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. Talk about motherly love! During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. Apparently, Christie didnt make things easy, and he escaped. There must be something in the family genes, because a number of Reeves descendants have left serious marks of their own. Many U.S. At this time Bass was married to his wife, Jennie, who was also from Texas, and they had four children. One day, a posse cook caught a bullet from Reeves trusty Colt while the lawman was cleaning it. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Judge Parker ruled on the situation and acquitted Reeves of all charges. He died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910. There is no indication of race on federal records. He once said he knew the Indian Territory like a cook knows her kitchen. One account recalls how Bass Reeves and George Reeves had an altercation over a card game. When the amendment passed, he moved to Arkansas and became a small-time farmer. Reeves and Webb had a gunfight in June 1884 near Bywaters Store, which was a stagecoach stop. 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. Bass set out for the Indian Territory and was taken in by Seminole and Creek Indians. The story of the Lone Ranger is far more legend than reality. [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. On one occasion, Reeves went deep undercover. Young Bennie quickly became a suspect, and soon enough, he was charged with murder. Fortunately, he had another useful skill. 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. When the men fell asleep, he burst into their room and threw them each in handcuffs. Deadline reported that the crew is officially filming in Texas, so it may be a while before we see the legendary lawman on our screens. Greenleaf terrorized the area for years, but to Reeves, he was just another bounty. [1] He was one of the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. Bass won many turkey shoots for his master, which in Texas was prestigious for George. Bass Reeves is a part of US Black history. 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. The talented marksman and guide quickly started making a name for himself. Anything that could get him closer to his quarry. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. 14 were shot in self-defense. Selma 's David Oyelowo will. His son likely wasnt happy with his decision. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed 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. However, Bass Reeves certainly liked to tell a tall tale, and his descendants have since said that these claims were false. They sheltered him from lawmen who sought to return him to slavery. Joined by an ex Union Sharpshooter, they are in a race against time as they track Jack Donner and his vicious gang of killers to the oil-rich Texas town of Corsicana. 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. Marshal Bass Reeves. He tried to apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the Billy Washington Ranch in the Chickasaw Nation. In 1848, George was elected tax collector, and in 1850, he was elected sheriff of Grayson County. This chronic kidney affliction managed to do what no man in the West was able to do and forced Reeves to stop working. Wasnt Bass Reeves a real guy? [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. His expertise in local languages and culture made him perfectly suited to the job. The only significant remains of the second fort [built in 1839] are the old stone Commissary Building and Judge Parker's Courtroom, which has been restored. Theres only one catch: Bass Reeves is not an original character. . Marshals Museum. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. Reeves had a reputation as an expert in Indigenous languages with an intimate knowledge of the land. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. Spears is now leading an effort to erect a bronze statue of Judge Parker downtown. He was not the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. The U.S. During that era, he made one of his top arrests with the capture of the Seminole Indian fugitive known as Greenleaf in April 1890. [2][5] He is said to have shot and killed fourteen outlaws to defend his own life. Despite his brutal methods, Reeves was an honorable man to his core. 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. The marshal tracked him down and made him an offerand so began a whirlwind tale of adventure, courage, and cold-blooded lawmaking. The cook didnt survive and Reeves went on trial for murder. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee also has several artifacts from Reeves career as a lawman. Being ambidextrous he always wore two Colt pistols and he rarely missed his mark. Adams served as Reeves posseman, and they were involved in numerous police actions together in and around Muskogee. The St. Louis Globe Democrat in February 1884 reported Reeves bringing in 12 prisoners to Fort Smith. The question, however, opens up an opportunity to talk about one of the best stories around: Born into slavery in Crawford County; escaped servitude during the Civil War; possibly fought for the Union with the Keetoowah Cherokees; survived dozens of gunfights riding for Judge Isaac C. Parker as one of the first black U.S. deputy marshals west of the Mississippi; acquitted of murder for the death of his cook; arrested his son, Benjamin, for shooting his wife, Castella, in a jealous rage. 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. 1.2K views, 17 likes, 3 loves, 29 comments, 16 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from U.S. 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. Born a slave in Arkansas, Reeves grew up in Grayson county, Texas, following the relocation of his owner, William S. Reeves. The Lone Ranger was an escaped slave named Bass Reeves. [2] Once he had to arrest his own son for murder. 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. Interest was, With a budget of $250 million, this summers Disney movie, The Lone Ranger, will be. If anyone has a chance to come to crawford county, come do it! Later, he was killed by a large federal posse in 1892, never to prove his innocence. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Though there were over 200 deputies to choose from in Indian Territory, marshals, judges, and district courts constantly turned to Bass Reeves because they knew that he would deliver results. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. In 1872 the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas (which included 74,000 miles of Indian territory) established quarters in the former barracks building of Fort Smith. Law and order in the Wild West was not a pretty thing. Despite never drawing first, Reeves ended up in a lot of shootouts. Topping, James H. Mershon and Jacob T. Ayers. Ryan Reaves, a professional hockey player from Winnipeg, is Basss great-great-great-grandson. Greenleaf had been on the run for 18 years and had murdered three white men and four Indians and had never been arrested. Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his exceptional record. Until then, theres always plenty of Sheridans Paramount shows, such as Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, to feast your eyes on. These are just a few of the incredible stories of a man who hunted down men nobody else could capture. Marshals Bill Tilghman (1854-1924), Chris Madsen (1851-1944), and Heck Thomas (1850-1912). Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. 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. 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 appointed [8] James Fagan as U.S. The men with a $5,000 bounty on their heads woke up in handcuffs. He was also a black dude. Bass Reeves (2010 Video), Ponderous Productions, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Comedic Facts About Red Skelton, The Kookiest Clown Around, Glamorous Facts About The Countess Of Castiglione, The First Model, Sensational Facts About Louella Parsons, The Queen Of Hollywood Gossip, Extravagant Facts About Mohammad Reza, The Doomed Shah. Reeves worked hard. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. [6] Reeves served in that district until 1893, when he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas. 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. Research shows that Reeves stayed in Fort Smith until 1893. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. The U.S. [5], Reeves was married twice and had eleven children. Reeves eventually tracked Dozier down to a hideout in Cherokee territory. Reeves was one tough lawman, but apparently, his boss was even tougher. [8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Reeves). I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Reeves was in a dangerous profession and, unsurprisingly, had a lot of close calls. As early as 1867 there was a posse out of Van Buren, Arkansas, sent to investigate a stagecoach robbery at Atoka, Choctaw Nation, that was led by a deputy U.S. marshal named Negro Smith. (Fort Smith National Historic Site. He only had one man with him, but Bass Reeves didnt need much help. After the war, Bass Reeves settled down outside Van Buren, Arkansas, and maintained a horse ranch and small farm. We want our readers to trust us. Legend has it that Reeves ended up getting into a serious confrontation with his master over a card game in 1861. The U.S. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. Marshals Museums board of directors, said Burton told Reeves story at a Fort Smith National Historic Site Descendants Day event in the early 2000s and helped Reeves receive the notoriety for his bravery and incredible career as a lawman. Reeves died in Muskogee on January 12, 1910, after a short illness. At times, he dressed himself as a local farmer. [12] Ryan Reaves's grandfather changed the family name from Reeves to Reaves. Unsurprisingly, Reeves took the task without complaint. In this capacity, his familiarity with the land served him well. [5], He was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. Instead, he always tried to take everyone in alive. But eventually, it came time for Bass Reeves to set out on his own. From 1920-1970, Kennedy explained, the name Bass Reeves, as well as those of Grant Foreman and Robert Fortune were forgotten outside the circle of family and local history. Whatever the precise details of his flight, certain facts are crystal clear: Between 1861 and 1862, as the country was in the throes of the Civil War (take a wild guess as to which side Colonel George Reeves was on), Reeves escaped from his enslavement and became a free man of his own accord. A crack shot, he won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him first without suffering a single wound. [9]Bass Reeves was the first African American Deputy to be appointed west of the Mississippi River. 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. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. 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