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Who was Bass Reeves?
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How many criminals did Bass Reeves capture?
During his long career, he had on his record more than 3,000 arrests of dangerous criminals, and shot and killed 14 of them in self-defense.
When did Bass Reeves escape slavery?
In 1863, Bass Reeves was ultimately freed from his life as a slave and a fugitive by the Emancipation Proclamation. He left “Indian Territory” and bought land near Van Buren, Arkansas, which he used to successfully farm and ranch. He married Nellie Jennie, a woman from Texas, in 1864, and they had 10 children.
What happened to Bass Reeves during the Civil War?
As a young man Bass Reeves escaped north into the Indian Territory, and he became acquainted with the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole. It is believed he served as a soldier with the Union Indian Home Guard Regiments during the Civil War. After the war Reeves settled down in Van Buren, Arkansas, as a farmer.
Was Bass Reeves black?
His name was Bass Reeves — a former slave and one of the first black U.S. deputy marshals west of the Mississippi. He became legendary during the late 19th and early 20th centuries for his prowess at hunting down criminals in Indian Territory.
Who was the toughest sheriff in the Old West?
Deputy U.S. 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.
Was the real Lone Ranger a black man?
In reality, the real Lone Ranger was a formerly enslaved man, Bass Reeves, who became the first Black deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River.
Was Django based on Bass Reeves?
The wildly popular Django Unchained is the most talked about film of the last month, and aside from the controversy, it's popular because of how badass Django is. However, nobody knew about the real Django–a man named Bass Reeves–whom became a Deputy U.S. Marshal in 1875 at the age of 38.
Where is the statue of Bass Reeves?
Ross Pendergraft parkLarger than life bronze statue is dedicated to Deputy US Marshal Bass Reeves. Located in Ross Pendergraft park which is adjacent to the north end of park grounds.
Is the Lone Ranger a true story?
Did you know that the Lone Ranger was based on a real lawman? That man was U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves! Reeves was born a slave in 1838. When the Civil War broke out, Reeves' master enlisted and brought his slave with him.
Who was the real Tonto?
Jay SilverheelsJay Silverheels (born Harold Jay Smith; May 26, 1912 – March 5, 1980) was an Indigenous Canadian actor and athlete. He was well known for his role as Tonto, the Native American companion of the Lone Ranger in the American Western television series The Lone Ranger.
Why did the Lone Ranger wear a mask?
The Lone Ranger (formerly known as John Reid) is a one-time Texas Ranger, the sole survivor of a group of Rangers killed in ambush. He wears a mask to conceal his identity as he travels throughout the West fighting for law and order.
How many Black Texas Rangers are there?
seven BlackSwanson said there is still much progress to be made in terms of diversifying the force and reckoning with its complex history. Of the agency's 157 members, there are currently seven Black, 31 Hispanic and four women rangers, according to a statement from the agency.
The Real Black Cowboys That Inspired 'The Harder They Fall'
The Harder They Fall, a film arriving on Netflix on Nov. 3, starts with a message plainly stating that its “events are fictional.”Over 137 sprawling minutes, director and co-screenplay writer ...
Is Trudy Smith from The Harder They Fall based on a real person?
Is The Harder They Fall based on a true story? The Harder They Fall primarily focuses on fictional events, however, most if not all of the characters are based on real-life 19th-century cowboys.
Where was Bass Reeves located?
The jurisdiction of this territory fell to the United States court for Western Arkansas, located at Fort Smith, Arkansas.
How long did Bass Reeves work?
Bass Reeves worked a total of thirty–two years as a deputy U.S. marshal in the Indian Territory. Being a former slave, Reeves was illiterate. He would memorize his warrants and writs. In those thirty–two years it is said he never arrested the wrong person due to the fact he couldn't read.
Why was Reeves so famous?
He was known to work in disguise in order to get information and affect the arrest of fugitives he wanted to capture. Reeves was involved in numerous shootouts but was never wounded.
What was the most dangerous area for federal peace officers in the Old West?
In 1901, Reeves was interviewed by a Territorial newspaper, at that time he stated he had arrested over 3000 men and women who had broke federal laws in the Indian Territory. The Indian Territory, later to include the Oklahoma Territory, in 1890, was the most dangerous area for federal peace officers in the Old West.
Where is the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge?
This theory is disputed. In 2011, the US-62 Bridge, which spans the Arkansas River between Muskogee and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, was renamed the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge. In May 2012, a bronze statue of Reeves by Oklahoma sculptor Harold Holden was erected in Pendergraft Park in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
How did Reeves die?
Reeves' health began to fail further after retiring. He died of Bright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910.
What comic book is Reeves in?
Reeves appears in Un cow-boy dans le coton, an album in the Lucky Luke Belgian comic book series by Jul and Achdé.
What episode does Reeves appear in Justified?
Reeves is mentioned in season 3 episode 2 of the television series Justified as two US Marshals are discussing their all-time favorite historical US Marshals.
What episode is Reeves in Gunslingers?
Reeves is the subject of the season two Episode four of Gunslingers, "The real lone ranger".
Where was William Reeves born?
Early life. Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. He was named after his grandfather, Bass Washington. Reeves and his family were enslaved by Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. When Bass was eight (about 1846), William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony.
Who was the first black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River?
He recruited him as a deputy; Reeves was the first Black deputy to serve west of the Mississippi River. Reeves was assigned as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which had responsibility also for the Native reservation Territory. He served there until 1893.
Where is Bass Reeves statue?
A statue of U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves in Fort Smith, Arkansas. By Jeannie Nuss/AP Photo
How many outlaws did Bass Reeves bring in?
Over the 35 years that Bass Reeves served as a Deputy United States Marshal, he earned his place in history by being one of the most effective lawmen in Indian Territory, bringing in more than 3,000 outlaws and helping to tame the lawless territory.
What did Reeves do after he left Fort Smith?
Leaving Fort Smith, often with a pocketful of warrants, Reeves would return months later herding a number of outlaws charged with crimes ranging from bootlegging to murder. Paid in fees and rewards, he would make a handsome profit, before spending a little time with his family, and returning to the range once again.
What was the name of the outlaw that Reeves was convicted of?
One of the high points of Reeves’ career was apprehending a notorious outlaw named Bob Dozier. Dozier was known as a jack-of-all-trades when it came to committing crimes, as they covered a wide range from cattle and horse rustling, to holding up banks, stores, and stagecoaches; to murder and land swindles.
What did Fagan hear about Bass Reeves?
Fagan heard of Bass Reeves’ significant knowledge of the area, as well as his ability to speak several tribal languages, and soon recruited him as a U.S. Deputy. The deputies were tasked with “cleaning up” Indian Territory and on Judge Parker’s orders, “Bring them in alive — or dead!”.
Where did William Reeves move his family and slaves?
In about 1846, William Reeves moved his operations, family, and slaves to Grayson County, Texas.
When did Reeves' wife die?
In 1896, Reeves’ wife died in Fort Smith and the next year he was transferred to the Muskogee federal court in Indian Territory. In 1900 he married for a second time to a woman named Winnie Sumter.
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I received a email from a Muskogee County Deputy Sheriff about Bass Reeves burial site . They would like to locate his burial site and hopefully restore the grave. Bass Reeves was one of the first African American to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. During his time as a Deputy U.S.
1 Answer
That refers to where he was originally buried. Terry is wanting information regards wherever it was he was relocated.
Where is Bass Reeves' tombstone?
This article was taken from the Dallas Morning News Monday, March 2, 1998 Note: The Three Rivers Museum currently has Bass Reeves� tombstone on display. The location of his grave in Muskogee County is unknown.
Who is Bass Reeves?
Bass Reeves: American Legend. TEXAS-BORN Bass Reeves roamed the American West for more than three decades, chasing murderers, thieves and whiskey smugglers. He usually either brought his outlaw in or left him dead.
How many men did Reeves kill?
But Reeves wasn't hasty with his sidearm, Burton said. He always gave the crook a chance to turn himself in. Reeves had killed 14 men by 1907, all of whom had drawn first. Reeves' devotion to duty was legendary, historians say. He never rejected an assignment and even arrested his own son on a murder warrant.
How long did Reeves work for?
But he did his job for 32 years. He did an outstanding job and he has to be one of the greatest American folk heroes.". Burton, director of minority affairs at Columbia College of Chicago, also launched a petition that got Reeves into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1992.
When did Reeves become a lawman?
Reeves became a lawman in 1874 when Fort Smith, Arkansas, judge Isaac Parker commissioned about 200 deputy marshals to hunt down fugitives who had escaped into Indian Territory. At the time, deputy marshals were cowboy crusaders, the only lawmen authorized to nab violent fugitives in the Indian Nations.
When did George Reeves break his ties to Texas?
Reeves, although born in Texas, severed his ties with the state in the 1850s when an argument over a game of cards with his young master, George Reeves, turned violent.
Who is Reeves nephew?
He instantly became a fugitive, passing the next 10 years among the Five Civilized Tribes, his nephew, Paul L. Brady, said in a telephone interview from Atlanta. His time there also came in handy when Reeves began his law enforcement career.
What was Benjamin Bass Reeves' wife's name?
Flowers. Plant Trees. Benjamin Bass Reeves was usually called Bennie or Ben. He was working in a restaurant, when he married a Creek beauty named Castella Brown on Nov. 20, 1900 in Muskogee, I.T. Apparently, at the time, he killed his wife Castella for an alleged infidelity, he was a barber. for the railroad.
Who was Benjamin Bass Reeves?
Benjamin Bass Reeves. Benjamin Bass Reeves was usually called Bennie or Ben. He was working in a restaurant, when he married a Creek beauty named Castella Brown on Nov. 20, 1900 in Muskogee, I.T. Apparently, at the time, he killed his wife Castella for an alleged infidelity, he was a barber. for the railroad.
Why did Bennett give Bass the warrant?
Bass however, was adamant. He told Bennett that it was his job to bring his son to justice. Reluctantly, Bennett gave Bass the warrant.
Where did Benjamin Bass go to jail?
About two weeks after receiving the warrant. Bass returned with his son in custody. Benjamin was tried and sentenced to life in prison at Leavenworth. Kansas. Benjamin Bass Reeves was usually called Bennie or Ben. He was working in a restaurant, when he married a Creek beauty named Castella Brown on Nov.
Where was Bennie arrested?
for the railroad. Bennie was arrested in Muskogee. After his release from Leavenworth Prison in 1914, he worked at Melton's
Did Bass Reeves have children?
A Muskogee attorney Pliny Twine said that he didn't recall Bennie ever having children. "Notice". Bass Reeves had six documented boys and five documented girls with his first wife that can. be found in the 1870, 1890 and 1900 U.S. Census.
Who was Bass Reeves?
Bass Reeves. Western Lawman. Born as a slave, after the Civil War he went west to engage in farming. In 1875 he began a new career, receiving his commission as a U.S. Deputy Marshal, under the direction of Judge Isaac C. Parker in Ft. Smith. He was the first African American to receive a commission as a U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi.
Is a gravesite on someone's property?
The gravesite is not labeled and is actually on someone's private residential property.
Overview
Bass Reeves (July 1838 – January 12, 1910) was an American law enforcement official, historically noted as the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. He worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. During his long career, he had on his record more than 3,000 arrests of dangerous criminals, and shot and killed 14 of them in self-defense.
Early life
Career
Later years and death
Family and descendants
Legacy
Further reading
External links