So harsh, in fact, that he was given the nickname The Hanging Judge. The reason for this nickname isnt difficult to riddle out. He tracked two outlaws to their mothers house in the Red River Valley. They were an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and there was only one way this was going to go down. It seems that Reeves talents were without end. When he retired in 1907, Reeves had on his record over 3,000 arrests of felons. 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. Marshal Bass Reeves was arguably the greatest lawman and gunfighter of the West, a man who served as a marshal for 32 years in the most dangerous district in the country, captured 3,000 felons, (once bringing in 17 men at one time), and shot 14 men in the line of duty, all without ever being shot himself. 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. 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 This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. Bass Reeves will be executive produced by Sheridan, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari.MTV Entertainment Studios, Sheridan's Bosque Ranch . Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. Marshal west of the Mississippi river, who served in the Oklahoma and Arkansas territory in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. Reeves lived in the protection of his new communities and learned their languages for the next several years. Marshals Museum. Unlike the other shows, it will not focus on a single ranch or family dynamic, but on the life of an extraordinary man who was a legend of his time. 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. 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One day, a posse cook caught a bullet from Reeves trusty Colt while the lawman was cleaning it. He was never KNOWN to make a mistake. In 1855, George was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Grayson County. Bass Reeves was indeed the Invincible Marshal. Reeves must not have slept. 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. Marshal Leo Bennett in Muskogee, Oklahoma, only to find[13] his own son had been charged with the murder of his wife. Most people also know that the portrayal of Tonto as the Lone Rangers sidekick is often stereotypical and racist. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. [2] Once he had to arrest his own son for murder. Thanks for your help! He just needed a way inso he came up with a devious plan. Bass Reeves served 35 years as a Deputy United States Marshal in that time he arrested 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 men, he always said that he never shot a man when it was not necessary for him to do so in the discharge of his duty to save his own life. After it became one of the most popular shows on television, Paramount greenlit a prequel miniseries titled 1883. Have you taken a DNA test? Were always looking for your input! Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed Deputy U.S. Reeves disguised himself as a tramp, with old clothes and a cane. He served his time in Ft. Leavenworth in Kansas before being released and living the rest of his life as a responsible and model citizen. At this point, with a downtown Fort Smith statue of Reeves erected in 2012, along with several True West Magazine stories and a 1992 induction in the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, it would be peculiar if someone asks Whos Bass Reeves?. Reeves is featured in the opening scene of HBO's award-winning series, Watchmen. In 1893, Bass Reeves was transferred to the Eastern District federal court at Paris, Texas. He was barred from competitive turkey shoots, although he always claimed to be only fair with a rifle. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. Marshals Service also started doing these events in 2012 in conjunction with the Cherokee Nation. At his trial before Judge Parker, Reeves claimed to have shot the man by mistake while cleaning his gun; he was represented by former United States Attorney W. H. H. Clayton, who was a colleague and friend. [1] Bass Reeves may have served Colonel George R. Reeves, the son of William Reeves, the owner of Bass Reeves when he was a slave. According to Art Burton, a well-respected historian, Bass Reeves is the inspiration for the Lone Ranger, a fictional Texas Ranger who has become one of the most recognizable cultural icons in American history. [11], His great-great-grandson is former National Football League and Canadian Football League player Willard Reaves, while his great-great-great-grandsons are National Hockey League player Ryan Reaves and CFL player Jordan Reaves. Its no wonder he had such a tough reputation among outlaws and lawmen alike. The known black deputy U.S. marshals, however, are listed as Rufus Cannon, Bill Colbert, Bynum Colbert, Cyrus Dennis, Wiley Escoe, Neely Factor, Robert Fortune, John Garrett, Edward D. Jefferson, Grant Johnson, John Joss, Robert Love, Zeke Miller, Crowder Nicks (Nix), Charles Pettit, Bass Reeves, Ed Robinson, Dick Roebuck, Isaac Rogers, Jim Ruth, Dick Shaver, Morgan Tucker, Lee Thompson, Eugene Walker and Henry Whitehead. [1] He was one of the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. After refusing to surrender, Reeves killed Dozier in a gunfight on December 20, 1878.In 1882 Bass Reeves arrested outlaw [12] Belle Starr for horse theft, but some say that Belle Starr turned herself in when she heard that Bass Reeves was looking for her. This court at that time had jurisdiction over most of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. . Though he had a hard reputation, Reeves was, by all accounts, a mild-mannered and polite man. Reeves. Reeves was also known to love racing his sorrell horse, and would go to extremes to serve writs. Marshal, he arrested 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 men. Obituaries ran in the white and Black newspapers of Muskogee and were republished across the nation. [3], Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. [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. Scandalous Facts About Hollywood Celebrities, Lawyers Reveal Their Most Jaw-Dropping Court Cases, Extravagant Facts About Josephine Baker, The Black Pearl of Paris, Couldnt Pay Me To Go Back: Absolutely Wild Stories Of High School Drama, Catherine The Great Was a Mighty EmpressUntil Her Brutal Downfall, These Mortifying Mistakes Make Us Want To Hit Undo. Well, as a deputy in Indian Territory, Bass Reeves rode his horse from Fort Smith to Fort Renoa distance of 800 mileson more than one occasion. Deputy U.S. Was Wyatt Earp Really a Deputy U.S. [8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Reeves). While working as a water boy and field hand with his family as a youngster, Bass would originate and sing songs about guns, rifles, knives, robberies and killings. Reeves worked hard. Son of NN Reeves and Pearlalee Reeves Well, the show was last announced as 1883: The Bass Reeves Story back in May 2022. A crack shot, he won 14 shoot-outs with men who all drew on him first without suffering a single wound. Reeves, it seems, was the most famous of them all. Over his long career as a lawman, the mustachioed slinger racked up a body count of 14 men. 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. Reeves earned his reputation. "Some say because Bass beat up George after a dispute in a card game. Barton quotes many sources in his book, and many times Reeves is credited with bringing in about a dozen prisoners or more at a time from the Indian Territory to the District Courthouse in Fort Smith. It looked like his luck was finally beginning to turnand more good fortune was on the horizon. The deputies covered an area of 75,000 square miles. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. 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.". After the war, George was reelected to the Texas State Legislature, and at his death on September 5, 1882, he was Speaker of the House of Representatives for the State of Texas. (Reference unknown). Before Reeves could respond, the gunman shot his belt in half. Fagan had heard about Reeves, who knew the Territory and could speak several Native languages. He also learned tracking and other skills from the different Indian tribes. His owners, the William S. Reeves family, moved to Grayson County, Texas, in 1846. He once said he knew the Indian Territory like a cook knows her kitchen. He and his family were owned by William Steele Reeves, who was originally from Hickman County, Tennessee. Reeves and his companion avoided the first flurry of bullets, and the sound of the laughter pinpointed Doziers location. Tom Wing, history professor with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, feels that Reeves was so well respected by local lawmen that he was offered a light duty job with the Muskogee Police Department. 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Dropped Its First Trailer, 'Outer Banks' Season 4 Is Already In the Works, 'The Last of Us' Ep. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. 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? In 1875, everything changed for Reeves. Reeves didn't just take it, though. He retired at 70 years old and lived out his remaining time in some much-needed peace. Good job on the profile!! During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. He was a real-life gunslinger and lawman who lived from 1838 to 1910, and he was said to have recorded over 3,000 arrests during his lifetime. 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. Saddle up, because this ones a bit of a doozyI'll explain Bass Reeves as best as I can. Over an 18 year stint, Greenleaf reputedly had seven bodies on his handsand he showed no sign of backing down. Spears is now leading an effort to erect a bronze statue of Judge Parker downtown. Bass Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many outlaws of the territory. Is it a sequel to a prequel? [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. Bennie was subsequently captured, tried, and convicted. Its entirely possible that the show's Yellowstone interconnectedness drops off by the time it arrivesand we find ourselves with a Bass Reeves series that's entirely separate from Yellowstone. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. [13], In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[43]. And he got his man as often as any of the deputies. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery. Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 18:56, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, "Bass Reeves, the Most Feared U.S. Deputy Marshal", "Judge Paul L. Brady Retires from Job Safety Commission", "Reaves putting Kane feud aside, joining him for 'much bigger cause', "Rangers winger Ryan Reaves discovers the history behind the family name", "Was the Original 'Lone Ranger' a Black Man? It was the last thing he ever did. Kennedy pointed to racist sentiment on the part of incoming state officials, as well as the Congressional delegation and the incoming U.S. marshal when Oklahoma became a state in 1907 as reasons Reeves lost his job with the Marshals Service. Picture this on horseback, with a leather saddle and stiff boots. All were two years in age apart. Of all the outlaws Reeves went after in his long career, only one ever escaped his iron grasp. But eventually, it came time for Bass Reeves to set out on his own. Reeves was a deputy U.S . Almost a year out from a planned opening of the new $60 million museum, it's the lawman's family tree the curator wants most. The owner allowed Bass to use guns to hunt and learned that he was a crack shot. Marshal, lives on. So what about Bass Reeves? It was pretty tame compared to his old beat, but at 68, that was probably for the best. [5] He was an uncle of Paul L. Brady, the first African-American appointed a Federal Administrative Law Judge (in 1972). 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. Eighty-two of the U.S. deputy marshals are buried at Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith. . In the late 1870s and early 1880s, most guards, turnkeys, cooks and bailiffs for the Fort Smith federal court were African Americans. [2][5] He killed 14 outlaws to defend his life. During the Civil War . I dont think of any of these as spinoffs, but rather as complete stories that have common roots, Sheridan told Deadline about 1883. His likeness has appeared in at least seven television series, four films, a play, two board games, and at least six books. Reeves deputization made history. From the shackles of slavery to the US Marshals Service, Reeves lived a life of conflict, excitement, and heartbreak. Reeves County in West Texas is named for him. To be fair, it was back when George Reeves still owned him, so he didnt have much of a choice. Reeves greatest gunfight was in 1884. Police departments and state agencies took over, meaning that marshals and deputies lost their authority. Apart from that, 1883 was largely its own show. Please add Bass to the American Heroes category. Apparently, the six-foot lawman was a talented actor and took on a variety of aliases and disguises as he prowled outlaw country. Born into slavery, the Arkansas native became a lauded, and legendary U.S. deputy marshal. Dave Kennedy, curator of collections and exhibits, said recently the museum is still in search of Bass Reevess descendants, the Southwest Times Record reported. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. 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. Not too many years before, he was the target of law enforcement officials himself. He died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910. For the next ten years, he lived a quiet life on his country farm. A hard-headed judge named Isaac Parker ordered a US Marshal to find 200 deputies in Indian Territory. After the war, Bass Reeves settled down outside Van Buren, Arkansas, and maintained a horse ranch and small farm. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. 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