If the name Bass Reeves sounds familiar to you, there are a few reasons. In the film, Majors plays Nat Love, the leader of a band of outlaws on a quest to hunt down his sworn enemy Rufus Buckthe man who murdered Loves parents, and the one responsible for the cross embedded in his forehead. 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. Bass Reevess legendary career as a U.S. marshal ended in 1907 when the new state In 1889, after Reeves was assigned to Paris, Texas, he went after the Tom Story gang for their long-term horse theft operation. Among them were Bob Dozier, a master criminal whose illegal activities included cattle and horse theft, land swindles, and murder, and who eluded Reeves for several years before being killed after refusing to surrender in the rain and mud in the Cherokee Hills. 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. His wife, Nellie Jennie Reeves, tries to persuade Bass not to leave for his own safety,. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. your viewers to Bass Reeves, the lawman. The following work is the result of the memorial creator Jane Jamell-Hinkle's research:Funeral Home Record from Birnie Brothers Funeral Home. Producing are MTV Entertainment Studios, Bosque Ranch Productions, Yoruba Saxon, and 101 Studios. Starring in the limited series is David Oyelowo ("Selma," "The Butler," "Les Miserables"), as was previously announced when this was going to be a standalone series. In 1909 his health failed, and he died on January 12, 1910, of Bright's disease. Google Books. 33 Facts That Capture The Strange And Salacious Life Of Benjamin Franklin, Two Siblings Just Pleaded Guilty To This 1993 Cold Case Murder After Their Accomplice Confessed On TV, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, Listen above to the History Uncovered podcast, episode 23: Bass Reeves, also available on. Marshal Bass Reeves in 1900. One of the high points of Reeves career was apprehending a notorious outlaw named Bob Dozier. Accounts vary on whether Bass beat up George as he left, and whether his immediate aim was freedom or to escape punishment over a card game dispute. Marshal Leo Bennett in Muskogee, Oklahoma, he was given some bad news. Parker, in turn, appointed a U.S. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 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. marksman, Reeves was an imposing law enforcement officer at six foot two. A 25 foot bronze statue of Reeves is unveiled at Pendergraft Park in Fort Smith, Arkansas. his church minister for selling illegal alcohol. The couple ultimately raised five girls and five boys together. This browser does not support getting your location. Winnie was a widow when she married Bass Reeves. based on information from your browser. Wikimedia CommonsBass Reeves was known for his exceptional shooting skills and his ability to dodge bullets. He lists his closest relative as Zola Reeves and gives his name as Bennie Bass Reeves. 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. By many historical accounts, Nat was a skilled cowboy. Bass Reeves Born to slave parents in 1838 in Arkansas, Bass Reeves was a member of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Supreme Court. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? When Isaac C. Parker was appointed judge for the Federal Western District Court at Fort Smith, Arkansas, on May 10, 1875, to bring law to the Indian Territory, one of his first official acts was to swear in a United States marshal and appoint 200 deputies to curb the lawlessness in the area. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. In a letter sent to Ft. Leavenworth, his sister A.C. Spahn writes that Reeves, Is now at home and at work in one of Muskogees leading Waite[sic] Barber Shops., Bens release came at an additional toll on his victims family. He became a barber and on November 20, 1900, married Castella Brown. Delroy Lindo is an accomplished actor, with over 40 years of experience in film, television, and theater. Then, learn about the Buffalo Soldiers, the first all-Black peacetime regiments in U.S. history. In 1895, the gang robbed, raped, and murdered; eventually being captured in August of that year. Life was good, but it was about to change for Bass Reeves. . 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. It is unclear how and exactly when Bass Reeves left his owner but at some She was known for her volatile temper and gun-toting, which eventually led to her being kicked out of the convent. At this time he resided on South 2nd Street and worked as a manager at Meltons Caf. They had 11 children: Robert E Reeves, Bass Reeves and 9 other children. Reeves approached the three murderous Brunter brothers and handed them a warrant for their arrest. Add to your scrapbook. In his 32 years as a Deputy U.S. Over his 32-year career as a Deputy U.S. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. A bridge in Oklahoma has been named after him. 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. On February 13, 1903 he was received at Ft. Leavenworth Penitentiary and became Inmate No. The Oklahoma Territory Act extends civil and criminal laws of Arkansas over Indian territory. Born Crawford Goldsby in 1876, Bill and his group, the Cook Gang, ravaged the Indian territory in 1895 and 1896. Weve updated the security on the site. He was a lawman from the Old West and a hero. Lnea del tiempo de desarrollo embrionario y fetal. Maybe the law aint perfect, but its the only one we got, and without it we got nuthin Bass Reeves. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. as one of the most successful lawmen in the Indian Territory. The rest of the gang disbanded and were never heard from again. Bass Reeves began to ride the Oklahoma range in search of outlaws. Every dollar helps. The 13th Amendment is proclaimed, abolishing slavery in the United States. The New York Public LibraryAn illustration of a Confederate campsite during the Civil War. It also may have been an inspiration for the film Django Unchained. of Oklahoma assumed policing duties over the Indian Territory. Bass Reeves, is the first African-American to be deputized by the U.S. 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. His own son, Bennie, had been charged with murder, after having killed his wife in a fit of jealousy. He then became a city police officer in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He once arrested his own son on a murder warrant after a two-week manhunt. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. In the end, Reeves was acquitted. Many of the district courts asked for Reeves because of his reliability in serving warrants. Reeves took his job very seriously. One account recalls how Bass Reeves Clayton. Bass married Nellie Jinny Reeves (born Wilson) in 1864, at age 26. Try again later. Nudie E. Williams, "Bass Reeves," Negro History Bulletin 42 (April-May-June 1979). He learned their languages and became familiar with the landscape during this time. One of his first acts was to make James Fagan a U.S. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. When Bass charges into the desert . Bass Reeves was born a slave in Arkansas in 1838. and taking on other aliases to assist his apprehension of criminals. There he associated with Native Americans from the Creek and Seminole tribes, learning their language and customs. Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Three men ambush and corner him. Please reset your password. The lengthy and glowing obituary for this universally respected man described him as absolutely fearless and knowing no master but duty., 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. Bass Reeves, the first black commissioned United States deputy marshal west of the Mississippi River, was born to enslaved parents in July 1838 near Paris, Texas. 1875, Indian Territory. . Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Covering some 75,000 square miles, the United States Court at Fort Smith, was the largest in the nation. Marshal Bass Reeves, had arrested him. Nellie Jennie married Bass Reeves and had 11 children. Antecedentes historicos del software educativo, Iniciativa cultural de San Sebastin de Buenavista, LNEA DE TIEMPO DE LAS GENERACIONES DE LA COMPUTADORAS. Bass Reeves died on January 10, 1910 in Muskogee, As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Exploring records relating to African Americans with the Say It Loud! In any case, Reeves went to live among the Creek and Seminole Indians. Bass married Winnie Jane FOREMAN Sumner on month day 1900, at age 62 at marriage place . Reeves diagnosis with Brights disease finally ended his career. Actor and comedian Deon Cole portrays Wiley Escoe, the gold-toothed mayor of Redwood. Civil War began, George Reeves, Bass owner, joined the Confederate Army, taking Bass Unavailable. Marshal. discoveries. Reeves traveled the long circuit with a wagon, cook, and often a posse. Daniel F. Littlefield, Jr., and Lonnie E. Underhill, "Negro Marshal in Indian Territory," Journal of Negro History 56 (April 1971). The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. ). [5] Career Reeves and his family farmed until 1875, when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. He met and married his first wife Nellie Jennie from Texas with whom he had 10 children (5 boys and 5 girls). him to hire 200 deputies to curb the rampant lawlessness that had terrorized the region. He arrested over 3,000 . The state of Oklahoma at the time was two different territories: Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Bass Reeves is born in Crawford County, AR. Reeves embarks on a manhunt for Jim Webb, a horse thief and cowboy believed to have killed eleven people; after a fierce gunfight, a dying Webb gives Reeves his scabbard and his pistol carved with notches from prior kills. During the Civil War he fled to the Indian Territory of Oklahoma, where he took refuge with the Seminole, Cherokee, and Creek Indians, learning their customs, languages, and tracking skills. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. Todays post was written by Holly Rivet, archival technician at the National Archives in St. Louis. 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. So he decided to leave Indian Territory to farm his own land near Van Buren, Arkansas. and his owner had an altercation over a card game. It would be a good idea to occasionally highlight Love died in California at the age of 67 in 1921. Dozier eluded Reeves for several months until the lawman tracked him down in the Cherokee Nation. included the Indian Territory. Dependability and devotion to duty were the benchmarks of Reeves's service to the government. The Inmate Case File of Ben Reeves (NAID 7861497), contains a wealth of information about his characteristics, correspondence, and his conduct while incarcerated. 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. And in some ways, Reeves real life was even more incredible than the fictional character he potentially inspired. Beetzs character in The Harder They Fall is about 30 years younger than the actual Stagecoach Mary would have been in the late 1800s. After the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Reeves, now free, moved to Van Buren, Parents. Although Reeves was a skilled frontiersman and spoke several languages, he had never learned to read. federal judges or other court officials. Below is a list of the characters as they are depicted in the film and the actors who play them along with a short biography of the true historical figure. There have also been quite a few impressive bronze statues that were erected in his likeness. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Jane Reeves (147727516)? Bass Reeves was born in 1838, at birth place, Arkansas. Reeves eventually procured a homestead in Van Buren, Arkansas, where he was the first black settler. Freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and no longer a fugitive, the six-foot-two, 190-pound former slave left the Indian country, bought land near Van Buren, Arkansas, and became a successful stockman and farmer. Because of his knowledge of the area and fluency in the Creek and Seminole languages, Netflixs highly anticipated The Harder They Fall puts a new twist on the old West. Arkansas is granted statehood, entering the United States as a slaveholding state. His son was tried, convicted to life in prison, and sent to Kansas Leavenworth Penitentiary. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Briana Jones is a freelance writer, screenwriter, and artist roaming the hot sands of the southwest. 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. He worked there for two years before His parents are enslaved by the Arkansas State Legislator William Steele Reeves. Freeman said, This is a Black man in Americas legendary Western history who has been totally overlooked. In 2007 the US Route 62 Bridge crossing the Arkansas River, connecting Muskogee with Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, was named the Bass Reeves . Later, with a citizens petition and an exemplary prison record, Bennie Reeves was pardoned and lived the rest of his life as a model citizen. In The Harder They Fall, Elba plays the role of Rufus Buck, the man responsible for killing Nat Loves parents, and carves a cross into Loves forehead. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. GREAT NEWS! 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. , D.C.: National Archives and records Administration captions for photos you added, click photo! The Buffalo Soldiers, the Cook gang, ravaged the Indian Territory and his farmed. Own safety, producing are MTV Entertainment Studios, Bosque Ranch Productions Yoruba... 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