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. Bass Reeves is often called the 'greatest frontier hero in American history.' He was the first Black Deputy U.S. Most people also know that the portrayal of Tonto as the Lone Rangers sidekick is often stereotypical and racist. This is one gunslinger who wont soon be forgotten, so dive in and discover the action-packed life of Bass Reeves. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. At the outbreak of the Civil War, George was made an officer in the 11th Texas Cavalry Regiment, second in command to Col. William G. Young. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. 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. Bass Reeves was commissioned in late 1875 as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Fort Smith federal court. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. There is no indication of race on federal records. Such a dark beginning really sets the stage for the twisted tale of law and violence that followed. . He does not know what fear is. This claim was backed up with hard evidence, as well soon discover. [2] Once he had to arrest his own son for murder. To be fair, it was back when George Reeves still owned him, so he didnt have much of a choice. Specifically fort smith where judge parkers court house is located. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. marshals. They arrested, without incident 15 white men and eight Black men and brought them to the federal jail in Muskogee. FORT SMITH, Ark. Fagan had heard about Reeves, who knew the Territory and could speak several Native languages. However, Bass Reeves certainly liked to tell a tall tale, and his descendants have since said that these claims were false. He captured the two gang members in the Red River Valley, but it wasnt exactly simple: The boys mother chased him for three miles, cursing his name the whole time! Once And For All, Is The Lone Ranger Based on 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. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. So what about Bass Reeves? Bass Reeves was born in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838. Dozier was a cattle-rustler and stagecoach bandit with a seriously bad reputation. Marshals. Two weeks later he returned to Muskogee with his son and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. By all accounts, he drew quickly and never missed his mark when the time came. The upcoming series, seemingly based on a true story, will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. But what made him one of the best in the West was his smarts. Portrayal in Film: Timeless (TV Series) S1E14 2017. Reeves did one thing, and he did it very well: He tracked down outlaws on the lam. Classic Gunfights: A Deadly Duel at 500 Yards. But theres one last twist in this story: Bennie received a pardon in 1914. The legendary lawman was said to. 7: Caught in a Bad Romance, Brandon Sklenar is the Baddest Dutton of Them All, The 'Outer Banks' S3 Finale Is Intense as Hell. In fact, his personality was so warm that it comes up in countless contemporary sources detailing his many adventures and arrests. [5] He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. https://www.history.com/news/bass-reeves-real-lone-ranger-a-black-man?fbclid=IwAR0asILqInym_qDhFQ6IT9BbdE2dGdj4VPwfbV8ZARrW8OvilyOg9M-8zos, Categories: Crawford County, Arkansas, Slaves | American Heroes | Crawford County, Arkansas | Fort Smith, Arkansas | US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles | Wild Wild West | African-American Notables | Notables, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. The new deputy must have been an unmistakable figure in the Old West. Love the history behind my home town! [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. This appointment was made by Judge Isaac C. Parker in May of 1975. Once, he walked 28 miles dressed as a beggar and fooled two men and their mother into letting him stay the night. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his masters son during THE CIVIL WAR. Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission and a member of the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which also had responsibility for the Indian Territory. The actual number might shock you, however. Reeves couldnt stay on as a ranger forever. Unsurprisingly, Reeves took the task without complaint. Many lawmen had tried to apprehend the outlaw, but none were successful until it came to Reeves. To top it off, a bridge was named in his honor, a statue was erected in Oklahoma, and the lawman was inducted into the cowboy hall of fame in Texas. Bass dragged his son into the courtroom himself, and the judge convicted him. Reeves' health began to fail, and he died of Bright's disease (nephritis) in 1910. 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. 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. Reeves had a beat in downtown Muskogee, during . It must have made a lasting impression. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. 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. After tracking the notorious outlaw, Reeves captured him without much of a struggle. It was later proven that Ned was not guilty of the crime. Over his long career as a lawman, the mustachioed slinger racked up a body count of 14 men. After a citizens petition and an exemplary prison record, his son was pardoned and was never in trouble with the law again. Later, Bass became a body servant to the son of William Reeves, Colonel George R. When Dozier heard that Reeves was after him, he sent out word that Reeves was placing his own life in his hands. For example, his grand-nephew, Paul L. Brady, a prominent civil rights activist, became the first black administrative law judge in 1972. The Lone Ranger has appeared in thousands of radio episodes, hundreds of television episodes, hundreds of comic books, six films, and dozens of novels. He handed down a hefty sentence: Life in prison. The Lone Ranger was an escaped slave named Bass Reeves. They would have 11 children together. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? For the next 11 years, Bennie Reeves sat in Fort Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. 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. In real life, he carried a .44 caliber . Dozier shot first, firing at them from a stand of trees. The Creek Nation had a heavy African Indian population, as did the Seminole Nation. 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. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed Deputy U.S. In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. Yes and yes. For the next ten years, he lived a quiet life on his country farm. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. They would travel with a crew, at least one posseman or more, a cook, a guard and one or two wagons with supplies. The talented marksman and guide quickly started making a name for himself. Theyre like, there better be a fucking season two because we already picked it up, he recalled. While he lived with the local Indigenous tribes, Bass became a guide for government officials who traveled through the Indian Territory. Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. prisoners. His expertise in local languages and culture made him perfectly suited to the job. Bennie was subsequently captured, tried, and convicted. In 1893, Bass Reeves was transferred to the Eastern District federal court at Paris, Texas. 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. He was never KNOWN to make a mistake. Maybe a Dutton or two will show up, too. When he retired in 1907, Reeves claimed to have arrested over 3,000 felons. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. 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. A fitting end to a horrible man, George Reeves contracted rabies and passed in 1882. At the age of 67, Bass Reeves retired from federal service at Oklahoma statehood in 1907. Talk about motherly love! Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. He and his family were owned by William Steele Reeves, who was originally from Hickman County, Tennessee. It focuses on the true story of a little-known marshal who patrolled the old Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. [2][5] Reeves was initially assigned as a Deputy U.S. [9] He served there until 1893. Marshal Bass Reeves. He was hired as a deputy because of his knowledge of the territory and ability to speak many of the tribal languages. Bass Reeves was born a slave. Reeves son, Benjamin Reeves, strayed from the family tree and ran into serious trouble with the law. He was so good, in fact, that he was regularly banned from participating in competitive turkey shoots, a popular pastime in the West. discoveries. Marshals Museum. The same news-paper reported Reeves in August 1883 bringing in 13 prisoners. [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. It is unclear how, and exactly when, Bass Reeves escaped, but at some point during the Civil War, he gained his freedom. Their names are listed side by side with other Deputy U.S. Deputies would work out of Fort Smith and venture into the Indian Territory with warrants and open warrants. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. For a slave to hit his master in Texas was punishable by death. It did not seem accidental. He caught over 3000 criminals in his career. Fortunately, it was a lucrative business. Later in November 1890, Bass and his posse raided the home of the legendary Cherokee Ned Christie, who was wanted for murdering a deputy U.S. marshal. But they didnt stay there for 30 years, Spears said of the trio with Parkers Court. Bass Reeves was indeed the Invincible Marshal. Though it hasnt been explicitly stated, many outlets have just been calling the series Bass Reeves. There is a monument dedicated to him. 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. He is believed to be buried in a small cemetery on Fern Mountain Road west of town. The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. He is a member of Western Writers of America and the Chicago Westerners Corral, and was made an honorary territorial marshal by Oklahoma Governor David Walters. All were two years in age apart. Reeves became known in the early 1880s for bringing prisoners back to the Fort Smith court in double digits. Reeves died in Muskogee on January 12, 1910, after a short illness. "The recent collection of Bass Reeves' prized guns from one of his descendants is incredible for the museum. [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. This chronic kidney affliction managed to do what no man in the West was able to do and forced Reeves to stop working. In 1909, the tough lawman finally came across an enemy that he couldnt best: Brights Disease. They also had another child together. Probably a smart decision. Until then, theres always plenty of Sheridans Paramount shows, such as Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, to feast your eyes on. Thanks for your help! The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves coming to town in August 1882 with 16 prisoners. Almost a year out from a planned opening of the new $60 million museum, its the lawmans family tree the curator wants most. [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. 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. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. He appointed [8] James Fagan as U.S. 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. (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. 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. Marshal Bass Reeves featured in new Netflix film", "Isaiah Washington To Mark Feature Directorial Debut With 'Corsicana' Western", "2019 National Black Theatre Festival Brochure", Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bass_Reeves&oldid=1140977007, Historian Art Burton has said that Reeves was the inspiration for the character of the, In May 2012, a bronze statue of Reeves by Oklahoma sculptor Harold Holden was erected in Pendergraft Park in, Reeves is the subject of the season two episode four of, Reeves figures prominently in an episode of, In "The Murder of Jesse James", an episode of the television series, In "Everybody Knows", a season two episode of the television series, Reeves is mentioned in the plot of "The Royal Family", a season two episode of the television series, Reeves' status as one of the first black sheriffs plays a significant role as a childhood role model for the character of Will Reeves in the, Reeves is mentioned in season 3 episode 2 of the television series, Reeves features in the "Stressed Western" episode of, A miniseries based on Burton's 2006 biography (and co-produced by. 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