He appointed [8] James Fagan as U.S. Bass Reeves was involved in the "Wild, Wild West," part of the westward expansion of the United States. The tough man was definitely no stranger to loss in his life, but this was different. He died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee also has several artifacts from Reeves career as a lawman. 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. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which also had responsibility for the Indian Territory. Portrayal in Film: Timeless (TV Series) S1E14 2017. Im sitting here going, Guys, everyone is dead. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story will be another peek inside that era. George Reeves was also a legislator, in Texas, and at the time of his death in 1882 from rabies, George Reeves was the Speaker of the House in the Texas legislature. He still always got his manand when they asked him to produce his warrants, he always pulled out the right one. In 1897 he was transferred to the Muskogee Federal Court. Bass Reeves was commissioned in late 1875 as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Fort Smith federal court. Yellowstone, set in the present day, follows the Dutton family as they try to protect the largest ranch in the United States from hedge funds and governmental bodies looking to take their generational land away from them. (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. In 1855, George was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Grayson County. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. Reeves was interviewed in 1902, and at that time he stated that he had arrested over 3,000 men and women who broke federal law in the Indian Territory. Marshal Leo Bennett in Muskogee, Oklahoma, only to find[13] his own son had been charged with the murder of his wife. All were two years in age apart. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. Despite his instantly-recognizable look, rumor has it that the lawman had a few other tricks up his sleeve. When Reeves drew his warrant, Story drew his Coltbig mistake. 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.. Over the course of his career, which began when he was in his fifties, mind you, Reeves brought in a tremendous 3,000 felons. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and pistol, Reeves, during his long career, developed superior detective skills. Over his career, Reeves made a lot of enemies. The residents of the territory said he could whip any two men with his fist. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Art T. Burton AFRICAN AMERICANS, RUFUS CANNON, FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT FOR WESTERN ARKANSAS, ROBERT L. FORTUNE, FREEDMEN, INDIAN TERRITORY, GRANT JOHNSON, ZEKE MILLER, ISAAC CHARLES PARKER, SEGREGATION 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. Reeves had plenty of shooting to do without the turkeys. 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. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. Bass Reeves was born in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. If anyone has a chance to come to crawford county, come do it! Reeves disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. In May 1902, Reeves and Adams went to the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to quell racial strife. When they neared Doziers hideout, things turned ugly. The deputies' job was to clean up the Indian Territory. Neither man backed down. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. In December 1878, Reeves served as a guard at Fort Smith for the executions of a Black man named James Diggs and an Indian named James Postoak, both for murder. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Over an 18 year stint, Greenleaf reputedly had seven bodies on his handsand he showed no sign of backing down. We may earn a commission from these links. Though he successfully caught the outlaws, Reeves did not escape from his infiltration unscathed. Marshals. Bass won many turkey shoots for his master, which in Texas was prestigious for George. The same newspaper in March of 1885 reported Reeves bringing in 13 prisoners. For four years, the lawman mourned the passing of his beloved Nellie. Bass was also taught tactics of disguise in riding horses and stealth in combat. Reeves lived in the protection of his new communities and learned their languages for the next several years. [1][2] He was named after his grandfather, Bass Washington. At times, he dressed himself as a local farmer. Oklahoma became a state in 1907. Its clear at this point that the deputy tracked down and captured a huge number of outlaws. He retired at 70 years old and lived out his remaining time in some much-needed peace. One of the most infamous men in Indian Territory went by the name Greenleaf. Were always looking for your input! 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. Bass set out for the Indian Territory and was taken in by Seminole and Creek Indians. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed Deputy U.S. 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. In 1875, everything changed for Reeves. In a happy subplot to an often harrowing tale, the two stayed together for the rest of their lives. 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 He was not the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. When the amendment passed, he moved to Arkansas and became a small-time farmer. 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. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Some say the Quentin Tarantino movie, Django, was based on his life.[17]. Bynum Colbert, a Choctaw Freedmen, was a veteran of an Arkansas United States Colored Regiment of the Civil War and served seven years with the 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment post-Civil War. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. There is a monument dedicated to him. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. Clayton, formerly the U.S. Attorney in Judge Parkers court, and William M. Cravens. [9] He served there until 1893. Reeves couldnt stay on as a ranger forever. After he died the [16] Muskogee Phoenix wrote of the legendary lawman, In the history of the early days of Eastern Oklahoma the name of Bass Reeves has a place in the front rank among those who cleansed out the old Indian Territory of outlaws and desperadoes. But for a man whose true story rivals Wild. Young Bennie quickly became a suspect, and soon enough, he was charged with murder. Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission and a member of the U.S. A little boy sits transfixed in a movie theater as Reeves brings a crooked white sheriff to justice. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and had to retire. Fortunately, it was a lucrative business. "The recent collection of Bass Reeves' prized guns from one of his descendants is incredible for the museum. This is one gunslinger who wont soon be forgotten, so dive in and discover the action-packed life of Bass Reeves. [3], When the American Civil War began, George Reeves joined the Confederate Army, forcing Bass to go with him. They would have 11 children together. When he retired in 1907, Reeves claimed to have arrested over 3,000 felons. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56. Saddle up, because this ones a bit of a doozyI'll explain Bass Reeves as best as I can. [2] His family were slaves of Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. Fortunately, he had another useful skill. Though it hasnt been explicitly stated, many outlets have just been calling the series Bass Reeves. Deputy U.S. Marshals office in Muskogee was downsized, and Reeves found himself out of work. He just needed a way inso he came up with a devious plan. discoveries. After the war, Bass Reeves settled down outside Van Buren, Arkansas, and maintained a horse ranch and small farm. I dont think of any of these as spinoffs, but rather as complete stories that have common roots, Sheridan told Deadline about 1883. Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. When Bass was eight, the Reeves family moved to northern Texas to Peters Colony in Grayson County near Sherman, Texas. [3] During the American Civil War, Bass parted company with George Reeves. Once, he walked 28 miles dressed as a beggar and fooled two men and their mother into letting him stay the night. The actual number might shock you, however. One of Bass Reeves' warrants was for a notorious outlaw named Bob Dozier, who was wanted for a wide range of crimes from cattle and horse rustling, to holding up banks, stores, and stagecoaches to murder, and land swindles. Bass took the warrant and bought his son in for murder shortly thereafter his son convicted and sent to Leavenworth. [1] When Bass was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. During the Civil War . But they didnt stay there for 30 years, Spears said of the trio with Parkers Court. It focuses on the true story of a little-known marshal who patrolled the old Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. People in period dress were at the Bass Reeves Memorial on Saturday at Three Rivers Museum. [3] During the Civil War, Bass escaped north into the [4]Indian Territory ,and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians. Bass Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many outlaws of the territory. Reeves didnt just take it, though. Once And For All, Is The Lone Ranger Based on Bass Reeves? Reeves was in a dangerous profession and, unsurprisingly, had a lot of close calls. Fortunately, he managed to find love again several years later. Husband of Nellie Reeves and Winnie J. Sumner Reeves Bass married Nellie Reeves in 1864, at age 26 in Arkansas, United States. Bass also served as bodyguard, coachman and butler. 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. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. [2][3] "[4] Bass Reeves fled north into the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) and lived with the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians until he was freed by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. The details of his sons doings were unpleasant. . Many historians believe that Reeves would later go on to be partial inspiration for the Lone Ranger. So, this semi-biographical series about a real guy is going to be part of the Yellowstone series? The rest of the gang disappeared, and no one ever heard from them again. He was never KNOWN to make a mistake. The Fort Smith National Historic Site has a room dedicated to the history of black lawmen and local military units. (Fort Smith National Historic Site. The St. Louis Globe Democrat in February 1884 reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners to Fort Smith. But, no matter how well the farm did, Bass Reeves was never meant to be a farmer. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. 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