Talk about motherly love! Bass took the warrant and bought his son in for murder shortly thereafter his son convicted and sent to Leavenworth. Judge Isaac Parker was an unbelievably harsh man. Reeves son, Benjamin Reeves, strayed from the family tree and ran into serious trouble with the law. Neither man backed down. Marshals. 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. The actual number might shock you, however. But they didnt stay there for 30 years, Spears said of the trio with Parkers Court. All face the same hardships and dangers.. Reeves lived in the protection of his new communities and learned their languages for the next several years. Marshals Museum. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. However, the ranger never drew his weapon first. 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. Director Isaiah Washington Writers Robert Johnson Isaiah Washington Stars Despite his instantly-recognizable look, rumor has it that the lawman had a few other tricks up his sleeve. (He appears to. Such a dark beginning really sets the stage for the twisted tale of law and violence that followed. [5] He was an uncle of Paul L. Brady, the first African-American appointed a Federal Administrative Law Judge (in 1972). Im sitting here going, Guys, everyone is dead. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story will be another peek inside that era. Bass Reeves worked with lawman such as [10] Heck Thomas, Bud Ledbetter, and Bill Tilghman. 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. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bennie was jealous, angry, and violent. Reeves was one tough lawman, but apparently, his boss was even tougher. Portrayal in Film: Timeless (TV Series) S1E14 2017. 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. Here from 1875 until his death in 1896, the famous "Hanging Judge," Isaac C. Parker, presided over a court, keeping peace in the lawless territory. Other than a few scrapes and bruises, Reeves made it through his career entirely unscathed. 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. Despite running up against hardened crooks, the 200-pound, six-foot slinger apparently never wavered. Bass Reeves said the largest haul he made while working for the Fort Smith court was bringing in 19 horse thieves from the Fort Sill area. Its a sequel to a prequel (of sorts), but it can still be viewed and enjoyed separate from Yellowstone. 1.2K views, 17 likes, 3 loves, 29 comments, 16 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from U.S. Fortunately, it was a lucrative business. It should be no surprise, then, that Parker had a soft spot for Reeves. [2] Once he had to arrest his own son for murder. Reeves was one of those men. Sometime after moving to Texas, Bass became a valet/body servant to William S. Reeves son, George R. Reeves. The talented marksman and guide quickly started making a name for himself. He liked to brag that there was never any crime reported on his beat. Bass Reeves was commissioned in late 1875 as a deputy U.S. marshal for the Fort Smith federal court. [9] He served there until 1893. Marshal, he arrested 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 men. [12] Ryan Reaves's grandfather changed the family name from Reeves to Reaves. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. According to the letter of the law, it didnt matter who they were. Some say the Quentin Tarantino movie, Django, was based on his life.[17]. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Good job on the profile!! 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. In 1909, the tough lawman finally came across an enemy that he couldnt best: Brights Disease. Research shows that he could shoot accurately with his Winchester rifle up to 500 yards or a quarter of mile, and he had several gunfights during which he shot felons at that distance. Editors of AHM, A Guide to America's Greatest Historic Places, p. 9). Later in November 1890, Bass and his posse raided the home of the legendary Cherokee Ned Christie, who was wanted for murdering a deputy U.S. marshal. [8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Reeves). (AP) The U.S. When Reeves faced trial, he was lucky enough to know the right people. The Fort Smith Elevator reported Reeves coming to town in August 1882 with 16 prisoners. Bass Reeves was born into slavery around 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. The Reeves family moved to North Twelfth Street, Park Place, in 1889. 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. Im not sure he was too worried about it, though. The Fort Smith National Historic Site has a room dedicated to the history of black lawmen and local military units. Because it was Bass's son the other deputies were reluctant to take the warrant. Over his long career as a lawman, the mustachioed slinger racked up a body count of 14 men. Thanks for your time! Classic Gunfights: A Deadly Duel at 500 Yards. Then, he knocked on the door and asked for a place to rest. The legendary lawman was said to. 1 of 3 In a statue of Bass Reeves residing in the Lamar County Courthouse, sculptor Eddie Dixon arms the famed lawman with a double-barreled shotgun. When Dozier heard that Reeves was after him, he sent out word that Reeves was placing his own life in his hands. He was brought up on first-degree murder charges in January 1886 and relieved of duty. It was probably a pleasant changebut it was not to last. Meet 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, which will star David Oyelowo and Dennis Quaid. He retired at 70 years old and lived out his remaining time in some much-needed peace. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, which is in the process of constructing a building on the Arkansas River in Fort Smith for a national museum, has among its collection of artifacts a Spencer rifle Reeves took from a Civil War battlefield and two pistols Reeves purchased later during his career. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. This didnt hold him back in the slightest. Marshal west of the Mississippi River, although he was never a Ranger nor did he ever live in Texas. He worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. At the outbreak of the Civil War, George was made an officer in the 11th Texas Cavalry Regiment, second in command to Col. William G. Young. 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. Bynum Colbert, a Choctaw Freedmen, was a veteran of an Arkansas United States Colored Regiment of the Civil War and served seven years with the 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment post-Civil War. A fitting end to a horrible man, George Reeves contracted rabies and passed in 1882. Art T. Burton, a retired college history professor, has written four critically acclaimed history books on the American Western frontier. Marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. Thought to have been born in the summer of 1838, by the year 1880, Bass and Jennie Reeves had eight children: Sally, Robert, Harriet, Georgia, Alice, Newland, Edgar and Lula. At the age of 67, Bass Reeves retired from federal service at Oklahoma statehood in 1907. A year after moving to Arkansas, Reeves fell in love. An article suggests that Bass Reeves may have been the inspiration for the "Lone Ranger" --. Marshal Bass Reeves. [2] He served for two years before he became ill and retired. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Western Books: An Officer of Honor and Grit, Ask the Marshall Bat Masterson: Armed and Dangerous, Lincoln: Prepare Ye the Way for the Horde. During a game of cards with his owner, Reeves won, which caused his owner to beat him. 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. [1][2] Reeves was named after his grandfather, Basse Washington. He was one of Judge Parker's most valued deputies. Once And For All, Is The Lone Ranger Based on Bass Reeves? Reeves died in Muskogee on January 12, 1910, after a short illness. Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission and a member of the U.S. Colbert began his tenure as a deputy U.S. marshal with the Fort Smith federal court in 1872, three years before Bass Reeves commission. To be fair, it was back when George Reeves still owned him, so he didnt have much of a choice. He was barred from competitive turkey shoots, although he always claimed to be only fair with a rifle. Ryan Reaves, a professional hockey player from Winnipeg, is Basss great-great-great-grandson. In 1893, Bass Reeves was transferred to the Eastern District federal court at Paris, Texas. He grew up tending to chores and animals while his 'mammy' cooked and cleaned. [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. Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. [3], When the American Civil War began, George Reeves joined the Confederate Army, forcing Bass to go with him. Bass Reeves was born a slave. After escaping his masters, Reeves traveled to Oklahoma, or Indian Territory, as it was known then. Here, he learned Indian languages, the lay of the land and complete mastery of pistols and rifles. [2], In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and revolver, Reeves developed superior detective skills during his long career. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed Deputy U.S. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? He tried to apprehend the fugitive Jim Webb, who had been foreman on the Billy Washington Ranch in the Chickasaw Nation. Family history states that Bass and George got into an argument over a card game during the Civil War. In 1865 the Civil War ended and slaves were freed by the[5]Thirteenth Amendment. Reeves was over six feet tall and sported a thick black handlebar mustache. (http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/videos/the-lone-ranger-was-real-and-he ), Bass Reeves also knew a thing or two about laying down the law. Several bad men have gone to their long home for refusing to halt when commanded to by Bass.. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. Then, Reeves met a woman named Winnie Sumter and fell in love all over again. He got close to the two sons, told tall tales of thievery, and waited. Marshal Leo Bennett in Muskogee, Oklahoma, only to find[13] his own son had been charged with the murder of his wife. Reeves methods of enforcement were somewhat unorthodox. Instead, he always tried to take everyone in alive. The U.S. [5], Reeves and his family farmed until 1875, when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. 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