Many claim this infamous lawmans exploits were the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. He served in the Indian Territory for 32 years. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Reeves had a reputation as an expert in Indigenous languages with an intimate knowledge of the land. 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. Most marshals were afraid to take the caseno one wanted to track down the son of the infamous Bass Reeves. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. Marshal, he arrested 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 men. Reeves did one thing, and he did it very well: He tracked down outlaws on the lam. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Reeves' health began to fail, and he died of Bright's disease (nephritis) in 1910. Other than a few scrapes and bruises, Reeves made it through his career entirely unscathed. [2] His family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. Meet 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, which will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. Early in the war, the 11th Texas Cavalry Regiment fought at the Battle of Chustenahlah in the Indian Territory and the Battle of Pea Ridge, also known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern. 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. Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. Most people know that. An article suggests that Bass Reeves may have been the inspiration for the "Lone Ranger" --. In January 2007, the U.S. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. Reeves never learned to read, so he memorized his arrest warrants. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. Until then, theres always plenty of Sheridans Paramount shows, such as Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, to feast your eyes on. 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. 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 Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. Evidently, she felt duped and betrayed by the heavily armed deputy. In 1890, he received an arrest warrant for an infamous Cherokee outlaw named Ned Christie. 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. A hard-headed judge named Isaac Parker ordered a US Marshal to find 200 deputies in Indian Territory. In real life, he carried a .44 caliber . [2][5] He is said to have shot and killed fourteen outlaws to defend his own life. Despite his brutal methods, Reeves was an honorable man to his core. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. At times, he dressed himself as a local farmer. Bass was also taught tactics of disguise in riding horses and stealth in combat. Reeves and his family were enslaved by Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. Taken by his owner, George Reeves, to join the Civil War. Then, Reeves met a woman named Winnie Sumter and fell in love all over again. Because it was Bass's son the other deputies were reluctant to take the warrant. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. 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. All face the same hardships and dangers.. My mom never told me how her best friend died. Before Reeves could respond, the gunman shot his belt in half. Portrayal in Film: Timeless (TV Series) S1E14 2017. Marshals who rode for Parker have received fame over the years: Paden Tolbert bringing in Ned Christie, for example. All were two years in age apart. Reeves was born into captivity in 1838. Marshals office in Muskogee was downsized, and Reeves found himself out of work. Marshal? The actual number might shock you, however. Dozier escaped from Bass Reeves for several years until he tracked Bob Dozier down in the Cherokee Hills. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. [5][6][7][8], Reeves and his family farmed until 1875 when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. Reeves eventually tracked Dozier down to a hideout in Cherokee territory. A fitting end to a horrible man, George Reeves contracted rabies and passed in 1882. I think Bass Reeves claim to fame is his persistence, and he bounced back after the murder trial.. Reeves was 58 years old at the time. But they didnt stay there for 30 years, Spears said of the trio with Parkers Court. Marshals Museum. [3] During the Civil War, Bass escaped north into the [4]Indian Territory ,and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. Reeves was an expert with pistol and rifle and could shoot ambidextrously. Reeves became known in the early 1880s for bringing prisoners back to the Fort Smith court in double digits. It seems that Reeves talents were without end. 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. This didnt hold him back in the slightest. 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. 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. When the amendment passed, he moved to Arkansas and became a small-time farmer. 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. [3] During the American Civil War, Bass parted company with George Reeves. Over an 18 year stint, Greenleaf reputedly had seven bodies on his handsand he showed no sign of backing down. In 1875, everything changed for Reeves. Later, Bass became a body servant to the son of William Reeves, Colonel George R. 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. Bass Reeves began his life as a slave in the state of Arkansas in July 1838, near the town of Van Buren. It should be no surprise, then, that Parker had a soft spot for Reeves. Reeves worked hard. He grew up tending to chores and animals while his 'mammy' cooked and cleaned. As it turns out, the time to draw seemed to come up a lot. Reeves returned fire, striking Dozier in the neck, ending him instantly. He tried to apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the Billy Washington Ranch in the Chickasaw Nation. Word of the relationship somehow got out. His son was eventually tracked and captured, tried and convicted. In 1848, George was elected tax collector, and in 1850, he was elected sheriff of Grayson County. Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. Her passing absolutely devastated him. Is it a sequel to a prequel? Here from 1875 until his death in 1896, the famous "Hanging Judge," Isaac C. Parker, presided over a court, keeping peace in the lawless territory. Reeves lived in the protection of his new communities and learned their languages for the next several years. This page has been accessed 17,324 times. This court at that time had jurisdiction over most of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. 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. 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. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. He was an excellent shooter, but he took this talent to the next level: The lawman was completely ambidextrous. In 1909, the tough lawman finally came across an enemy that he couldnt best: Brights Disease. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. The federal jail court was in Van Buren for the western district of Arkansas and Indian Territory. 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. Bass Reeves is often called the 'greatest frontier hero in American history.' He was the first Black Deputy U.S. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his masters son during THE CIVIL WAR. More U.S. marshals died in service while hunting down fugitives in the Western District of Arkansas than any other place. 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 also rode the Oklahoma range on a massive white stallion. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and pistol, Reeves, during his long career, developed superior detective skills. 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. There was a movie made in his honor. He died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910. 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. In the card game Cartaventura Oklahoma, one plays the fictional escape of Bass Reeves with five possible outcomes. Marshals Museum. Bass Reeves was born a slave. The cook didnt survive and Reeves went on trial for murder. Reeves could not read or write, but he was a skilled detective, a master of disguise, and an expert tracker. Reeves and his companion avoided the first flurry of bullets, and the sound of the laughter pinpointed Doziers location. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. As one of the most respected lawmen working in Indian Territory, he achieved legendary status for the number of criminals he captured. I dont think of any of these as spinoffs, but rather as complete stories that have common roots, Sheridan told Deadline about 1883. Bass Reeves, the gunslinging lawman, left a serious legacy behind. . [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 was one of the greatest peace officers in the history of the American western frontier. He was not the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. Bass Reeves worked with lawman such as [10] Heck Thomas, Bud Ledbetter, and Bill Tilghman. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. 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. But, no matter how well the farm did, Bass Reeves was never meant to be a farmer. 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. Unlike most of his African-American brothers, REEVES was treated with respect and his legend, even as just a U.S. [9]Bass Reeves was the first African American Deputy to be appointed west of the Mississippi River. Reeves disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. [1][2] He was named after his grandfather, Bass Washington. Other times, bullets took his hat from his head, buttons from his coat, and the reigns from his hands. In the late 1870s and early 1880s, most guards, turnkeys, cooks and bailiffs for the Fort Smith federal court were African Americans. He died in 1910. [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. Marshal credited with being the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. Cherokee outlaw named Ned Christie, for example Bob Dozier down to hideout... Dozier in the history of the infamous Bass Reeves for several years until he tracked outlaws... 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