He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. Dozier escaped from Bass Reeves for several years until he tracked Bob Dozier down in the Cherokee Hills. Im sitting here going, Guys, everyone is dead. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story will be another peek inside that era. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 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. 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. Adams, Jake Island, Andy Alton and one Smith, larceny.. It is unclear how, and exactly when, Bass Reeves escaped, but at some point during the Civil War, he gained his freedom. In 1909, the tough lawman finally came across an enemy that he couldnt best: Brights Disease. 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. The Arkansas Gazette in September 1884 re-ported Reeves brought 15 prisoners to Fort Smith. Reeves spent 30 years in the perilous job of a deputy U.S. marshal in Oklahoma's Indian Territory. 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. The going rate was more than $1,000 for bounties. Reeves, a deputy U.S. marshal, was one of many black law officers, sheriffs, deputies, and judges who helped keep law and order alive in the "Wild West.". Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. He hunted his son down and clapped him in irons. His likeness has appeared in at least seven television series, four films, a play, two board games, and at least six books. The owner allowed Bass to use guns to hunt and learned that he was a crack shot. Tontos fictionalized story was far from the only racist part of the adaptation of the Lone Rangers life. The legend of Bass Reeves will only continue to grow as more discover his story. Reeves was a deputy U.S . At his trial before Judge Parker, Reeves was represented by former United States Attorney W. H. H. Clayton, who had been his colleague and friend. By all accounts, he drew quickly and never missed his mark when the time came. Muskogee was the principal town in the Indian Territory and had a large African American population with many federal offices in town. Interest was, With a budget of $250 million, this summers Disney movie, The Lone Ranger, will be. He does not know what fear is. This claim was backed up with hard evidence, as well soon discover. Several bad men have gone to their long home for refusing to halt when commanded to by Bass.. It was pretty tame compared to his old beat, but at 68, that was probably for the best. But what made him one of the best in the West was his smarts. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Being ambidextrous he always wore two Colt pistols and he rarely missed his mark. Marshals Museum. It should be no surprise, then, that Parker had a soft spot for Reeves. He went back to work as one of the deputies of the Western District of Arkansas at Fort Smith under Judge Isaac C. Parker. Thanks for your time! Muskogee was unique with two Black business districts that were thoroughly integrated and catered to the diverse population in the frontier town. Because Reeves spent his early years in enslavement, even as an adult man, he couldnt read. discoveries. As the first Black deputy west of the Mississippi River, Reeves arrested more than . He served for two years, in that time there were no crimes on his beat. Is it a sequel to a prequel? As Sheridan recently told Deadline, they wanted to hold a meeting to discuss how certain characters may have survived their deaths, so Sheridan worked up another peek into the window instead. Bass occasionally would serve as a guide into the Indian Territory for Deputy U.S. In 1848, George was elected tax collector, and in 1850, he was elected sheriff of Grayson County. Classic Gunfights: A Deadly Duel at 500 Yards. He also rode the Oklahoma range on a massive white stallion. Earlier, Upham had commanded the Arkansas State Militia and had destroyed the Ku Klux Klan in that state. He appointed [8] James Fagan as U.S. So harsh, in fact, that he was given the nickname The Hanging Judge. The reason for this nickname isnt difficult to riddle out. Because it was Bass's son the other deputies were reluctant to take the warrant. Marshal badge and bullets that one belonged to U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves. At times, he dressed himself as a local farmer. All were two years in age apart. During that era, he made one of his top arrests with the capture of the Seminole Indian fugitive known as Greenleaf in April 1890. He was given the name of his owner, William Reeves. Many claim this infamous lawmans exploits were the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. He is believed to be buried in a small cemetery on Fern Mountain Road west of town. As noted by the U.S. Park Service in a history of Bass Reeves, Judge Parker believed that black men would make great officers of the law in the Indian Territory, due to shared mistrust that existed between Indians and blacks toward the white man. That entry also notes that racial tensions were particularly high at the time and caused whites to feel anger toward a black man who had the power to arrest them.. [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. Despite his brutal methods, Reeves was an honorable man to his core. 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. He tracked two outlaws to their mothers house in the Red River Valley. Other reasons, Kennedy adds, included Reeves age. In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. For the next 11 years, Bennie Reeves sat in Fort Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. Have you taken a DNA test? [2] He served for two years before he became ill and had to retire. Greenleaf terrorized the area for years, but to Reeves, he was just another bounty. [3], Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. 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. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Research shows that he could shoot accurately with his Winchester rifle up to 500 yards or a quarter of mile, and he had several gunfights during which he shot felons at that distance. Bass Reeves was indeed the Invincible Marshal. 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. After it became one of the most popular shows on television, Paramount greenlit a prequel miniseries titled 1883. There is a monument dedicated to him. The Court Notes of the July 31, 1885, Fort Smith Weekly Elevator for example states Deputy Bass Reeves came in same evening with eleven prisoners, as follows: Thomas Post, one Walaska, and Wm. Apparently, Christie didnt make things easy, and he escaped. [1] He was one of the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. The marshal tracked him down and made him an offerand so began a whirlwind tale of adventure, courage, and cold-blooded lawmaking. From judges to supervising marshals, nobody took issue with Reevesexcept, of course, for outlaws. .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. Reeves was over six feet tall and sported a thick black handlebar mustache. Bass went with George into the war, serving as his body servant. Bass Reeves was born a slave in the 1830's American South. After serving as a valiant marshals deputy, Reeves worked as a policeman in Muskogee for two years, 1907-1909. Marshal Bass Reeves. 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. He only had one man with him, but Bass Reeves didnt need much help. Over the course of his career, which began when he was in his fifties, mind you, Reeves brought in a tremendous 3,000 felons. Reeves disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. 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. He and his family were owned by William Steele Reeves, who was originally from Hickman County, Tennessee. When the amendment passed, he moved to Arkansas and became a small-time farmer. Reeves' health began to fail, and he died of Bright's disease (nephritis) in 1910. At Muskogee, Reeves worked under Leo E. Bennett, the former Indian agent for the Five Civilized Tribes, headquartered at the same town. The public won't want to miss the unveiling of these pieces on Saturday," said Jessica Hougen, curator of collections and exhibits for the U.S. He often used aliases and disguises, a cowboy, farmer, gunslinger -- even a outlaw. The deputies covered an area of 75,000 square miles. In a happy subplot to an often harrowing tale, the two stayed together for the rest of their lives. The new deputy must have been an unmistakable figure in the Old West. [5] He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. 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