For four years, the lawman mourned the passing of his beloved Nellie. Williams son, Colonel George Reeves, was Basss legal owner. Marshal. (AP) The U.S. He does not know what fear is. This claim was backed up with hard evidence, as well soon discover. Because Reeves spent his early years in enslavement, even as an adult man, he couldnt read. He was hired as a city policeman in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he served for about two years. U.S. [13], In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[43]. At his death, several newspapers, in and out of state, stated he had killed more than 20 men in the line of duty. 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. He said he took part in the Battle of Pea Ridge, the Battle of Missionary Ridge, and the Battle of Chickamauga. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? [9] He served there until 1893. Bass Reeves was born in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. Unfortunately for Reeves, this brought change to the face of law enforcement. In 1910, he made his final salute. Deputies would work out of Fort Smith and venture into the Indian Territory with warrants and open warrants. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. This page has been accessed 17,324 times. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. Reeves was born in Crawford County, in Northwest Arkansas, around 1838. The talented marksman and guide quickly started making a name for himself. The only significant remains of the second fort [built in 1839] are the old stone Commissary Building and Judge Parker's Courtroom, which has been restored. After serving as a valiant marshals deputy, Reeves worked as a policeman in Muskogee for two years, 1907-1909. 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. 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. Over a thirty-year career, he faced some of the most feared men in America. Bass was also very quick and accurate with a pistol. Not too many years before, he was the target of law enforcement officials himself. His wife had an affair. As usual, Reeves struck out with a posse. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. His likeness has appeared in at least seven television series, four films, a play, two board games, and at least six books. [6] Reeves served in that district until 1893, when he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas. He is believed to be buried in a small cemetery on Fern Mountain Road west of town. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. Bass Reeves and his family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Neither man backed down. He served for two years, in that time there were no crimes on his beat. Probably a smart decision. When he retired in 1907, Reeves had on his record over 3,000 arrests of felons. In 1909, the tough lawman finally came across an enemy that he couldnt best: Brights Disease. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and had to retire. . At others, he took on the guise of an outlaw. In 1897 he was transferred to the Muskogee Federal Court. [5] He recruited him as one of his deputies and Reeves was the first African-American deputy west of the Mississippi River. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. 7: Caught in a Bad Romance, Brandon Sklenar is the Baddest Dutton of Them All, The 'Outer Banks' S3 Finale Is Intense as Hell. [5][6][7][8], Reeves and his family farmed until 1875 when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. Spears also agreed with the National Park Service notes that point out that although Reeves is often credited with as many as 3,000 arrests and as many as 20 outlaws killed in the name of the law, the numbers have to be used with historical caution. Kennedy said they have only been able to verify five people were killed by Reeves, including his cook, which was most likely an accident. To be fair, it was back when George Reeves still owned him, so he didnt have much of a choice. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Nellie was the mother of all 10 of his children. When Dozier heard that Reeves was after him, he sent out word that Reeves was placing his own life in his hands. In 1907, Reeves joined up with the Muskogee law enforcement office in Oklahoma, where he worked for two years. Love the history behind my home town! Bass raised horses and served as a scout for deputy U.S. marshals going into the Indian Territory. 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. 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 the Old West, its hard to separate the good guys from the bad. He married a woman named Nellie Jennie, and they must have been really into each other. When the men fell asleep, he burst into their room and threw them each in handcuffs. Ironically, Reeves was brought up on first-degree murder charges, not manslaughter or criminal negligence, after a new U.S. marshal was hired, the first former Confederate officer Reeves would work for. Portrayal in Film: Timeless (TV Series) S1E14 2017. Bass Reeves was born a slave in Crawford County in July 1838. A hard-headed judge named Isaac Parker ordered a US Marshal to find 200 deputies in Indian Territory. Marshal James Fagan was replaced not long after Judge Parker took over the court with a Union veteran, Daniel P. Upham. Young Bennie quickly became a suspect, and soon enough, he was charged with murder. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. Enter a grandparent's name. Yes and yes. 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 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. 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. Brother of UFN Washington and Jane Reeves, Bass Reeves was born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. 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. Though there were over 200 deputies to choose from in Indian Territory, marshals, judges, and district courts constantly turned to Bass Reeves because they knew that he would deliver results. [3], When the American Civil War began, George Reeves joined the Confederate Army, forcing Bass to go with him. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. [8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Reeves). He was not the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. Many lawmen had tried to apprehend the outlaw, but none were successful until it came to Reeves. Reeves reputation quickly spread across the West. In 1848, George was elected tax collector, and in 1850, he was elected sheriff of Grayson County. Art T. Burton, a retired college history professor, has written four critically acclaimed history books on the American Western frontier. The Creek Nation had a heavy African Indian population, as did the Seminole Nation. He liked to brag that there was never any crime reported on his beat. As the years passed, the American government seized more and more territory. During his time as a Deputy U.S. Bass Reeves was involved in the "Wild, Wild West," part of the westward expansion of the United States. Bass also served as bodyguard, coachman and butler. Marshal? From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. Marshals Museum: The museum loves to talk to the descendants of historic Marshals and Deputies and we receive. 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 worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. Before Reeves could respond, the gunman shot his belt in half. Most marshals were afraid to take the caseno one wanted to track down the son of the infamous Bass Reeves. The legend of Bass Reeves will only continue to grow as more discover his story. Spears is now leading an effort to erect a bronze statue of Judge Parker downtown. Reeves eventually tracked Dozier down to a hideout in Cherokee territory. 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? Is it a sequel to a prequel? 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. . He often used aliases and disguises, a cowboy, farmer, gunslinger -- even a outlaw. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, July 1838 - Crawford County, United States, Ozoliiiulsioii Co., ; IS Pearl at., New York. 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. Maybe a Dutton or two will show up, too. . He was brought up on first-degree murder charges in January 1886 and relieved of duty. 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. He died on January 12, 1910, of kidney disease. To be partial inspiration for the Lone Ranger or two will show up, too Parker downtown much of choice. 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