshals. There was a movie made in his honor. 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. He took a job as a patrolman with the Muskogee Oklahoma Police Department. Bass won many turkey shoots for his master, which in Texas was prestigious for George. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves coming to town in August 1882 with 16 prisoners. discoveries. 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. (AP) The U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which also had responsibility for the Indian Territory. [5], Reeves was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Eventually, his work earned him a place as the hunted. For four years, the lawman mourned the passing of his beloved Nellie. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Marshals who worked for the Federal Court at Fort Smith, Arkansas. 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. Bass Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many outlaws of the territory. 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