Before going on a pursuit, he would have someone read him the warrants so he could memorize which was which. Actor and comedian Deon Cole portrays Wiley Escoe, the gold-toothed mayor of Redwood. Parker hired U.S. His wife, Nellie Jennie Reeves, tries to persuade Bass not to leave for his own safety,. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. There was a problem getting your location. In honor of Black History month, I wanted to introduce one of the greatest lawmen in US history and the inspiration for the Lone Ranger television series and movies. If the name Bass Reeves sounds familiar to you, there are a few reasons. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. However, dodging bullets was by no means his only skill. We'll send you a couple of emails per month, filled with fascinating history facts that you can share with your friends. On July 1, 1896, the gang was hanged. Failed to report flower. Below is an article about Reeves from Matt Helm first published in blackpast.org. Though the warrant had been lying on Bennetts desk for two days, the other deputies were reluctant to take it and though Reeves was shaken, he demanded to accept the responsibility for finding his son. years before being tracked down and killed after refusing to surrender. Bass Reeves . His great-uncle, Paul L. Brady, was the first black person to be appointed as a federal administrative law judge in 1972. . Reeves was recruited because he knew the tribal languages and country well, and as a black he did not suffer from the reputation for abuse produced by the activities of the White criminal element among the Indians. The multitalented LaKeith Stanfield plays the infamous Cherokee Bill in the film. became a policeman for the City of Muskogee. Also starring ESSENCE digital cover star Zazie Beetz, Edi Gathegi, RJ Cyler, Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo, Daniel Deadwyler and Deon Cole, The Harder They Fall premieres on Netflix on November 3. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. and lawman. Although details are unclear, it is believed that during an argument over game of cards, Bass struck George. Harriet Reeves 1868 - Unknown. At this time he resided on South 2nd Street and worked as a manager at Meltons Caf. Mary retired in 1904 and died 11 years later at the age of 82. Killing some 14 men during his service, Reeves 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.. Whatever the case, Reeves soon took refuge with the Creek and Seminole Indians in what is now Oklahoma. Marshal Bass Reeves, had arrested him. She passed away on 19 March 1896. Possibly based on his exceptional record, Reeves is acquitted. After reading about Bass Reeves, take a look at 9 iconic Black soldiers who risked it all to fight for America. Pickettborn Willie M. Pickett in 1870was a cowboy, performer and appeared in early films such as. During this time, Reeves health diminishes, forcing him out of the Muskogee police force. A 25 foot bronze statue of Reeves is unveiled at Pendergraft Park in Fort Smith, Arkansas. and his owner had an altercation over a card game. Bass Reeves, 1838 - 1910. The rest of the gang disbanded and were never heard from again. marksman, Reeves was an imposing law enforcement officer at six foot two. When the Civil War broke out, William Reeves' son George was made a colonel in the Confederate army and took Bass to war with him. Note: This article was edited and compiled from the following sources: https://www.greatblackheroes.com/government/bass-reeves/, https://allthatsinteresting.com/bass-reeves, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/. A year later, he married Nellie Jennie from Texas and immediately began to have a family. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. When William S. Reeves died, his son George made Bass Reeves his personal companion and servant. It is most likely that day Ben Reeves realized he would never see his father again. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Another outlaw was Tom Story, expert horse thief and murderer, who sold stolen horses south of the Red River from 1884 to 1889, and who lost his life at the Delaware Bend crossing in an attempt to beat Reeves to the draw. Dependability and devotion to duty were the benchmarks of Reeves's service to the government. Indian Territory was where the Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, and Chickasaw tribes who were forcibly removed from their homes were resettled following the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The 2010 straight-to-video movie Bass Reeves is a fictionalized account of the lawman's life. 1901 - Reeves's Arrests Make the Press . and taking on other aliases to assist his apprehension of criminals. Born Mary Fields in about 1832, Black Mary, as she was sometimes referred to, was a slave at birth. [1] Inmate File of Ben Reeves, image 39 (NAID 7861497), Inmate Case Files, 7/3/1895-11/5/1957; Record Group 129: Records of the Bureau of Prisons, 1870-2009; National Archives at Kansas City, [2] Index to the Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory, 3/4/1907, image 579 (NAID 300320), Final Rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes, 18991914; Record Group 48: Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, 1826 2009, [3] Inmate Case File of Ben Reeves, image 1-4 (NAID 7861497); Inmate Case Files, 7/3/1895-11/5/1957; RG 129, [5] Oklahoma. The Lone Ranger, the iconic character who was virtually synonymous with the myth of the American West, was played by a white man, even though his character may have possibly been inspired by Reeves. George Reeves joins the confederate army. His children were named Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice. (However, others say Reeves simply heard that slaves were being freed and decided to run in order to free himself.). Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Here, he also honed his firearm skills, becoming very quick and accurate with a pistol and rifle. In 1895, the gang robbed, raped, and murdered; eventually being captured in August of that year. But according to biographer Art T. Burton, Bass Reeves is the closest real person to resemble the fictional Lone Ranger on the American western frontier of the nineteenth century.. Although Bass Reeves accomplishments as a lawman greatly overshadow those of many of his more famous white contemporaries, the legend of Bass Reeves was, for the most part, lost to history. State and local authorities replace federal marshals. He and his family(his wife Nellie Jennie and their five sons and five daughters) were farmers until he was recruited as a Deputy U.S. Marshall for the Western District of Arkansas in 1875. is based on Bass Reeves. The film tells the story of Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), an outlaw hell bent on avenging the death of his parents, who were murdered in cold blood by Rufus Buck (Idris Elba). Oklahoma. him to hire 200 deputies to curb the rampant lawlessness that had terrorized the region. The Ft. Leavenworth Warden himself wrote to the Honorable Leo Bennett, U.S. Marshall for the Indian Territory, Western District, of Muskogee, OK on April 24, 1909, requesting permission to appoint Reeves as a trustee. Parents. After his first wife's death, Reeves married Winnie Sumter of Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1900 and started a second family. . He killed fourteen men in the performance of his duty while assigned to the federal district courts at Paris and Sherman, Texas, during his thirty-two-year career as deputy. Ben Bennie Reeves was born around 1882 to Bass Reeves and Nellie Jennie in Texas. Bass Reeves, Jr 1887-1901 *Added July 12, 2017* While Jane or Jennie Reeves was reportedly born in 1850 in the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Census, the deponent (a family member) of her burial record stated that she was 56 years old at the time of her death. So he decided to leave Indian Territory to farm his own land near Van Buren, Arkansas. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Marshal service as a federal peace officer for the territory. He would appear to felons as a cowboy, farmer, or even as a fellow outlaw. It's an interesting move and one that I think is very positive. It includes the descendants of these slaves. -1863 The Emancipation Proclamation is issued by President Abraham Lincoln; Bass Reeves, still living in confederate territory, is now legally a free man and no longer must live as a fugitive. In 2011, the bridge that connects Muskogee and Fort Gibson in Oklanahoma was named the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge. By several accounts, Reeves served as a guide for U.S. marshals going into the Indian Territory. However, it was his refusal to make exceptions that was extraordinary. Then, learn about the Buffalo Soldiers, the first all-Black peacetime regiments in U.S. history. He was always acquitted of the deaths of his prisoners. A beloved community figure, his funeral is attended by hundreds. Understanding that the penalty for a slave to strike his master was death, Bass fled to Indian Territory and lived as a fugitive among the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole peoples. Reeves, though reluctant to take on the difficult task, did the job when no other deputy dared to. . Bass Reeves was born during the Antebellum Era, a turbulent time period before the American Civil War. He learned their languages and customs, and sharpened his skills as an ambidextrous marksman. Bass Reeves was credited with arresting more than 3,000 felons. There he associated with Native Americans from the Creek and Seminole tribes learning their language and customs. Reeves used the fact that hed never learned how to read or write to his advantage in an inventive and effective way. hbspt.enqueueForm({ He quickly gained a reputation as a tough and fearless lawman who managed to bring in outlaws thought to be invincible. He shot and killed 14 criminals in self-defense. Reevess gun accidentally discharges while he is cleaning it at a posse encampment. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Territory,Journal of Negro History 56 (April 1971); Nudie E. Williams, Bass Reeves, Negro History Bulletin 42 (April-May-June 1979); Art T. Burton Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Ben grew into a tall, lean man with slate blue eyes. P640, [6] Inmate File of Ben Reeves, image 7 (NAID 7861497); Inmate Case Files, 7/3/1895-11/5/1957; RG 129, [7] Registration Card for Bennie Bass Reeves; World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Freeman said, This is a Black man in Americas legendary Western history who has been totally overlooked. The state of Oklahoma at the time was two different territories: Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. Three men ambush and corner him. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? The legendary actor and director Morgan Freeman has also expressed interest in working on a project focused on the deputy. And many people whom he arrested were sent to the House of Corrections in Detroit, which was the same city where The Lone Ranger was first introduced via radio in 1933. . Born into slavery in Virginia, James Beckwourth was freed by his white father and apprenticed as blacksmith in his early years. These locations are repeated in Bass, Jane and Bass' parents alleged birth places. In addition to farming and ranching, Reeves occasionally worked as a scout and guide for U.S. Deputy Marshals entering "Indian Territory" on business of the Van Buren Federal Court. When he asked her about an alleged infidelity, she replied that it was true. One account recalls how Bass Reeves Reeves was also skilled at disguising himself Bass Reeves was credited with arresting. In 1882, Reeves arrested Belle Starr for horse theft. Bass Reeves, is the first African-American to be deputized by the U.S. Bass Reevess legendary career as a U.S. marshal ended in 1907 when the new state He married Nellie IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Marshal service. included the Indian Territory. Bass Reeves grew up illiterate and remained illiterate for his entire life. Exploring records relating to African Americans with the Say It Loud! https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/reeves-bass. In 1907, law enforcement was assumed by state agencies and Reeves duties as a deputy marshal came to an end. Bill was said to have killed up to eight men before being hanged in 1896. Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many desperadoes of the territory. His wife, Nellie Jennie Reeves, tries to persuade Bass not to leave for his own safety, but Bass argues that it's the best job he can get to keep a roof over his family's head. Listen above to the History Uncovered podcast, episode 23: Bass Reeves, also available on Apple and Spotify. He married Nellie Jennie (or Jinney), a Texas native, in 1864, and they raised a family of ten, five boys and five girls. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. A century after Reevess death, a nonfiction biography of Reeves for children, "Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy US Marshal, wins the Coretta Scott King Book Award. Brought to trial before Judge Parker, he testified that he shot the cook by accident while cleaning his gun, and was acquitted. . Learn more about managing a memorial . In a statement he gave in February of 1903, he said, By constant worry over her actions and the breaking up of my home, and receiving such an answer I lost all control and shot her.[1] It was in this statement that he confirmed that his father, the famous frontier Deputy U.S. and Seminoles. The Inmate Case File of Ben Reeves (NAID 7861497), contains a wealth of information about his characteristics, correspondence, and his conduct while incarcerated. In 1875, Hanging Judge Isaac C. Parker was made the federal judge of Indian Territory. (. When the outlaws were momentarily distracted by the piece of paper they were handed, Reeves drew his gun and turned the situation around. Freed by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and no longer a fugitive, Reeves left Indian Territory and bought land near Van Buren, Arkansas, where he became a successful farmer and rancher. This would have made her birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves' age. After Buck was broken out of prison by his gang, The Harder They Fall follows the battle between the two groups led by Love and Buck, along with providing the audience an action-packed journey backed by an amazing soundtrack. He married Castella Brown on 20 November 1900, in Muskogee, Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States. Belle Starr (left), a notorious horse thief, was arrested by Bass Reeves in 1883. His record of 3,000 arrests dwarfs the arrest records of better known Old West lawmen such as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Wild Bill Hickok. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Because Dozier was unpredictable, he was also hard to catch and though many lawmen had tried to apprehend him, none were successful until it came to Reeves. On February 13, 1903 he was received at Ft. Leavenworth Penitentiary and became Inmate No. The story of Bass Reeves is sometimes cited as the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. If the man Reeves arrested could not read, then the deputy had to locate someone who could to make sure that he had the right person. Although other colorful characters made their way into our pop culture, Bass was the real badass of the Old West. Nats father passed away when he was about 15 years old. Nellie married Bass Reeves in 1864, at age 24 in Arkansas, United States. Please try again later. He married Nellie Jennie in 1864, and then Winnie Sumter after she died. of his wife, was tried and convicted but later given a full pardon. The Lone Ranger, Tonto, and his silver stallion from the 1950s TV series, 9 iconic Black soldiers who risked it all to fight for America. Bass Reeves (1838 - 1910) (shown) was a former slave who became a deputy U.S. Over his 32-year career as a Deputy U.S. "Bass Reeves" was originally a standalone limited series that was coming to Paramount+ with Taylor Sheridan, but it's morphed a bit. Reeves eventually procured a homestead in Van Buren, Arkansas, where he was the first black settler. He learned their customs and languages and became a proficient territorial scout. Mrs. Tolliver was defended by the Iowa Land & Trust who argued that Reeves had no right to the land in the first place as he is not a member of the Tribe. There is where Bass met his first wife, Nellie Jennie from Texas. The court stated, therefore we hold that Ben Reeves, because of the fact that he murdered his wife, Castella Brown, is not disqualified from inheriting from her under the Creek law of descent and distribution, and therefore the plaintiff in error DeGraggenreid took, by his conveyance set forth in this cause, his entire interest in the allotment of said Castella Brown.[5], On September 22, 1911, a Ft. Leavenworth clerk wrote to Mrs. Sallie Sanders of Ft. Smith, Arkansas on behalf of Ben Reeves. Always wearing a large hat, Reeves was usually a spiffy dresser, with his boots polished to a gleaming shine. Accessed on July 7, 2021. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Now, according to the MTV Entertainment Studios upfront presentation (via Deadline), it's going to be a new chapter in the "Yellowstone" prequel "1883." Bass sometimes served as a scout and guide for U.S. Deputy Marshals going into Indian Territory on business for the Van Buren Federal Court, which had jurisdiction over Indian Territory. He became a barber and on November 20, 1900, married Castella Brown. In 2013, he was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame. cemeteries found in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. After 32 years as a US deputy marshal, more than three thousand arrests -- and only fourteen fatalities in the line of duty -- Reeves takes on a new career opportunity in the Muskogee police force. Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. He died on January 12, 1910, and he was buried in the Union Agency Cemetery at Muskogee, Oklahoma, but the exact location of his grave is unknown. So much of history is lost on us today. and there is an ongoing debate as to whether or not the inspiration for the Lone Ranger Bass Reeves died on January 10, 1910 in Muskogee, By all accounts, Reeves was also a master of disguise. Winnie married Deputy U.S. Often they rode to such places as Fort Reno, Fort Sill and Anadarko, a round trip of more than 800 miles. Benny Reeves served 22 years at Leavenworth Prison. Supreme Court. It would be a good idea to occasionally highlight 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. William Reeves moves to Grayson County, Texas. A year later, he married Nellie Jennie of Texas. Every dollar helps. Arkansas secedes from the United States, joining forces with the Confederate south. Wikimedia CommonsBass Reeves was known for his exceptional shooting skills and his ability to dodge bullets. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Bill Pickett is portrayed by Edi Gathegi. Nudie E. Williams, Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Beetzs character in The Harder They Fall is about 30 years younger than the actual Stagecoach Mary would have been in the late 1800s. his church minister for selling illegal alcohol. Bass Reeves gained his freedom (the details of this are unclear), but he then lived among Indigenous tribes including the Cherokee, Creeks, and Seminoles, learning their language, and returning to Arkansas after the Thirteenth Amendment was passed in 1865. He then quickly disarmed a second and shot a third, only injuring him. He also tracked A bridge in Oklahoma has been named after him. Parker, in turn, appointed a U.S. . and arrested his own son after a two week manhunt. Reeves severely beat his owner At this time, the Freemen's Bureau Act of. The Muskogee Times Democrat reported that in the early days when the Indian country was overridden with outlaws, Reeves would herd into Fort Smith, often single handed, bands of men charged with crimes from bootlegging to murder. Since he was illiterate Reeves often memorized warrants that were read to him by the He earned the name Deadwood Dick in 1976 after winning $200 in a competition in the Dakota Territory that required contestants to rope, throw, tie bridles, and saddle a horse. According to the Chickasaw Enterprise newspaper, at this point in his service as deputy US marshal, Reeves had apprehended more than three thousand people for violating federal laws in Indian Territory. Reeves buys farmland near Van Buren, AR. Any chance I get to revisit historical moments of our country is important to me.. He married Nellie Jennie, built an eight-room house with his bare hands, and raised ten childrenfive girls and five boys. Oops, something didn't work. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. In 1889, after Reeves was assigned to Paris, Texas, he went after the Tom Story gang for their long-term horse theft operation. She enjoys the strange and unusual, and green tea. A year later, he married Nellie Jennie of Texas. Together with his wife, spend the next ten years farming and raising ten children (five sons and five daughters): Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice. Bass Reeves was born on the 16th of July 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas, and named after his grandfather Bass Washington. In the end, Reeves was acquitted. As such, he was authorized to arrest both black and white lawbreakers. Indian territory was attractive to lawbreakers because of its peculiar judiciary arrangement: The tribal courts had jurisdiction only over tribal members. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. He married Nellie Jennie, a Texan, and fathered ten children, five boys and five girls. After refusing to surrender, Reeves killed Dozier in an accompanying gunfight on December 20, 1878. and killed fourteen outlaws during his years as a marshal, garnering a reputation Leave a message for others who see this profile. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Bass married Winnie Jane FOREMAN Sumner on month day 1900, at age 62 at marriage place . https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147727516/jane-reeves. Life was good, but it was about to change for Bass Reeves. . To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Though the tales of Bass heroics are many and varied, the toughest manhunt for the lawman was that of hunting down his own son in 1902. The American Civil War begins when confederate soldiers open fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina and union soldiers surrender. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Leaving Fort Smith, often with a pocketful of warrants, Bass would return months later herding a number of outlaws charged with crimes ranging from bootlegging to murder. He worked there for two years before Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Contrary to what classic Westerns might lead us to believe, one in four American cowboys was actually African American. Reeves is almost killed while pursuing four men along the Seminole Whiskey Trail. The rest of the gang disbanded and were never heard from again. His son, George Reeves, keeps young Bass enslaved. Reeves is the first Black deputy US marshal to receive a commission west of the Mississippi river. Thanks for your help! His memoir. Her job was to protect the mail from thieves and deliver the mail, regardless of weather conditions. . Ben kept in close contact with his sisters and their stepmother, but his relationship with his father appears to have been strained. In 1909 his health failed, and he died on January 12, 1910, of Bright's disease. And in some ways, Reeves real life was even more incredible than the fictional character he potentially inspired. In the early afternoon of June 7, 1902, a young Ben Reeves paid a visit to his estranged wife, Castella Brown, at her cousins house not far from their home in Muskogee, OK. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. One of the high points of Reeves career was apprehending a notorious outlaw named Bob Dozier. The quicker of the two, Reeves shoots first, killing his quarry in self-defense. The son, wanted for the murder of his wife, was tried and convicted but later given a full pardon. Employee Affinity Group. The story of "1883" and why the Duttons settled exactly where they did had, for all intents and purposes, ended at a natural stopping place. He arrested over 3,000 criminals and was . . It also may have been an inspiration for the film Django Unchained. Reeves and his wife Nellie Jennie raised a family of ten children, five boys and five girls. The prison kept records of who sent letters and when, recording communication with his father and other relatives throughout his incarceration. 1866 - Bass Reeves settles down . Period: 1865 to 1875. Sally Reeves 1864 - Unknown. He had a settlement of 75,000 square miles in what is now Oklahoma and Arkansas and killed 14 outlaws as part of the over 3,000 he took in. He waited along the route Tom Story used, and surprised him with an arrest warrant. Like the many outlaws he had arrested, he was tried before Judge Isaac Parker. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below.
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