bass reeves living descendants
There was a fine line between lawmen and outlaws in the Old West, and sometimes, men crossed it. One of the most infamous men in Indian Territory went by the name Greenleaf. William Steele Reeves, a prominent citizen and politician, enslaved his family. Adams, Jake Island, Andy Alton and one Smith, larceny.. The Legend of Bass Reeves by author Gary Paulsen is a Western written for young readers. Theres only one catch: Bass Reeves is not an original character. The man overseeing the case was Judge Isaac Parker, who was technically Reeves boss. Reeves deputization made history. Earlier, Upham had commanded the Arkansas State Militia and had destroyed the Ku Klux Klan in that state. Evidently, she felt duped and betrayed by the heavily armed deputy. That year he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas, for a short while. Before Reeves could respond, the gunman shot his belt in half. In May 1902, Reeves and Adams went to the town of Braggs, Cherokee Nation, to quell racial strife. Bass Reeves was one of the greatest peace officers in the history of the American western frontier. [5] He recruited him as one of his deputies and Reeves was the first African-American deputy west of the Mississippi River. He served for two years, in that time there were no crimes on his beat. 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. Bass won many turkey shoots for his master, which in Texas was prestigious for George. However, the ranger never drew his weapon first. After 1900, Muskogee had city police, with two deputy U.S. marshals stationed there, Bass Reeves and a white man David Adams. Reeves was one of those men. He still always got his manand when they asked him to produce his warrants, he always pulled out the right one. prisoners. Marshals. He was 62 tall and extraordinarily strong. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. [5] He was an uncle of Paul L. Brady, the first African-American appointed a Federal Administrative Law Judge (in 1972). [5] Reeves had to arrest his own son for murder;[2] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his own wife. Bass set out for the Indian Territory and was taken in by Seminole and Creek Indians. All face the same hardships and dangers.. Reeves was one tough lawman, but apparently, his boss was even tougher. Reeves is featured in the opening scene of HBO's award-winning series, Watchmen. In 1909, the tough lawman finally came across an enemy that he couldnt best: Brights Disease. [5], He was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. Many claim this infamous lawman's exploits were the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. 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 During his time as a Deputy U.S. It sat on his desk for two days while he decided what to do. Greenleaf had been on the run for 18 years and had murdered three white men and four Indians and had never been arrested. He retired at 70 years old and lived out his remaining time in some much-needed peace. Bass Reeves was born in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838. This page has been accessed 17,324 times. He was an excellent shooter, but he took this talent to the next level: The lawman was completely ambidextrous. Information from: Southwest Times Record, http://www.swtimes.com/, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. After a citizens petition and an exemplary prison record, his son was pardoned and was never in trouble with the law again. When the amendment passed, he moved to Arkansas and became a small-time farmer. Reeves was arrested and lodged in the Fort Smith federal jail until he could make bond in June of that year. He appointed [8] James Fagan as U.S. Bass severely beat George, and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived among the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. 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?. Specifically fort smith where judge parkers court house is located. Apparently, Christie didnt make things easy, and he escaped. Reeves earned his reputation. In 1893, Bass Reeves was transferred to the Eastern District federal court at Paris, Texas. His estate came to less than $500. Research shows that Reeves stayed in Fort Smith until 1893. Reeves and his family were enslaved by Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. 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. Bass Reeves made it impossible for anyone to overlook him as he embarked on a three-decade stint as a deputy lawman under one of the most cutthroat judges in the West. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Clayton, formerly the U.S. Attorney in Judge Parkers court, and William M. Cravens. It focuses on the true story of a little-known marshal who patrolled the old Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. He was never KNOWN to make a mistake. Dozier shot first, firing at them from a stand of trees. [a] During his long career, he had on his record more than 3,000 arrests of dangerous fugitives, and shot and killed 14 of them in self-defense. While living with the Indians, Bass learned to speak and understand the different Indian languages. . [2][5] He is said to have shot and killed fourteen outlaws to defend his own life. 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. As usual, Reeves confronted Story directly. The going rate was more than $1,000 for bounties. In 1871, the federal court and jail were moved to nearby Fort Smith. Art T. Burton, a retired college history professor, has written four critically acclaimed history books on the American Western frontier. The series will star David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves, a real-life former slave who became the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi in the 1870s. 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. He beat the man BACK AND depending on what you read, either killed him or almost killed him. Most people know that. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The round trip would be approximately 400 miles and would take one or two months, depending on high water in the rivers and creeks. Thanks for your time! [2] He served for two years before he became ill and retired. U.S. Arkansas native Bass Reeves was one of the first black lawmen west of the Mississippi River. Two weeks later he returned to Muskogee with his son and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. Ironically, Reeves was brought up on first-degree murder charges, not manslaughter or criminal negligence, after a new U.S. marshal was hired, the first former Confederate officer Reeves would work for. He was barred from competitive turkey shoots, although he always claimed to be only fair with a rifle. He was so good, in fact, that he was regularly banned from participating in competitive turkey shoots, a popular pastime in the West. A little boy sits transfixed in a movie theater as Reeves brings a crooked white sheriff to justice. Once, he walked 28 miles dressed as a beggar and fooled two men and their mother into letting him stay the night. 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. From judges to supervising marshals, nobody took issue with Reevesexcept, of course, for outlaws. The Northern District was made up of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations. Sadly, Reeves beloved wife, Nellie Jennie, passed in Fort Smith in 1896. Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his exceptional record. Bass Reeves served as a valet for his masters son during THE CIVIL WAR. Topping, James H. Mershon and Jacob T. Ayers. Bennie was jealous, angry, and violent. The talented marksman and guide quickly started making a name for himself. [3], As a freedman, Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Bass Reeves: Lawman, gunslinger, trail-blazer. They would have 11 children together. .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. Because Reeves spent his early years in enslavement, even as an adult man, he couldnt read. In January 2007, the U.S. Judge Parker ruled on the situation and acquitted Reeves of all charges. by Art T. Burton | Jan 25, 2021 | Features & Gunfights, This is the best known photograph of Deputy U.S. Leave a message for others who see this profile. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. 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. [5], Reeves was himself once charged with murdering a posse cook. 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. It is unclear how, and exactly when, Bass Reeves escaped, but at some point during the Civil War, he gained his freedom. The tough man was definitely no stranger to loss in his life, but this was different. Marshal Bass Reeves, possibly the greatest lawman of the Old West. All Photos Courtesy Art T. Burton Unless Otherwise Noted . 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. Born a slave in Arkansas, Reeves grew up in Grayson county, Texas, following the relocation of his owner, William S. Reeves. This chronic kidney affliction managed to do what no man in the West was able to do and forced Reeves to stop working. An article suggests that Bass Reeves may have been the inspiration for the "Lone Ranger" --. Marshal west of the Mississippi river, who served in the Oklahoma and Arkansas territory in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. Marshal badge and bullets that one belonged to U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves. [8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Reeves). Reeves's former position as a U.S. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Though it won't 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. 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. Please add Bass to the American Heroes category. His likeness has appeared in at least seven television series, four films, a play, two board games, and at least six books. Marshals Museum. Just saw the movie. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. 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. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. [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. 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. Reeves never learned to read, so he memorized his arrest warrants. 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 he retired in 1907, Reeves claimed to have arrested over 3,000 felons. Portrayal in Film: Timeless (TV Series) S1E14 2017. He caught over 3000 criminals in his career. There is no indication of race on federal records. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. He and his family were owned by William Steele Reeves, who was originally from Hickman County, Tennessee. A fitting end to a horrible man, George Reeves contracted rabies and passed in 1882. Many lawmen had tried to apprehend the outlaw, but none were successful until it came to Reeves. 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. Reeves had a beat in downtown Muskogee, during . The deputies covered an area of 75,000 square miles. 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 Lone Ranger was very real, but he was not the white man seen on movies and TV. If you didnt think the .css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}Yellowstone extended universe of shows could get any more confusing, well, youd lose that bet today. Evidently, she felt duped and betrayed by the [ 5 ] is! 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