After 1905, Reeves did not arrest as many white felons as he had earlier in his career, due to the large influx of white settlers into the territory and racial attitudes shifting. A crack shot, he won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him first without suffering a single wound. Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his exceptional record. 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. But eventually, it came time for Bass Reeves to set out on his own. From a glance, Bass Reeves was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. (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. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Eventually, his work earned him a place as the hunted. He beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. There is a monument dedicated to him. [3], As a freedman, Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Many claim this infamous lawman's exploits were the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. marshals. 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. Talk about motherly love! Despite taking down over 3,000 outlaws and getting into dozens of dust-ups, the rough and tumble lawman never fell victim to any serious injuries. [14] He died January 12, 1910 from Bright's disease and although he was buried in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the exact location of his grave is unknown.[15]. Because Reeves spent his early years in enslavement, even as an adult man, he couldnt read. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. When Reeves drew his warrant, Story drew his Coltbig mistake. Eighty-two of the U.S. deputy marshals are buried at Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith. Bass married Nellie Reeves in 1864, at age 26 in Arkansas, United States. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. [3], Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Police departments and state agencies took over, meaning that marshals and deputies lost their authority. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. Fortunately, it was a lucrative business. [2] His family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. The tough man was definitely no stranger to loss in his life, but this was different. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. 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. [1][2] Reeves was named after his grandfather, Basse Washington. Webb had earlier killed a Black farmer who accidently burned some grazing land on the Washington Ranch. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. Law and order in the Wild West was not a pretty thing. He was an excellent shooter, but he took this talent to the next level: The lawman was completely ambidextrous. He died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910. (AP) The U.S. Marshals Museums board of directors, said Burton told Reeves story at a Fort Smith National Historic Site Descendants Day event in the early 2000s and helped Reeves receive the notoriety for his bravery and incredible career as a lawman. Their names are listed side by side with other Deputy U.S. 1 of 3 In a statue of Bass Reeves residing in the Lamar County Courthouse, sculptor Eddie Dixon arms the famed lawman with a double-barreled shotgun. 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. After 1900, Muskogee had city police, with two deputy U.S. marshals stationed there, Bass Reeves and a white man David Adams. Apart from that, 1883 was largely its own show. [11] The United States Court at Fort Smith, was the largest in the nation. Western Books: An Officer of Honor and Grit, Ask the Marshall Bat Masterson: Armed and Dangerous, Lincoln: Prepare Ye the Way for the Horde. However, he didnt retire just yet. After the war, Bass Reeves settled down outside Van Buren, Arkansas, and maintained a horse ranch and small farm. From judges to supervising marshals, nobody took issue with Reevesexcept, of course, for outlaws. The U.S. The man overseeing the case was Judge Isaac Parker, who was technically Reeves boss. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and revolver, Reeves developed superior detective skills during his long career. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56. [5], Reeves was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. (AP) The U.S. 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. Judge Parkers orders were to bring them in dead or alive. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. They didnt always give him that option. The men with a $5,000 bounty on their heads woke up in handcuffs. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. 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. My mom never told me how her best friend died. [3] During the Civil War, Bass escaped north into the [4]Indian Territory ,and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians. Despite never drawing first, Reeves ended up in a lot of shootouts. In 1875,[7] Isaac Parker was appointed Federal Judge for the Indian Territory. Many lawmen had tried to apprehend the outlaw, but none were successful until it came to Reeves. This was his first taste of work with the US government in an official capacity. He grew up tending to chores and animals while his 'mammy' cooked and cleaned. Most people know that. [10], Reeves' health began to fail further after retiring. Bass severely beat George, and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived among the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. When he arrived, various Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee, Seminoles, and Creeks, took him in. Son of NN Reeves and Pearlalee Reeves I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. He served for two years, in that time there were no crimes on his beat. In 1900, at 62 years old, Reeves married for a second time. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. Reeves was over six feet tall and sported a thick black handlebar mustache. 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 assigned as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which had responsibility also for the Native reservation Territory. Clayton, formerly the U.S. Attorney in Judge Parkers court, and William M. Cravens. In 1864 he married Nellie Jennie (d. 1896) and after her death Winnie Sumter (19001910). Family history states that Bass and George got into an argument over a card game during the Civil War. He was never KNOWN to make a mistake. Husband of Nellie Reeves and Winnie J. Sumner Reeves Its clear at this point that the deputy tracked down and captured a huge number of outlaws. Here, he learned Indian languages, the lay of the land and complete mastery of pistols and rifles. 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. [3] During the American Civil War, Bass parted company with George Reeves. They would travel with a crew, at least one posseman or more, a cook, a guard and one or two wagons with supplies. Reeves was finally able to move around the country freely. The cook didnt survive and Reeves went on trial for murder. Judge Parker ruled on the situation and acquitted Reeves of all charges. 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.. He took a job as a patrolman with the Muskogee Oklahoma Police Department. Starring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, 1883 depicted the first Dutton family members to travel the Oregon Trail and settle in Montana, where the Yellowstone Ranch is set in the series. The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. Young Bennie quickly became a suspect, and soon enough, he was charged with murder. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. According to an Oklahoma news article in 1907, outlaws in the West had a habit of posting cards on their turf with warnings to certain deputies. [1] When Bass Reeves was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. Is it a sequel to a prequel? FORT SMITH, Ark. Two weeks later he returned to Muskogee with his son and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. It was pretty tame compared to his old beat, but at 68, that was probably for the best. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story will be so different as it will focus on the historical figure Bass Reeves, an enslaved man turned U.S. In 1871, the federal court and jail were moved to nearby Fort Smith. [5], He was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass . The same newspaper in March of 1885 reported Reeves bringing in 13 prisoners. Sebastian County Circuit Judge Jim Spears, now retired, is credited with leading an effort to prominently enshrine the folk hero in bronze. The U.S. As the first Black deputy west of the Mississippi River, Reeves arrested more than . I think Bass Reeves claim to fame is his persistence, and he bounced back after the murder trial.. He knew that every chase was potentially his last. On November 17, 1907, Indian Territory became the new state of Oklahoma. Marshal. Leave a message for others who see this profile. He also learned tracking and other skills from the different Indian tribes. The Fort Smith National Historic Site has a room dedicated to the history of black lawmen and local military units. 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. It was the last thing he ever did. And The Three Guardsmen was a name given to a group who became legendary in their pursuit of many outlaws of the late 19th century: Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves was arguably the greatest lawman and gunfighter of the West, a man who served as a marshal for 32 years in the most dangerous district in the country, captured 3,000 felons, (once bringing in 17 men at one time), and shot 14 men in the line of duty, all without ever being shot himself. Classic Gunfights: A Deadly Duel at 500 Yards. In fact, his personality was so warm that it comes up in countless contemporary sources detailing his many adventures and arrests. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. 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. Reeves earned his reputation. Reeves methods of enforcement were somewhat unorthodox. 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. When Reeves faced trial, he was lucky enough to know the right people. Reeves was in a dangerous profession and, unsurprisingly, had a lot of close calls. 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Dropped Its First Trailer, 'Outer Banks' Season 4 Is Already In the Works, 'The Last of Us' Ep. Thanks for your time! At Muskogee, Reeves worked under Leo E. Bennett, the former Indian agent for the Five Civilized Tribes, headquartered at the same town. Marshal badge and bullets that one belonged to U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves. In 1910, he made his final salute. [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. .css-gk9meg{display:block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-top:0.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-gk9meg:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.15;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}Celebrities Who Voice Cartoon Characters, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 is About to Commence, The Underworld Crossover of the Century Is Coming. People in period dress were at the Bass Reeves Memorial on Saturday at Three Rivers Museum. Unfortunately for Reeves, this brought change to the face of law enforcement. Marshal west of the Mississippi river, who served in the Oklahoma and Arkansas territory in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. Greenleaf terrorized the area for years, but to Reeves, he was just another bounty. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 Deputy U.S. 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. Reeves returned fire, striking Dozier in the neck, ending him instantly. However, the ranger never drew his weapon first. by Art T. Burton | Jan 25, 2021 | Features & Gunfights, This is the best known photograph of Deputy U.S. Marshals Service also started doing these events in 2012 in conjunction with the Cherokee Nation. [9], Reeves worked for 32 years as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory and became one of Judge Parker's most valued deputies. After escaping his masters, Reeves traveled to Oklahoma, or Indian Territory, as it was known then. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. 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. [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. When Bass was eight, the Reeves family moved to northern Texas to Peters Colony in Grayson County near Sherman, Texas. Earlier, Upham had commanded the Arkansas State Militia and had destroyed the Ku Klux Klan in that state. Bass Reeves worked with lawman such as [10] Heck Thomas, Bud Ledbetter, and Bill Tilghman. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee, Oklahoma police department. As a black man tasked with law enforcement in unceded, Indigenous territory, Reeves was in a precarious situation. Topping, James H. Mershon and Jacob T. Ayers. William Steele Reeves, a prominent citizen and politician, enslaved his family. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. Federal Judge Paul Brady and his wife Xernona were in Fort Smith on Monday (April 11) to donate a gun, U.S. His son was tried and sent to Kansas Leavenworth Prison. 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