Marshal Leo Bennett in Muskogee, Oklahoma, only to find[13] his own son had been charged with the murder of his wife. 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. The men with a $5,000 bounty on their heads woke up in handcuffs. Until then, theres always plenty of Sheridans Paramount shows, such as Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, to feast your eyes on. [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. 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. 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. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 Deputy U.S. Reeves had plenty of shooting to do without the turkeys. A year after moving to Arkansas, Reeves fell in love. Marshal, he arrested 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 men. Though he had a hard reputation, Reeves was, by all accounts, a mild-mannered and polite man. 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. But, no matter how well the farm did, Bass Reeves was never meant to be a farmer. When Reeves located the cabin of Christie in the Cherokee Nation, his posse burned it down, but Ned escaped capture and death. Reeves spent 30 years in the perilous job of a deputy U.S. marshal in Oklahoma's Indian Territory. It was later proven that Ned was not guilty of the crime. Then, he knocked on the door and asked for a place to rest. [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. Bass severely beat George, and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived among the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. 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. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Dozier was a cattle-rustler and stagecoach bandit with a seriously bad reputation. A man could make a lot of money at itand Reeves was one of the best in the biz. The known black deputy U.S. marshals, however, are listed as Rufus Cannon, Bill Colbert, Bynum Colbert, Cyrus Dennis, Wiley Escoe, Neely Factor, Robert Fortune, John Garrett, Edward D. Jefferson, Grant Johnson, John Joss, Robert Love, Zeke Miller, Crowder Nicks (Nix), Charles Pettit, Bass Reeves, Ed Robinson, Dick Roebuck, Isaac Rogers, Jim Ruth, Dick Shaver, Morgan Tucker, Lee Thompson, Eugene Walker and Henry Whitehead. Once, he walked 28 miles dressed as a beggar and fooled two men and their mother into letting him stay the night. Bass would travel west to Fort Sill, north to Fort Reno and sometimes Fort Supply, picking up and arresting felons who broke federal law in the Indian Territory. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. Reeves methods of enforcement were somewhat unorthodox. It is unclear how, and exactly when, Bass Reeves escaped, but at some point during the Civil War, he gained his freedom. Joined by an ex Union Sharpshooter, they are in a race against time as they track Jack Donner and his vicious gang of killers to the oil-rich Texas town of Corsicana. In May 1902, Reeves and Adams went to the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to quell racial strife. He beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. Apart from that, 1883 was largely its own show. Dozier escaped from Bass Reeves for several years until he tracked Bob Dozier down in the Cherokee Hills. From judges to supervising marshals, nobody took issue with Reevesexcept, of course, for outlaws. At his trial in October 1887, Reeves was found innocent. Meet 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, which will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. The lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to face him in competition. In 1897, he was transferred again, serving at the Muskogee Federal Court in the Native Territory. In fact, the Oklahoma City Weekly Times Journal once reported that Reeves was never known to show the slightest excitement, under any circumstance. Most marshals were afraid to take the caseno one wanted to track down the son of the infamous Bass Reeves. At others, he took on the guise of an outlaw. Other reasons, Kennedy adds, included Reeves age. They were an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and there was only one way this was going to go down. Reeves was arrested and lodged in the Fort Smith federal jail until he could make bond in June of that year. His family was owned by the prosperous and politically well-connected family of William Reeves, an early Arkansas legislator . His wife had an affair. Bass Reeves was born into slavery around 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. Reeves returned fire, striking Dozier in the neck, ending him instantly. 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. After his release, he apparently turned his life around and lived out the rest of his life without offense. 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. Marshal Bass Reeves. 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. The tough man was definitely no stranger to loss in his life, but this was different. In 1890, he received an arrest warrant for an infamous Cherokee outlaw named Ned Christie. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. He went back to work as one of the deputies of the Western District of Arkansas at Fort Smith under Judge Isaac C. Parker. According to the letter of the law, it didnt matter who they were. He and his family were owned by William Steele Reeves, who was originally from Hickman County, Tennessee. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. He often used aliases and disguises, a cowboy, farmer, gunslinger -- even a outlaw. Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. The U.S. Saddle up, because this ones a bit of a doozyI'll explain Bass Reeves as best as I can. Family history states that Bass and George got into an argument over a card game during the Civil War. It was the last thing he ever did. 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. Bass Reeves was the first black man to be appointed a U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. 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. Im sitting here going, Guys, everyone is dead. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story will be another peek inside that era. After a citizens petition and an exemplary prison record, his son was pardoned and was never in trouble with the law again. He died in 1910. Here, he learned Indian languages, the lay of the land and complete mastery of pistols and rifles. He was given the name of his owner, William Reeves. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and pistol, Reeves, during his long career, developed superior detective skills. Over the course of his career, which began when he was in his fifties, mind you, Reeves brought in a tremendous 3,000 felons. After casting off the shackles, Bass embarked on a truly remarkable journey. Typically, local posses accompanied Reeves on his expeditions and stakeouts. 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. According to Art Burton, a well-respected historian, Bass Reeves is the inspiration for the Lone Ranger, a fictional Texas Ranger who has become one of the most recognizable cultural icons in American history. He beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. Her passing absolutely devastated him. He died on January 12, 1910, of kidney disease. An article suggests that Bass Reeves may have been the inspiration for the "Lone Ranger" --. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. After his capture by Reeves, residents came from as far as 20 miles to see that Greenleaf was in handcuffs before they took him to Fort Smith. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which also had responsibility for the Indian Territory. Reeves was furiousand he had to take his anger out on something. Finally, it came time to bring him down. 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. Bass Reeves was indeed the Invincible Marshal. Reeves shot Webb with his Winchester at 500 yards after Webb narrowly missed him several times. 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. Because Reeves spent his early years in enslavement, even as an adult man, he couldnt read. Deputy United States Marshal Bass Reeves reunites with his former partner turned fugitive Sam Tanner. Apparently, each one tried to end Reeves life before he resorted to force. Reeves's former position as a U.S. 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. Bass Reeves, the gunslinging lawman, left a serious legacy behind. Fagan had heard about Reeves, who knew the Indian Territory and could speak several Indian languages. [3] During the Civil War, Bass escaped north into the [4]Indian Territory ,and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians. 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. [78] Reeves was born into slavery in Grayson County, Texas in 1838. Bass Reeves and his family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. 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. Bass Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many outlaws of the territory. [5], One of his sons was charged with the murder of his wife. Almost a year out from a planned opening of the new $60 million museum, it's the lawman's family tree the curator wants most. Reeves disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. The new deputy must have been an unmistakable figure in the Old West. 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. Who Is John Dutton's Grandfather in '1923'? Being ambidextrous he always wore two Colt pistols and he rarely missed his mark. However, the ranger never drew his weapon first. It didnt take a genius to get to the bottom of this one. Instead, he always asked somebody to read him the contents of the warrants that the Marshals presented to him. I think Bass Reeves claim to fame is his persistence, and he bounced back after the murder trial.. That year he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas, for a short while. 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 times, bullets took his hat from his head, buttons from his coat, and the reigns from his hands. 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. He was not the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. The deputies' job was to clean up the Indian Territory. Enter a grandparent's name. 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. 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. We may earn a commission from these links. Deputies would work out of Fort Smith and venture into the Indian Territory with warrants and open warrants. Most people also know that the portrayal of Tonto as the Lone Rangers sidekick is often stereotypical and racist. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. He was also a black dude. Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. Fortunately, though, he had some connections. [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. 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. Western Books: An Officer of Honor and Grit, Ask the Marshall Bat Masterson: Armed and Dangerous, Lincoln: Prepare Ye the Way for the Horde. Selmas David Oyelowo will star as Bass Reeves, alongside the recently announced Dennis Quaid as Deputy U.S. Marshall Sherrill Lynn. Many lawmen had tried to apprehend the outlaw, but none were successful until it came to Reeves. 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. In January 2007, 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. Abolitionists in the Indian Territory harbored him until it was safe to move. 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. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. Then, Reeves met a woman named Winnie Sumter and fell in love all over again. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. He was hired as a deputy because of his knowledge of the territory and ability to speak many of the tribal languages. Wasnt Bass Reeves a real guy? His expertise in local languages and culture made him perfectly suited to the job. This court at that time had jurisdiction over most of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his master's son during THE CIVIL WAR. Reeves could not read or write, but he was a skilled detective, a master of disguise, and an expert tracker. Eighty-two of the U.S. deputy marshals are buried at Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith. He served in the Indian Territory for 32 years. The upcoming series, seemingly based on a true story, will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. Greenleaf terrorized the area for years, but to Reeves, he was just another bounty. His son likely wasnt happy with his decision. 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