The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. Marshal Bass Reeves. 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. 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. 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. After a citizens petition and an exemplary prison record, his son was pardoned and was never in trouble with the law again. After serving as a valiant marshals deputy, Reeves worked as a policeman in Muskogee for two years, 1907-1909. At the age of 67, Bass Reeves retired from federal service at Oklahoma statehood in 1907. Most people know that. 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. Love the history behind my home town! Eventually, he moved to Arkansas where he settled down, got married, had 10 children and his knowledge of THE INDIAN territories and the fact that he spoke several native languages landed him a job as the first African-American U.S. Theres only one catch: Bass Reeves is not an original character. [13], In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[43]. Williams son, Colonel George Reeves, was Basss legal owner. Yes and yes. Reeves and Webb had a gunfight in June 1884 near Bywaters Store, which was a stagecoach stop. [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. Bass Reeves Born about Jul 1838 in Crawford, Arkansas, United States Son of [father unknown] and Parilee Washington Stewart [sibling (s) unknown] Husband of Nellie (Jennie) Reeves married about 1864 in Arkansas, United States Husband of Winnie (Sumter) Reeves married 1900 in Muskogee,Oklahoma,United States Descendants In 1855, George was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Grayson County. Legend has it that Reeves ended up getting into a serious confrontation with his master over a card game in 1861. [5], Reeves and his family farmed until 1875, when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. (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. Reeves found himself forced out. Its probably fair to say that Bass himself wasnt too broken up when he heard the news. As usual, Reeves struck out with a posse. Judge Parker ruled on the situation and acquitted Reeves of all charges. Art T. Burton, a retired college history professor, has written four critically acclaimed history books on the American Western frontier. He grew up tending to chores and animals while his 'mammy' cooked and cleaned. 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. Bass occasionally would serve as a guide into the Indian Territory for Deputy U.S. Bass Reeves (July 1838 - January 12, 1910) was an American law enforcement official, historically noted as the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. After tracking the notorious outlaw, Reeves captured him without much of a struggle. This appointment was made by Judge Isaac C. Parker in May of 1975. His estate came to less than $500. Working mainly the Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory, Reeves would bring more than 3,000 dangerous criminals, outlaws, and murderers to justice - including his own son. Of all the outlaws Reeves went after in his long career, only one ever escaped his iron grasp. Bass Reeves was commissioned in late 1875 as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Fort Smith federal court. Marshal Reeves was disturbed and shaken by the incident but demanded to accept the responsibility of bringing his son to justice. Reeves returned fire, striking Dozier in the neck, ending him instantly. Bass Reeves was born a slave. Meet 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, which will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. They also had another child together. Bass Reeves is a part of US Black history. Many U.S. He worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, July 1838 - Crawford County, United States, Ozoliiiulsioii Co., ; IS Pearl at., New York. Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. [6], Reeves worked for thirty-two years as a Federal peace officer in the Indian Territory. Anything that could get him closer to his quarry. Fagan had heard about Reeves, who knew the Territory and could speak several Native languages. The residents of the territory said he could whip any two men with his fist. Well, the show was last announced as 1883: The Bass Reeves Story back in May 2022. After that, Reeves had little choice but to flee his bondage and ride off into the sunset in search of a life as a free man. Marshals. They would later have 11 children in the household. When Reeves faced trial, he was lucky enough to know the right people. Reeves son, Benjamin Reeves, strayed from the family tree and ran into serious trouble with the law. In the late 1870s, although Reeves was a deputy U.S. marshal, much of his work was as a posseman for other deputy U.S. marshals, including Robert J. The same newspaper in March of 1885 reported Reeves bringing in 13 prisoners. Marshal Bass Reeves. It looked like his luck was finally beginning to turnand more good fortune was on the horizon. Bass Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many outlaws of the territory. Marshal. Reeves made a name for himself early in his career when he struck out after the famous outlaw Bob Dozier. Finally, it came time to bring him down. [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. When Dozier heard that Reeves was after him, he sent out word that Reeves was placing his own life in his hands. 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. Unsurprisingly, Reeves took the task without complaint. [1] It appears plausible that Reeves was kept in bondage by William Steele Reeves's son, Colonel George R. Reeves -- a Texan sheriff, legislator, and one-time Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives until his death from rabies in 1882. Father of Benjamin Bass Reeves; Homer Reeves; Robert Reeves; Newland Reeves; Edgar Reeves and 8 others; Sally Reeves; Harriet Reeves; Georgia Reeves; Alice Reeves; Lula Reeves; Bass Reeves, Jr.; George Reeves and Private less The lawman was such a good shot that nobody wanted to face him in competition. The U.S. This troubled his mother greatly as she thought he wanted to be an outlaw. It seems that Reeves talents were without end. Marshal James Fagan was replaced not long after Judge Parker took over the court with a Union veteran, Daniel P. Upham. On one occasion, the ranger was facing off with an outlaw who drew on him. The items will become property of the U.S. Reeves earned his reputation. His family was owned by the prosperous and politically well-connected family of William Reeves, an early Arkansas legislator . There was a fine line between lawmen and outlaws in the Old West, and sometimes, men crossed it. The U.S. Bass Reeves is often called the 'greatest frontier hero in American history.' He was the first Black Deputy U.S. It was the last thing he ever did. So what about Bass Reeves? Marshals Museum. Adams served as Reeves posseman, and they were involved in numerous police actions together in and around Muskogee. Reeves was furiousand he had to take his anger out on something. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass . Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed Deputy U.S. Reeves, it seems, was the most famous of them all. The Reeves family moved to North Twelfth Street, Park Place, in 1889. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. In fact, the Oklahoma City Weekly Times Journal once reported that Reeves was never known to show the slightest excitement, under any circumstance. Reeves was in a dangerous profession and, unsurprisingly, had a lot of close calls. Marshal Bass Reeves, possibly the greatest lawman of the Old West. All Photos Courtesy Art T. Burton Unless Otherwise Noted . As usual, Reeves confronted Story directly. Classic Gunfights: A Deadly Duel at 500 Yards. If so, login to add it. In 1887, Reeves had to sell his home and farm in the Catcher Community near Van Buren to pay for his first-degree murder defense with attorneys William H.H. In 1900, at 62 years old, Reeves married for a second time. These are just a few of the incredible stories of a man who hunted down men nobody else could capture. Deputy United States Marshal Bass Reeves reunites with his former partner turned fugitive Sam Tanner. 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