A crack shot, he won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him first without suffering a single wound. [12] Ryan Reaves's grandfather changed the family name from Reeves to Reaves. During the Civil War . Thanks for your help! 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?. The U.S. An article suggests that Bass Reeves may have been the inspiration for the "Lone Ranger" --. Marshals who worked for the Federal Court at Fort Smith, Arkansas. [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. Enter a grandparent's name. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. 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. Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his exceptional record. . Son of NN Reeves and Pearlalee Reeves He went back to work as one of the deputies of the Western District of Arkansas at Fort Smith under Judge Isaac C. Parker. Reeves was an expert with pistol and rifle and could shoot ambidextrously. Reeves returned fire, striking Dozier in the neck, ending him instantly. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and had to retire. He hunted his son down and clapped him in irons. Reeves and his posse burned Christies home to the ground. Director Isaiah Washington Writers Robert Johnson Isaiah Washington Stars The men with a $5,000 bounty on their heads woke up in handcuffs. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. Reeves was acquitted.[7]. 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. Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. Williams son, Colonel George Reeves, was Basss legal owner. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. So what about Bass Reeves? Please add Bass to the American Heroes category. [3] During the Civil War, Bass escaped north into the [4]Indian Territory ,and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians. Reeves methods of enforcement were somewhat unorthodox. Bass Reeves is often called the 'greatest frontier hero in American history.' He was the first Black Deputy U.S. He died in 1910. Bass severely beat George, and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived among the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. Greenleaf terrorized the area for years, but to Reeves, he was just another bounty. To be fair, it was back when George Reeves still owned him, so he didnt have much of a choice. Reeves did one thing, and he did it very well: He tracked down outlaws on the lam. In 1897, he was transferred again, serving at the Muskogee Federal Court in the Native Territory. As usual, Reeves confronted Story directly. Police departments and state agencies took over, meaning that marshals and deputies lost their authority. For example, his grand-nephew, Paul L. Brady, a prominent civil rights activist, became the first black administrative law judge in 1972. Bass Reeves and his family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. 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. 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. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Just one grandparent can lead you to many Even with air conditioning, rest stops, gas station snacks, and aux cords, an 800-mile road trip is a serious undertaking. . 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 was an excellent shooter, but he took this talent to the next level: The lawman was completely ambidextrous. Over his career, Reeves made a lot of enemies. It looked like his luck was finally beginning to turnand more good fortune was on the horizon. People in period dress were at the Bass Reeves Memorial on Saturday at Three Rivers Museum. Join the. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. Reeves was arrested and lodged in the Fort Smith federal jail until he could make bond in June of that year. When Dozier heard that Reeves was after him, he sent out word that Reeves was placing his own life in his hands. When Reeves faced trial, he was lucky enough to know the right people. Art T. Burton, a retired college history professor, has written four critically acclaimed history books on the American Western frontier. 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. He is believed to be buried in a small cemetery on Fern Mountain Road west of town. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. Later, Reeves was made the principal lawman for the large African American community in Muskogee, and he had several Black assistants in that role. Bass claimed that he fought in the Civil Warfor the South! According to an Oklahoma news article in 1907, outlaws in the West had a habit of posting cards on their turf with warnings to certain deputies. 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 owner allowed Bass to use guns to hunt and learned that he was a crack shot. Theres only one catch: Bass Reeves is not an original character. Bass was also taught tactics of disguise in riding horses and stealth in combat. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. [78] Reeves was born into slavery in Grayson County, Texas in 1838. [5][6][7][8], He was a great-uncle of Paul L. Brady, who became the first black man appointed as a federal administrative law judge in 1972. He bought a small farm and married[6] Nellie Jennie. 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. Bennie was jealous, angry, and violent. Barton quotes many sources in his book, and many times Reeves is credited with bringing in about a dozen prisoners or more at a time from the Indian Territory to the District Courthouse in Fort Smith. Ryan Reaves, a professional hockey player from Winnipeg, is Basss great-great-great-grandson. They would later have 11 children in the household. [5], One of his sons was charged with the murder of his wife. So, when Reeves learned that his son was a wanted man, the lawman demanded the warrant. Marshals Museum. Most people also know that the portrayal of Tonto as the Lone Rangers sidekick is often stereotypical and racist. Just one close call like that would be enough for us to hang up our hats for good, but to Reeves, it was just another part of the job. Marshal credited with being the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. Reeves didnt just take it, though. 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. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. Story was the leader of a feared gang of horse thieves who operated under the highly original name of The Tom Story Gang. Bennie was subsequently captured, tried, and convicted. When Bass was eight, the Reeves family moved to northern Texas to Peters Colony in Grayson County near Sherman, Texas. Fagan had heard about Reeves, who knew the Territory and could speak several Native languages. The items will become property of the U.S. The lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to face him in competition. For this reason, Reeves found unusual support from the inhabitants of the land he patrolled during his career. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Reeves earned his reputation. Bass Reeves said the largest haul he made while working for the Fort Smith court was bringing in 19 horse thieves from the Fort Sill area. . Its clear at this point that the deputy tracked down and captured a huge number of outlaws. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. [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. The Lone Ranger was very real, but he was not the white man seen on movies and TV. [2][5] He is said to have shot and killed fourteen outlaws to defend his own life. Typically, local posses accompanied Reeves on his expeditions and stakeouts. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his master's son during THE CIVIL WAR. Marshal Leo Bennett in Muskogee, Oklahoma, only to find[13] his own son had been charged with the murder of his wife. [13], In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[43]. He tried to apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the Billy Washington Ranch in the Chickasaw Nation. From a glance, Bass Reeves was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. Reeves, it seems, was the most famous of them all. Marshal. He was hired as a city policeman in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he served for about two years. [6], Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a Federal peace officer in the Indian Territory. 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. He was known for his politeness and courteous manner. When the amendment passed, he moved to Arkansas and became a small-time farmer. But, no matter how well the farm did, Bass Reeves was never meant to be a farmer. . Abolitionists in the Indian Territory harbored him until it was safe to move. He tracked two outlaws to their mothers house in the Red River Valley. [9]Bass Reeves was the first African American Deputy to be appointed west of the Mississippi River. 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. Editors of AHM, A Guide to America's Greatest Historic Places, p. 9). Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. Native Territory comprised most of what became Eastern Oklahoma on November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. [1] When Bass Reeves was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. Selma 's David Oyelowo will. Bass got so upset at being cheated, he beat his master down and knocked him out. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. There was a fine line between lawmen and outlaws in the Old West, and sometimes, men crossed it. Legend has it that Reeves ended up getting into a serious confrontation with his master over a card game in 1861. [5], Reeves was married twice and had eleven children. All were two years in age apart. [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. Until just a few years ago, it was more likely that only readers steeped in the lore of the west or Parkers court knew much about the deep-voiced man who sang softly before going into a gunfight. While living with the Indians, Bass learned to speak and understand the different Indian languages. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Judge Parker ruled on the situation and acquitted Reeves of all charges. Many historians believe that Reeves would later go on to be partial inspiration for the Lone Ranger. So, this semi-biographical series about a real guy is going to be part of the Yellowstone series? Reeves couldnt stay on as a ranger forever. Reeves son, Benjamin Reeves, strayed from the family tree and ran into serious trouble with the law. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. They were an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and there was only one way this was going to go down. During that era, he made one of his top arrests with the capture of the Seminole Indian fugitive known as Greenleaf in April 1890. His son was tried and sent to Kansas Leavenworth Prison. 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! The St. Louis Globe Democrat in October 1885 reported that Reeves had arrested 17 felons in the Indian Territory and brought them to Fort Smith. (AP) The U.S. In the late 1870s and early 1880s, most guards, turnkeys, cooks and bailiffs for the Fort Smith federal court were African Americans. The deputy lawman found himself on the wrong side of the law in 1887. 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. In 1848, George was elected tax collector, and in 1850, he was elected sheriff of Grayson County. Apparently, each one tried to end Reeves life before he resorted to force. In May 1902, Reeves and Adams went to the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to quell racial strife. In 1907, Reeves joined up with the Muskogee law enforcement office in Oklahoma, where he worked for two years. The Fort Smith National Historic Site has a room dedicated to the history of black lawmen and local military units. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee, Oklahoma police department. In 1910, he made his final salute. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. 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. Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. He was apparently well dressed, with spit-polished boots and a striking, wide-brimmed hat on his head. 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. This court at that time had jurisdiction over most of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. 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. Fortunately, though, he had some connections. A little dose of karma eventually came down upon the Colonel. 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. Is it a sequel to a prequel? Reeves had a beat in downtown Muskogee, during . 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. When he arrived, various Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee, Seminoles, and Creeks, took him in. Marshals office in Muskogee was downsized, and Reeves found himself out of work. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. Dozier was a cattle-rustler and stagecoach bandit with a seriously bad reputation. As usual, Reeves struck out with a posse. Picture this on horseback, with a leather saddle and stiff boots. 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. 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? When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. The federal jail court was in Van Buren for the western district of Arkansas and Indian Territory. The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. Almost a year out from a planned opening of the new $60 million museum, its the lawmans family tree the curator wants most. (Reference unknown). After his release, he apparently turned his life around and lived out the rest of his life without offense. Over a thirty-year career, he faced some of the most feared men in America. Though it hasnt been explicitly stated, many outlets have just been calling the series Bass Reeves. [5][6][7][8], Reeves and his family farmed until 1875 when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. Marshal? 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. He died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910. [5] He recruited him as one of his deputies and Reeves was the first African-American deputy west of the Mississippi River. The tough man was definitely no stranger to loss in his life, but this was different. For the next ten years, he lived a quiet life on his country farm. Its a sequel to a prequel (of sorts), but it can still be viewed and enjoyed separate from Yellowstone. 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. [1] He was one of the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. A fitting end to a horrible man, George Reeves contracted rabies and passed in 1882. Spears said Bill Black presented the idea for a Bass Reeves statue after Spears effort for a statue of President Zachary Taylor did not get traction. "Bass Reeves Some have suggested a possible historical inspiration was Bass Reeves, the first Black deputy U.S. Marshal James Fagan was replaced not long after Judge Parker took over the court with a Union veteran, Daniel P. Upham. 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. In fact, the Oklahoma City Weekly Times Journal once reported that Reeves was never known to show the slightest excitement, under any circumstance. 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. 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. He was one of Judge Parker's most valued deputies. Reeves is featured in the opening scene of HBO's award-winning series, Watchmen. Most people know that. Marshals Museum: The museum loves to talk to the descendants of historic Marshals and Deputies and we receive. The round trip would be approximately 400 miles and would take one or two months, depending on high water in the rivers and creeks. His son was eventually tracked and captured, tried and convicted. Apparently, Christie didnt make things easy, and he escaped. Because Reeves spent his early years in enslavement, even as an adult man, he couldnt read. [2][3] "[4] Bass Reeves fled north into the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians until he was freed by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. Being ambidextrous he always wore two Colt pistols and he rarely missed his mark. Such a dark beginning really sets the stage for the twisted tale of law and violence that followed. 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 [3], When the American Civil War began, George Reeves joined the Confederate Army, forcing Bass to go with him. But eventually, it came time for Bass Reeves to set out on his own. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. The upcoming series, seemingly based on a true story, will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. The Legend of Bass Reeves by author Gary Paulsen is a Western written for young readers. In 1900, at 62 years old, Reeves married for a second time. At his death, several newspapers, in and out of state, stated he had killed more than 20 men in the line of duty. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Federal Judge Paul Brady and his wife Xernona were in Fort Smith on Monday (April 11) to donate a gun, U.S. There is no indication of race on federal records. Who knows! The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves coming to town in August 1882 with 16 prisoners. George also happened to be the towns sheriff. He would then memorize their details before striking out to pursue his target. 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. However, Bass Reeves certainly liked to tell a tall tale, and his descendants have since said that these claims were false. He was 62 tall and extraordinarily strong. Marshals. Interest was, With a budget of $250 million, this summers Disney movie, The Lone Ranger, will be. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. Reeves eventually tracked Dozier down to a hideout in Cherokee territory. Reeves deputization made history. He was given the name of his owner, William Reeves. 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 was a deputy U.S . Despite running up against hardened crooks, the 200-pound, six-foot slinger apparently never wavered. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. He knew that every chase was potentially his last. 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. For a slave to hit his master in Texas was punishable by death. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass . This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. It must have made a lasting impression. BLOODY RECORD OF, Reeves Noted Secret Service Manhunter Dead Muskogee Okla Jan 12, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, 1836-1922. http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/videos/the-lone-ranger-was-real-and-he First black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. Love the history behind my home town! For four years, the lawman mourned the passing of his beloved Nellie. Probably a smart decision. Reeves remained with this federal district until 1897, when he was transferred to the new Northern District of Indian Territory at Muskogee. He was so good, in fact, that he was regularly banned from participating in competitive turkey shoots, a popular pastime in the West. [6] Reeves served in that district until 1893, when he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas. 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. 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