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. He then quickly disarmed a second and shot a third, only injuring him. Bass was 62, he was an imposing figure; always riding on a large white stallion. Many of the district courts asked for Reeves because of his reliability in serving warrants. The son, wanted for the murder of his wife, was tried and convicted but later given a full pardon. Accessed on July 7, 2021. (Lincoln NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2006); Kathy Weiser, Legends of America, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-BassReeves.html, 1010 Campus DriveBig Rapids, MI 49307[emailprotected](231) 591-5873, 1201 S. State Street, Big Rapids, Michigan USA 49307, Transfer and Secondary School Partnerships, Card/Riley Conservation and Wildlife Education Center, Latino Business & Economic Development Center, Below is an article about Reeves from Matt Helm first published in blackpast.org, Legends of America, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-BassReeves.html. He died in 1910 from nephritis. There were also former slaves of the tribes, freed and made tribal members after the Civil War, settlers from the East (both black and white) who sharecropped tribal property, and a good measure of outlaws fleeing from civilization. The 13th Amendment is proclaimed, abolishing slavery in the United States. Standing six feet, two inches tall, he was often seen riding a large white stallion as he patrolled all 75,000 square miles of Indian Territory. and taking on other aliases to assist his apprehension of criminals. You might start by introducing And as the criminals became confused and distracted, Reeves would draw his gun. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. At the age of 69 Reeves Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Like the many outlaws he had arrested, he was tried before Judge Isaac Parker. Bass Reeves was the first African American commissioned to serve as a deputy marshal Even in the face of morally conflicting circumstances, Reeves held the law above all else. In 1895, the gang robbed, raped, and murdered; eventually being captured in August of that year. Then, learn about the Buffalo Soldiers, the first all-Black peacetime regiments in U.S. history. 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. Sally Reeves 1864 - Unknown. "1883: The Bass Reeves Story" is executive produced by Sheridan, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, and Bob Yari. This account has been disabled. This is a carousel with slides. He married Nellie Jennie, built an eight-room house with his bare hands, and raised ten childrenfive girls and five boys. 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. 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. Bass married Winnie Jane FOREMAN Sumner on month day 1900, at age 62 at marriage place . Bass Reeves was born a slave in Arkansas in 1838. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jane Jennie Reeves I found on Findagrave.com. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 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. His son was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison, but was later given a full pardon. He takes Bass, now a grown man, with him as a guard and valet and still as his slave. Contrary to what classic Westerns might lead us to believe, one in four American cowboys was actually African American. His son, George Reeves, keeps young Bass enslaved. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. We'll send you a couple of emails per month, filled with fascinating history facts that you can share with your friends. 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. Born a slave in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas, Bass Reeves served Arkansas state legislator William S. Reeves. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Reeves took his job very seriously. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. He relocated to Indian Territory after severely beating his young master in a dispute over cards and lived among the "five civilized tribes," especially the Creeks, as a fugitive until 1863. George Reeves joins the confederate army. Story panicked and drew his gun, but Reeves drew and shot him dead before Story could fire. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. It was here that he met and married his first wife, Nellie Jennie, from Texas, with whom he had ten children, five boys and five girls. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. (1870 US Census, 1880 US Census). This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. Bill Pickett is portrayed by Edi Gathegi. 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 was born to slave parents in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. Ben kept in close contact with his sisters and their stepmother, but his relationship with his father appears to have been strained. The marshal was famous for fair-mindedness and was impossible to bribe or corrupt. was Bob Dozier, a murderer and cattle and horse thief who eluded Reeves for several During the two years that he served in this capacity, there were reportedly no crimes on his beat. Marshal. The story of Bass Reeves is sometimes cited as the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. . He was paid fees in those days that sometimes amounted to thousands of dollars for a single trip . By many historical accounts, Nat was a skilled cowboy. Indian territory was attractive to lawbreakers because of its peculiar judiciary arrangement: The tribal courts had jurisdiction only over tribal members. He learned their customs and languages and became a proficient territorial scout. The TSHA makes every effort to conform to the principles of fair use and to comply with copyright law. After five years in flight from the law, Tom Story attempts to shoot Reeves. Born about 1850 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States Daughter of [father unknown] and [mother unknown] [sibling (s) unknown] Wife of Bass Reeves married 1900 in Muskogee,Oklahoma,United States [children unknown] Died [date unknown] in Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States Profile manager: Terry Wright [ send private message ] During this time, young Bass impresses the owner of his family with his pleasant demeanor and aptitude for working with livestock. His whole life was defined by stranger-than-fiction experiences. Dependability and devotion to duty were the benchmarks of Reeves's service to the government. On July 1, 1896, the gang was hanged. Nellie Jennie (Bass Reeves' wife) What is Palomino Mugging? years before being tracked down and killed after refusing to surrender. The Life Summary of Benjamin When Benjamin Reeves was born in June 1880, in Arkansas, United States, his father, Bass Reeves, was 41 and his mother, Nellie Jennie, was 30. 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. As a part of the films rendition of the Rufus Buck Gang that breaks their leader from prison, Bill is as sly as he is ruthless. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. At the age of sixty-nine Reeves accepted a job as patrolman with the Muskogee city police department, and from 1907 to 1909 there was reportedly never a crime committed on his beat. He would appear to felons as a cowboy, farmer, or even as a fellow outlaw. Every penny counts! By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147727516/jane-reeves. Bass Reeves grew up illiterate and remained illiterate for his entire life. Of course, its worth noting that theres no concrete proof that Reeves inspired the famous character. Reeves traveled the long circuit with a wagon, cook, and often a posse. So he decided to leave Indian Territory to farm his own land near Van Buren, Arkansas. Failed to remove flower. A year later, he married Nellie Jennie from Texas and immediately began to have a family. There is no announced release date for "1883: The Bass Reeves Story" yet, but we'll keep you updated. Every dollar helps. Bass Reeves (1838 - 1910) (shown) was a former slave who became a deputy U.S. But despite being shot at on multiple occasions, he managed to dodge every single bullet, earning him the moniker The Indomitable Marshal.. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Beetzs character in The Harder They Fall is about 30 years younger than the actual Stagecoach Mary would have been in the late 1800s. 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. Arkansas secedes from the United States, joining forces with the Confederate south. In the film, he is an outlaw, and another member of Loves gang. After the Civil War, his family was freed and began working on plantations in and around Davidson County, Tennessee. 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. He became a barber and on November 20, 1900, married Castella Brown. Reeves is the first Black deputy US marshal to receive a commission west of the Mississippi river. Unavailable. Supreme Court. And in some ways, Reeves real life was even more incredible than the fictional character he potentially inspired. Bass Reeves, was the first black U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi River and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nations history. The court unanimously decided that there was no evidence Reeves murdered his wife with the intent of taking her land, therefore he was still entitled to it. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. The Inmate Case File of Ben Reeves (NAID 7861497), contains a wealth of information about his characteristics, correspondence, and his conduct while incarcerated. If you change your mind, you can easily unsubscribe. Judge Parker appoints James Fagan as U.S. marshal. Bass Reeves is born in Crawford County, AR. and Seminoles. It is not known the exact location of Jennie's grave, the listing from the cemetery log with her name as unknown location in this block. But we dont necessarily get that reality when the only image of a cowboy that we have in our minds is John Wayne or The Lone Ranger. Resend Activation Email. The Western District of Arkansas is established. One of the high points of Reeves career was apprehending a notorious outlaw named Bob Dozier. Unavailable. This entry belongs to the following Handbook Special Projects: We are a community-supported, non-profit organization and we humbly ask for your support because the careful and accurate recording of our history has never been more important. After his first wife's death, Reeves married Winnie Sumter of Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1900 and started a second family. Nellie Jennie married Bass Reeves and had 11 children. 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. In 1889, Love married his wife Alice and retired from cowboy life. Reeves, who at this point was now nearly 70, joined the Muskogee Oklahoma Police Department as the only Black patrolman. Search above to list available cemeteries. Robert Reeves 1866 - Unknown. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. An excellent After his first wife . In this arrangement, the trustee will continue to serve time within the prison walls, but is able to stay in a dormitory, have special privileges, and spend much more time outside of confinement.[4]. It also may have been an inspiration for the film Django Unchained. He married Nellie Jennie, a Texan, and fathered ten children, five boys and five girls. 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