He knew that he would have to escape, so he went to what is Oklahoma today and found a HOME with the Seminole and Creek American Indians. In 1900, at 62 years old, Reeves married for a second time. Reeves and his family were enslaved by Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. Over an 18 year stint, Greenleaf reputedly had seven bodies on his handsand he showed no sign of backing down. While living with the Indians, Bass learned to speak and understand the different Indian languages. Williams son, Colonel George Reeves, was Basss legal owner. 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. Legend has it that Reeves ended up getting into a serious confrontation with his master over a card game in 1861. Reeves shot Webb with his Winchester at 500 yards after Webb narrowly missed him several times. During the Civil War . Thanks for your time! Talk about motherly love! The marshal tracked him down and made him an offerand so began a whirlwind tale of adventure, courage, and cold-blooded lawmaking. Bass Reeves was one of the greatest peace officers in the history of the American western frontier. There is no indication of race on federal records. The St. Louis Globe Democrat in February 1884 reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners to Fort Smith. On November 17, 1907, Indian Territory became the new state of Oklahoma. Law and order in the Wild West was not a pretty thing. The U.S. Unlike most of his African-American brothers, REEVES was treated with respect and his legend, even as just a U.S. Marshals. He died on January 12, 1910, of kidney disease. Many U.S. He went back to work as one of the deputies of the Western District of Arkansas at Fort Smith under Judge Isaac C. Parker. Marshal. He only had one man with him, but Bass Reeves didnt need much help. He served for two years, in that time there were no crimes on his beat. He served in the Indian Territory for 32 years. . The legend of Bass Reeves will only continue to grow as more discover his story. Fortunately, though, he had some connections. Bass got so upset at being cheated, he beat his master down and knocked him out. They were an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and there was only one way this was going to go down. Reeves was an expert with pistol and rifle and could shoot ambidextrously. Just one grandparent can lead you to many All Rights Reserved. Many claim this infamous lawman's exploits were the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. But, no matter how well the farm did, Bass Reeves was never meant to be a farmer. In 1897, he was transferred again, serving at the Muskogee Federal Court in the Native Territory. Then, he knocked on the door and asked for a place to rest. At his trial before Judge Parker, Reeves claimed to have shot the man by mistake while cleaning his gun; he was represented by former United States Attorney W. H. H. Clayton, who was a colleague and friend. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and had to retire. Neither man backed down. Unfortunately for Reeves, this brought change to the face of law enforcement. Reeves had a beat in downtown Muskogee, during . 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. However, he didnt retire just yet. Marshals who rode for Parker have received fame over the years: Paden Tolbert bringing in Ned Christie, for example. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. Western Books: An Officer of Honor and Grit, Ask the Marshall Bat Masterson: Armed and Dangerous, Lincoln: Prepare Ye the Way for the Horde. Introducing 'Bass Reeves,' a 'Yellowstone' Spinoff, 'Yellowstone' Season 5 Is "Gonna Be Bloody", Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Finally, it came time to bring him down. [2][5] Reeves was initially assigned as a Deputy U.S. Bass occasionally would serve as a guide into the Indian Territory for Deputy U.S. 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. Over his long career as a lawman, the mustachioed slinger racked up a body count of 14 men. Apparently, Christie didnt make things easy, and he escaped. Josh Rosenberg is an entertainment writer living in Brooklyn, keeping a steady diet of one movie a day; his past work can be found at CBR, Spin, Insider, and on his personal blog at Roseandblog.com. He became the first black man to work as a deputy west of the Mississippi River. The cook didnt survive and Reeves went on trial for murder. We want our readers to trust us. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. Apparently, the six-foot lawman was a talented actor and took on a variety of aliases and disguises as he prowled outlaw country. Until then, theres always plenty of Sheridans Paramount shows, such as Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, to feast your eyes on. But eventually, it came time for Bass Reeves to set out on his own. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. Marshals Museum. When they neared Doziers hideout, things turned ugly. In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. 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. For the next ten years, he lived a quiet life on his country farm. Bass took the warrant and bought his son in for murder shortly thereafter his son convicted and sent to Leavenworth. All were two years in age apart. 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. Marshal badge and bullets that one belonged to U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves. He tried to apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the Billy Washington Ranch in the Chickasaw Nation. In 1893, Bass Reeves was transferred to the Eastern District federal court at Paris, Texas. (AP) The U.S. Reeves must not have slept. But theres one last twist in this story: Bennie received a pardon in 1914. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. He was 62 tall and extraordinarily strong. Reeves was one tough lawman, but apparently, his boss was even tougher. The Reeves family moved to North Twelfth Street, Park Place, in 1889. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. He hunted his son down and clapped him in irons. People in period dress were at the Bass Reeves Memorial on Saturday at Three Rivers Museum. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. Bass set out for the Indian Territory and was taken in by Seminole and Creek Indians. In 1890, he received an arrest warrant for an infamous Cherokee outlaw named Ned Christie. 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.. The actual number might shock you, however. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his master's son during THE CIVIL WAR. 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. He recruited Bass Reeves as one of his deputies because of his knowledge of the territory and tribes. Since birth, he had witnessed the deepest and darkest parts of humanity. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Two weeks later he returned to Muskogee with his son and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. Even with air conditioning, rest stops, gas station snacks, and aux cords, an 800-mile road trip is a serious undertaking. For example, his grand-nephew, Paul L. Brady, a prominent civil rights activist, became the first black administrative law judge in 1972. 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 story of the Lone Ranger is far more legend than reality. Reeves spent 30 years in the perilous job of a deputy U.S. marshal in Oklahoma's Indian Territory. Marshal Bass Reeves. In 1875, everything changed for Reeves. Its not known exactly where Bass Reeves is buried, but in the 1990s the Oklahombres organization placed a small marker bearing Reeves name in the Old Agency Cemetery in Muskogee. And he got his man as often as any of the deputies. So what about Bass Reeves? Several bad men have gone to their long home for refusing to halt when commanded to by Bass.. Bass Reeves, the gunslinging lawman, left a serious legacy behind. We may earn a commission from these links. Despite being disturbed and deeply shaken by the incident, Reeves nonetheless insisted on the responsibility of bringing Bennie to justice. A little boy sits transfixed in a movie theater as Reeves brings a crooked white sheriff to justice. His expeditions often lasted for several months and involved riding through rough terrain, living wherever he could find lodging, and risking his life taking on the toughest outlaws in the west. Reeves and his companion avoided the first flurry of bullets, and the sound of the laughter pinpointed Doziers location. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. 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. After 1900, Muskogee had city police, with two deputy U.S. marshals stationed there, Bass Reeves and a white man David Adams. [10], Reeves' health began to fail further after retiring. [6], Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a Federal peace officer in the Indian Territory. 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! Though it wont 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. Dozier escaped from Bass Reeves for several years until he tracked Bob Dozier down in the Cherokee Hills. Bass Reeves began his life as a slave in the state of Arkansas in July 1838, near the town of Van Buren. When Reeves located the cabin of Christie in the Cherokee Nation, his posse burned it down, but Ned escaped capture and death. This page has been accessed 17,324 times. 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. Webb had earlier killed a Black farmer who accidently burned some grazing land on the Washington Ranch. George also happened to be the towns sheriff. Reeves and his posse burned Christies home to the ground. A crack shot, he won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him first without suffering a single wound. An article suggests that Bass Reeves may have been the inspiration for the "Lone Ranger" --. [78] Reeves was born into slavery in Grayson County, Texas in 1838. One of the most infamous men in Indian Territory went by the name Greenleaf. Reeves was 58 years old at the time. There was a movie made in his honor. His wife had an affair. As one of the most respected lawmen working in Indian Territory, he achieved legendary status for the number of criminals he captured. Young Bennie quickly became a suspect, and soon enough, he was charged with murder. Some say the Quentin Tarantino movie, Django, was based on his life.[17]. Reeves had sent a lot of men into Parkers chamber, most of whom had done terrible things. 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. Deputies would work out of Fort Smith and venture into the Indian Territory with warrants and open warrants. Reeves did one thing, and he did it very well: He tracked down outlaws on the lam. Its no wonder he had such a tough reputation among outlaws and lawmen alike. 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. 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. Word of the relationship somehow got out. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed Deputy U.S. Research shows that Reeves stayed in Fort Smith until 1893. 7: Caught in a Bad Romance, Brandon Sklenar is the Baddest Dutton of Them All, The 'Outer Banks' S3 Finale Is Intense as Hell. The federal jail court was in Van Buren for the western district of Arkansas and Indian Territory. He is believed to be buried in a small cemetery on Fern Mountain Road west of town. I dont think of any of these as spinoffs, but rather as complete stories that have common roots, Sheridan told Deadline about 1883. [5] He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. After it became one of the most popular shows on television, Paramount greenlit a prequel miniseries titled 1883. Native Territory comprised most of what became Eastern Oklahoma on November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. Reeves didn't just take it, though. The owner allowed Bass to use guns to hunt and learned that he was a crack shot. 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. After the war, Bass Reeves settled down outside Van Buren, Arkansas, and maintained a horse ranch and small farm. 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. (http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/videos/the-lone-ranger-was-real-and-he ), Bass Reeves also knew a thing or two about laying down the law. [3] During the Civil War, Bass escaped north into the [4]Indian Territory ,and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians. The lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to face him in competition. Reeves County in West Texas is named for him. My goal with the next one would be that you could never have seen 1883 or Yellowstone, and still have a fully realized experience as a viewer. That next show would end up becoming 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. He would then memorize their details before striking out to pursue his target. 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. [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. Most people know that. Despite his instantly-recognizable look, rumor has it that the lawman had a few other tricks up his sleeve. Apart from that, 1883 was largely its own show. . It focuses on the true story of a little-known marshal who patrolled the old Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. The going rate was more than $1,000 for bounties. Reeves remained with this federal district until 1897, when he was transferred to the new Northern District of Indian Territory at Muskogee. 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. [11] The United States Court at Fort Smith, was the largest in the nation. Information from: Southwest Times Record, http://www.swtimes.com/, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. He just needed a way inso he came up with a devious plan. Their names are listed side by side with other Deputy U.S. [5] He recruited him as one of his deputies and Reeves was the first African-American deputy west of the Mississippi River. The Lone Ranger was very real, but he was not the white man seen on movies and TV. Reeves was finally able to move around the country freely. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. Over a thirty-year career, he faced some of the most feared men in America. Later, Bass became a body servant to the son of William Reeves, Colonel George R. Judge Parkers orders were to bring them in dead or alive. [5] He married Nellie Jennie from Texas, with whom he had ten children, five boys and five girls. Bennie was jealous, angry, and violent. But they didnt stay there for 30 years, Spears said of the trio with Parkers Court. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. by Art T. Burton | Jan 25, 2021 | Features & Gunfights, This is the best known photograph of Deputy U.S. Bass went with George into the war, serving as his body servant. Bass Reeves delivered two prisoners to U.S. Bass claimed that he fought in the Civil Warfor the South! Not too many years before, he was the target of law enforcement officials himself. In 1907 Bass Reeves' time as a deputy marshal came to an end, because law enforcement was taken over by state agencies after Oklahoma became a state. Reeves made a name for himself early in his career when he struck out after the famous outlaw Bob Dozier. Earlier, Upham had commanded the Arkansas State Militia and had destroyed the Ku Klux Klan in that state. His family was owned by the prosperous and politically well-connected family of William Reeves, an early Arkansas legislator . It must have made a lasting impression. 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 Marshals office in Muskogee was downsized, and Reeves found himself out of work. Bass started as a water boy until he was old enough to become a field hand like his parents. After escaping his masters, Reeves traveled to Oklahoma, or Indian Territory, as it was known then. 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. . 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). They also had another child together. Instead, he always tried to take everyone in alive. Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. Marshals. Though it hasnt been explicitly stated, many outlets have just been calling the series Bass Reeves. 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. When he retired in 1907, Reeves had on his record over 3,000 arrests of felons. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and retired. 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. The rest of the gang disappeared, and no one ever heard from them again. My mom never told me how her best friend died. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. 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. Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. .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. Deputy U.S. After serving as a valiant marshals deputy, Reeves worked as a policeman in Muskogee for two years, 1907-1909. He once said he knew the Indian Territory like a cook knows her kitchen. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. William Steele Reeves, a prominent citizen and politician, enslaved his family. Eventually, Reeves decided he had to fulfill his obligation personally. Reeves was now 69 years old, the only deputy U.S. marshal I have found that started with Judge Parkers regime in 1875 and worked up to Oklahoma statehood in 1907. Bass Reeves was commissioned in late 1875 as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Fort Smith federal court. Oklahoma became a state in 1907. Outlaws, Reeves did one thing, and aux cords bass reeves living descendants an early Arkansas.... In America the WAR, Bass learned to speak and understand the different Indian languages for himself early his. Christie in the Cherokee Hills the door and asked for a place to rest Mountain... To U.S. Bass claimed that he was not to last. [ 17 ] at 500 yards after Webb missed. Of law enforcement Indian languages in Ned Christie Indian Territory, as it was not white. 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