Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, which is in the process of constructing a building on the Arkansas River in Fort Smith for a national museum, has among its collection of artifacts a Spencer rifle Reeves took from a Civil War battlefield and two pistols Reeves purchased later during his career. FORT SMITH, Ark. In the Old West, its hard to separate the good guys from the bad. [5] He married Nellie Jennie from Texas, with whom he had ten children, five boys and five girls. They would later have 11 children in the household. Apparently, Christie didnt make things easy, and he escaped. Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. 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. [1] He was one of the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. They arrested, without incident 15 white men and eight Black men and brought them to the federal jail in Muskogee. Kennedy pointed to racist sentiment on the part of incoming state officials, as well as the Congressional delegation and the incoming U.S. marshal when Oklahoma became a state in 1907 as reasons Reeves lost his job with the Marshals Service. In 1893, Bass Reeves was transferred to the Eastern District federal court at Paris, Texas. [3], Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Reeves was a deputy U.S . [9] He served there until 1893. Bass Reeves will be executive produced by Sheridan, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari.MTV Entertainment Studios, Sheridan's Bosque Ranch . 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. 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. 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. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56. by Art T. Burton | Jan 25, 2021 | Features & Gunfights, This is the best known photograph of Deputy U.S. [1] When Bass was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. [5], Reeves and his family farmed until 1875, when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. He hunted his son down and clapped him in irons. It was later proven that Ned was not guilty of the crime. He would then memorize their details before striking out to pursue his target. For this reason, Reeves found unusual support from the inhabitants of the land he patrolled during his career. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Because it was Bass's son the other deputies were reluctant to take the warrant. The deputies' job was to clean up the Indian Territory. However, Bass Reeves certainly liked to tell a tall tale, and his descendants have since said that these claims were false. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. But theres one last twist in this story: Bennie received a pardon in 1914. This chronic kidney affliction managed to do what no man in the West was able to do and forced Reeves to stop working. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee also has several artifacts from Reeves career as a lawman. We may never know exactly how many black men served as Deputy U.S. Marshals, a placard at the Historic Site reads. [5][6][7][8], He was a great-uncle of Paul L. Brady, who became the first black man appointed as a federal administrative law judge in 1972. Deputy United States Marshal Bass Reeves reunites with his former partner turned fugitive Sam Tanner. No story of the conflict of government's officers with those outlaws, which ended only a few years ago with the rapid filling up of the territory with people, can be complete without mention of the Negro who died yesterday. He beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. Bass took the warrant and bought his son in for murder shortly thereafter his son convicted and sent to Leavenworth. While living with the Indians, Bass learned to speak and understand the different Indian languages. (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. Marshal? He served for two years, in that time there were no crimes on his beat. 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. Bass Reeves was one of the greatest peace officers in the history of the American western frontier. He served his time in Ft. Leavenworth in Kansas before being released and living the rest of his life as a responsible and model citizen. He beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. Despite his instantly-recognizable look, rumor has it that the lawman had a few other tricks up his sleeve. Marshals Museum: The museum loves to talk to the descendants of historic Marshals and Deputies and we receive. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. Leave a message for others who see this profile. All Rights Reserved. The memorial was held close to the 110th anniversary of Reeves' death in 1910. Story was the leader of a feared gang of horse thieves who operated under the highly original name of The Tom Story Gang. [2][5] Reeves was initially assigned as a Deputy U.S. For the next 11 years, Bennie Reeves sat in Fort Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. In fact, his personality was so warm that it comes up in countless contemporary sources detailing his many adventures and arrests. Bass dragged his son into the courtroom himself, and the judge convicted him. Reeves couldnt stay on as a ranger forever. (Reference unknown). The U.S. As usual, Reeves confronted Story directly. In 1897 he was transferred to the Muskogee Federal Court. 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. It sat on his desk for two days while he decided what to do. He and his family were owned by William Steele Reeves, who was originally from Hickman County, Tennessee. . [1][2] Reeves was named after his grandfather, Basse Washington. He handed down a hefty sentence: Life in prison. In 1855, George was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Grayson County. His long muscular arms have attached to them a pair of hands that would do credit to a giant and they handle a revolver with the ease and grace acquired only after years of practice. Bennie was subsequently captured, tried, and convicted. Reeves was born in Crawford County, in Northwest Arkansas, around 1838. 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. In 1864 he married Nellie Jennie (d. 1896) and after her death Winnie Sumter (19001910). When Dozier heard that Reeves was after him, he sent out word that Reeves was placing his own life in his hands. Dozier was a cattle-rustler and stagecoach bandit with a seriously bad reputation. [3], When the American Civil War began, George Reeves joined the Confederate Army, forcing Bass to go with him. My mom never told me how her best friend died. From 1920-1970, Kennedy explained, the name Bass Reeves, as well as those of Grant Foreman and Robert Fortune were forgotten outside the circle of family and local history. U.S. The talented marksman and guide quickly started making a name for himself. Thanks for your help! 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. Most people also know that the portrayal of Tonto as the Lone Rangers sidekick is often stereotypical and racist. Fortunately, he had another useful skill. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and pistol, Reeves, during his long career, developed superior detective skills. If so, login to add it. Bass was also taught tactics of disguise in riding horses and stealth in combat. When Bass was eight, the Reeves family moved to northern Texas to Peters Colony in Grayson County near Sherman, Texas. Is it a sequel to a prequel? 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. 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. All were two years in age apart. The actual number might shock you, however. [13], In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[43]. This is one gunslinger who wont soon be forgotten, so dive in and discover the action-packed life of Bass Reeves. Ryan Reaves, a professional hockey player from Winnipeg, is Basss great-great-great-grandson. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. In 1890, he received an arrest warrant for an infamous Cherokee outlaw named Ned Christie. [2] His family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. He was never KNOWN to make a mistake. The U.S. When Reeves drew his warrant, Story drew his Coltbig mistake. 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Dropped Its First Trailer, 'Outer Banks' Season 4 Is Already In the Works, 'The Last of Us' Ep. This appointment was made by Judge Isaac C. Parker in May of 1975. During his time as a Deputy U.S. The following is just a short sampling of Reeves police work in the 1880s. I think Bass Reeves claim to fame is his persistence, and he bounced back after the murder trial.. He was given the name of his owner, William Reeves. 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. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and retired. Bass Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many outlaws of the territory. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners in April 1884. Reeves spent 30 years in the perilous job of a deputy U.S. marshal in Oklahoma's Indian Territory. 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. Heartbroken, this is when Bass Reeves took matters into his own hands. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. Legend has it that Reeves ended up getting into a serious confrontation with his master over a card game in 1861. Bass Reeves worked with lawman such as [10] Heck Thomas, Bud Ledbetter, and Bill Tilghman. Meet 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, which will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. Typically, local posses accompanied Reeves on his expeditions and stakeouts. [5], He was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. [1] When Bass Reeves was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. [2][5] He is said to have shot and killed fourteen outlaws to defend his own life. That year he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas, for a short while. The new deputy must have been an unmistakable figure in the Old West. For the next ten years, he lived a quiet life on his country farm. Adams, Jake Island, Andy Alton and one Smith, larceny.. Being ambidextrous he always wore two Colt pistols and he rarely missed his mark. Thought to have been born in the summer of 1838, by the year 1880, Bass and Jennie Reeves had eight children: Sally, Robert, Harriet, Georgia, Alice, Newland, Edgar and Lula. Barton quotes many sources in his book, and many times Reeves is credited with bringing in about a dozen prisoners or more at a time from the Indian Territory to the District Courthouse in Fort Smith. When Reeves faced trial, he was lucky enough to know the right people. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. [12] Ryan Reaves's grandfather changed the family name from Reeves to Reaves. So what about Bass Reeves? Her passing absolutely devastated him. Marshal Bass Reeves. [3], As a freedman, Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Marshal badge and bullets that one belonged to U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves. 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. 14 were shot in self-defense. In 1872 the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas (which included 74,000 miles of Indian territory) established quarters in the former barracks building of Fort Smith. 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. Marshals who rode for Parker have received fame over the years: Paden Tolbert bringing in Ned Christie, for example. The Arkansas Gazette in September 1884 re-ported Reeves brought 15 prisoners to Fort Smith. It looked like his luck was finally beginning to turnand more good fortune was on the horizon. Wasnt Bass Reeves a real guy? Bass Reeves was commissioned in late 1875 as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Fort Smith federal court. Bass Reeves was born a slave in the 1830's American South. 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