bass reeves living descendants
[3] During the Civil War, Bass escaped north into the [4]Indian Territory ,and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians. Fagan had heard about Reeves, who knew the Territory and could speak several Native languages. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. They were an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and there was only one way this was going to go down. The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. Eventually, his work earned him a place as the hunted. This page has been accessed 17,324 times. Reeves was arrested and lodged in the Fort Smith federal jail until he could make bond in June of that year. He served in the Indian Territory for 32 years. Muskogee was unique with two Black business districts that were thoroughly integrated and catered to the diverse population in the frontier town. Join the. Marshals Service also started doing these events in 2012 in conjunction with the Cherokee Nation. [a] During his long career, he had on his record more than 3,000 arrests of dangerous fugitives, and shot and killed 14 of them in self-defense. 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.. Who knows! After 1900, Muskogee had city police, with two deputy U.S. marshals stationed there, Bass Reeves and a white man David Adams. Here, he learned Indian languages, the lay of the land and complete mastery of pistols and rifles. 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. Reeves spent 30 years in the perilous job of a deputy U.S. marshal in Oklahoma's Indian Territory. Reeves died in Muskogee on January 12, 1910, after a short illness. Born a slave in Arkansas, Reeves grew up in Grayson county, Texas, following the relocation of his owner, William S. Reeves. Reeves found himself forced out. One day, a posse cook caught a bullet from Reeves trusty Colt while the lawman was cleaning it. Reeves remained with this federal district until 1897, when he was transferred to the new Northern District of Indian Territory at Muskogee. It looked like his luck was finally beginning to turnand more good fortune was on the horizon. Marshals who rode for Parker have received fame over the years: Paden Tolbert bringing in Ned Christie, for example. Marshal credited with being the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. The Arkansas Gazette in September 1884 re-ported Reeves brought 15 prisoners to Fort Smith. Family history states that Bass and George got into an argument over a card game during the Civil War. At the age of 67, Bass Reeves retired from federal service at Oklahoma statehood in 1907. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. 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. A little dose of karma eventually came down upon the Colonel. Over his long career as a lawman, the mustachioed slinger racked up a body count of 14 men. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. This court at that time had jurisdiction over most of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. For four years, the lawman mourned the passing of his beloved Nellie. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his masters son during THE CIVIL WAR. [1] Bass Reeves may have served Colonel George R. Reeves, the son of William Reeves, the owner of Bass Reeves when he was a slave. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. Reeves was over six feet tall and sported a thick black handlebar mustache. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. As a black man tasked with law enforcement in unceded, Indigenous territory, Reeves was in a precarious situation. Thanks for your help! A hard-headed judge named Isaac Parker ordered a US Marshal to find 200 deputies in Indian Territory. But eventually, it came time for Bass Reeves to set out on his own. Law and order in the Wild West was not a pretty thing. He liked to brag that there was never any crime reported on his beat. Its entirely possible that the show's Yellowstone interconnectedness drops off by the time it arrivesand we find ourselves with a Bass Reeves series that's entirely separate from Yellowstone. [9]Bass Reeves was the first African American Deputy to be appointed west of the Mississippi River. He tracked two outlaws to their mothers house in the Red River Valley. The question, however, opens up an opportunity to talk about one of the best stories around: Born into slavery in Crawford County; escaped servitude during the Civil War; possibly fought for the Union with the Keetoowah Cherokees; survived dozens of gunfights riding for Judge Isaac C. Parker as one of the first black U.S. deputy marshals west of the Mississippi; acquitted of murder for the death of his cook; arrested his son, Benjamin, for shooting his wife, Castella, in a jealous rage. 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. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. Bass Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many outlaws of the territory. 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. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. Just one grandparent can lead you to many . However, Bass Reeves certainly liked to tell a tall tale, and his descendants have since said that these claims were false. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. In fact, the Oklahoma City Weekly Times Journal once reported that Reeves was never known to show the slightest excitement, under any circumstance. When the men fell asleep, he burst into their room and threw them each in handcuffs. Bass went with George into the war, serving as his body servant. As the first Black deputy west of the Mississippi River, Reeves arrested more than . Reeves became known in the early 1880s for bringing prisoners back to the Fort Smith court in double digits. He worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. He caught over 3000 criminals in his career. In the late 1870s and early 1880s, most guards, turnkeys, cooks and bailiffs for the Fort Smith federal court were African Americans. The deputies' job was to clean up the Indian Territory. 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. Research shows that Reeves stayed in Fort Smith until 1893. He was so good, in fact, that he was regularly banned from participating in competitive turkey shoots, a popular pastime in the West. 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. Reeves was born into captivity in 1838. His wife had an affair. 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. The Lone Ranger was very real, but he was not the white man seen on movies and TV. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. He died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910. As one of the most respected lawmen working in Indian Territory, he achieved legendary status for the number of criminals he captured. Love the history behind my home town! Adams, Jake Island, Andy Alton and one Smith, larceny.. Brother of UFN Washington and Jane Reeves, Bass Reeves was born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. They also had another child together. Reeves had sent a lot of men into Parkers chamber, most of whom had done terrible things. 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. He handed down a hefty sentence: Life in prison. Bass Reeves was one of the greatest peace officers in the history of the American western frontier. All were two years in age apart. His children were named Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice. The Creek Nation had a heavy African Indian population, as did the Seminole Nation. In 1909, the tough lawman finally came across an enemy that he couldnt best: Brights Disease. 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! 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. Just saw the movie. Eventually, Reeves decided he had to fulfill his obligation personally. Adams served as Reeves posseman, and they were involved in numerous police actions together in and around Muskogee. Is it a sequel to a prequel? Earlier, Upham had commanded the Arkansas State Militia and had destroyed the Ku Klux Klan in that state. Reeves must not have slept. Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. The lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to face him in competition. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. If so, login to add it. Apparently, Christie didnt make things easy, and he escaped. [5], He was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee, Oklahoma police department. 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. 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. Bass set out for the Indian Territory and was taken in by Seminole and Creek Indians. Marshal, he arrested 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 men. So what about Bass Reeves? Later, he was killed by a large federal posse in 1892, never to prove his innocence. 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. He was brought up on first-degree murder charges in January 1886 and relieved of duty. That year he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas, for a short while. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which also had responsibility for the Indian Territory. Reeves was one tough lawman, but apparently, his boss was even tougher. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. While he lived with the local Indigenous tribes, Bass became a guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory. Selma 's David Oyelowo will. 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. 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. Reeves couldnt stay on as a ranger forever. The legendary lawman was said to. The rest of the gang disappeared, and no one ever heard from them again. He also rode the Oklahoma range on a massive white stallion. . From a glance, Bass Reeves was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. 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? 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. The U.S. Marshals Museum. The talented marksman and guide quickly started making a name for himself. [2][5] He is said to have shot and killed fourteen outlaws to defend his own life. So, when Reeves learned that his son was a wanted man, the lawman demanded the warrant. Williams son, Colonel George Reeves, was Basss legal owner. All were two years in age apart. The marshal tracked him down and made him an offerand so began a whirlwind tale of adventure, courage, and cold-blooded lawmaking. In 1907, Reeves joined up with the Muskogee law enforcement office in Oklahoma, where he worked for two years. In the Old West, its hard to separate the good guys from the bad. 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. Given the 30-odd years he spent as a ranger, this is quite a remarkable achievement. Thanks for your time! However, the ranger never drew his weapon first. According to the letter of the law, it didnt matter who they were. Specifically fort smith where judge parkers court house is located. [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. 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. 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. Marshals who worked for the Federal Court at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Bass raised horses and served as a scout for deputy U.S. marshals going into the Indian Territory. [5], One of his sons was charged with the murder of his wife. Story was the leader of a feared gang of horse thieves who operated under the highly original name of The Tom Story Gang. Marshal badge and bullets that one belonged to U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves. Though he had a hard reputation, Reeves was, by all accounts, a mild-mannered and polite man. Marshal Bass Reeves. [2] Once he had to arrest his own son for murder. Its a sequel to a prequel (of sorts), but it can still be viewed and enjoyed separate from Yellowstone. [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. 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. He said he took part in the Battle of Pea Ridge, the Battle of Missionary Ridge, and the Battle of Chickamauga. He was barred from competitive turkey shoots, although he always claimed to be only fair with a rifle. Theres only one catch: Bass Reeves is not an original character. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, July 1838 - Crawford County, United States, Ozoliiiulsioii Co., ; IS Pearl at., New York. He proved this ability time and time again by holstering Colts on both sides. Born into slavery, the Arkansas native became a lauded, and legendary U.S. deputy marshal. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. 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. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. [1] He was one of the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. Reeves County in West Texas is named for him. The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. At times, he dressed himself as a local farmer. As usual, Reeves confronted Story directly. [1][2] Reeves was named after his grandfather, Basse Washington. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. 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. 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. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Young Bennie quickly became a suspect, and soon enough, he was charged with murder. Reeves was one of those men. He was given the name of his owner, William Reeves. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. marshals. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. He beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. 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. A year after moving to Arkansas, Reeves fell in love. A man could make a lot of money at itand Reeves was one of the best in the biz. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. . Bass got so upset at being cheated, he beat his master down and knocked him out. There must be something in the family genes, because a number of Reeves descendants have left serious marks of their own. Bass Reeves was born a slave in the 1830's American South. The tough man was definitely no stranger to loss in his life, but this was different. 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. prisoners. He hung up the stirrups at 68 years oldso that he could become another kind of officer. Reeves methods of enforcement were somewhat unorthodox. Reeves reputation quickly spread across the West. (AP) The U.S. (He appears to. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee also has several artifacts from Reeves career as a lawman. He was known for his politeness and courteous manner. Well, when Sheridan finished 1883, producers over at the Paramount Network were mighty angry that he wrote it so that there couldnt be a second season. 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. Reeves was quicker and dropped the outlaw. [5] He was an uncle of Paul L. Brady, the first African-American appointed a Federal Administrative Law Judge (in 1972).
