From judges to supervising marshals, nobody took issue with Reevesexcept, of course, for outlaws. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. He became the first black man to work as a deputy west of the Mississippi River. The men with a $5,000 bounty on their heads woke up in handcuffs. 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. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8584642/bass-reeves, US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and revolver, Reeves developed superior detective skills during his long career. Bass Reeves was the first black man to be appointed a U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. The Arkansas Gazette in September 1884 re-ported Reeves brought 15 prisoners to Fort Smith. Editors of AHM, A Guide to America's Greatest Historic Places, p. 9). 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. Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his exceptional record. Greenleaf terrorized the area for years, but to Reeves, he was just another bounty. 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. People in period dress were at the Bass Reeves Memorial on Saturday at Three Rivers Museum. [78] Reeves was born into slavery in Grayson County, Texas in 1838. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners in April 1884. Despite running up against hardened crooks, the 200-pound, six-foot slinger apparently never wavered. Bass occasionally would serve as a guide into the Indian Territory for Deputy U.S. 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. Bass Reeves was involved in the "Wild, Wild West," part of the westward expansion of the United States. Muskogee was unique with two Black business districts that were thoroughly integrated and catered to the diverse population in the frontier town. (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. Story was the leader of a feared gang of horse thieves who operated under the highly original name of The Tom Story Gang. [2], When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of the Muskogee Police Department. The St. Louis Globe Democrat in February 1884 reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners to Fort Smith. . As a ranger, Reeves was usually the hunter. Bass Reeves delivered two prisoners to U.S. Over his career, Reeves made a lot of enemies. When Bass was eight, the Reeves family moved to northern Texas to Peters Colony in Grayson County near Sherman, Texas. The legend of Bass Reeves will only continue to grow as more discover his story. Reeves didn't just take it, though. 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. His children were named Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice. The known black deputy U.S. marshals, however, are listed as Rufus Cannon, Bill Colbert, Bynum Colbert, Cyrus Dennis, Wiley Escoe, Neely Factor, Robert Fortune, John Garrett, Edward D. Jefferson, Grant Johnson, John Joss, Robert Love, Zeke Miller, Crowder Nicks (Nix), Charles Pettit, Bass Reeves, Ed Robinson, Dick Roebuck, Isaac Rogers, Jim Ruth, Dick Shaver, Morgan Tucker, Lee Thompson, Eugene Walker and Henry Whitehead. Were always looking for your input! Its a sequel to a prequel (of sorts), but it can still be viewed and enjoyed separate from Yellowstone. When the men fell asleep, he burst into their room and threw them each in handcuffs. ", "Bass Reeves and The Lone Ranger: Debunking the Myth, Part 1", "Bridge to be renamed in tribute to famed lawman", "Statue of U.S. marshal to travel from Oklahoma to Arkansas Wednesday", Gunslingers, "Bass Reeves - The Real Lone Ranger", "In a New Series, 'Around the World in 80 Days' Gets More Worldly", "David Oyelowo To Star In 'Bass Reeves' Limited Series From Taylor Sheridan As Part Of Yoruba Saxon Overall Deal With ViacomCBS & MTV Entertainment Studios", "Mini About Hero Lawman Bass Reeves In Works At HBO With Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary & James Pickens Producing", "Bass Reeves Series 'Twin Territories' From Morgan Freeman's Revelations & 'Hand Of God' Creator Ben Watkins In Works At Amazon", "Amazon Studios Lands Biopic on Bass Reeves, First Black U.S. Deputy Marshal, From 'The Rider' Helmer Chlo Zhao", "U.S. But eventually, it came time for Bass Reeves to set out on his own. He was an excellent shooter, but he took this talent to the next level: The lawman was completely ambidextrous. Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. Bass Reeves moved to Van Buren, Arkansas. 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. Most marshals were afraid to take the caseno one wanted to track down the son of the infamous Bass Reeves. [9]Bass Reeves was the first African American Deputy to be appointed west of the Mississippi River. For four years, the lawman mourned the passing of his beloved Nellie. (AP) The U.S. Art T. Burton, a retired college history professor, has written four critically acclaimed history books on the American Western frontier. 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. The actual number might shock you, however. All were two years in age apart. "Some say because Bass beat up George after a dispute in a card game. Then, he knocked on the door and asked for a place to rest. 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. We want our readers to trust us. Its no wonder he had such a tough reputation among outlaws and lawmen alike. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. He once said he knew the Indian Territory like a cook knows her kitchen. Apparently, each one tried to end Reeves life before he resorted to force. When those old gunfighters are sittin around up there in Valhalla discussing who was the, The real law-and-order heros long and Winding road to cinematic and television fame. Other blacks were also appointed to this position: Dee Rogers, Bob Fortune, Bill Colbert, Neely Factor, Zeke Moore and Grant Johnson. When he retired in 1907, Reeves had on his record over 3,000 arrests of felons. At times, he dressed himself as a local farmer. 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. Yes and yes. The deputy lawman found himself on the wrong side of the law in 1887. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Muskogee was the principal town in the Indian Territory and had a large African American population with many federal offices in town. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. [1] When Bass Reeves was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. Marshals. Of all the outlaws Reeves went after in his long career, only one ever escaped his iron grasp. He died in 1910. Not too many years before, he was the target of law enforcement officials himself. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Until then, theres always plenty of Sheridans Paramount shows, such as Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, to feast your eyes on. He knew that he would have to escape, so he went to what is Oklahoma today and found a HOME with the Seminole and Creek American Indians. Most people also know that the portrayal of Tonto as the Lone Rangers sidekick is often stereotypical and racist. Tontos fictionalized story was far from the only racist part of the adaptation of the Lone Rangers life. Marshal was abolished at that time, so he became an officer with the Muskogee Police Department, where he served for two years until he was forced to resign because of his declining health. 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. . He handed down a hefty sentence: Life in prison. After the war, George was reelected to the Texas State Legislature, and at his death on September 5, 1882, he was Speaker of the House of Representatives for the State of Texas. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. Reeves could not read or write, but he was a skilled detective, a master of disguise, and an expert tracker. For this reason, Reeves found unusual support from the inhabitants of the land he patrolled during his career. In 1875,[7] Isaac Parker was appointed Federal Judge for the Indian Territory. But what made him one of the best in the West was his smarts. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. 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. Reeves was an expert with pistol and rifle and could shoot ambidextrously. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Though it wont include anyone from the cast of 1883, Bass Reeves will follow the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshall west of the Mississippi River in U.S. history. His record over 3,000 arrests of felons racist part of the best in the Indian Territory horse thieves operated. 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