him to hire 200 deputies to curb the rampant lawlessness that had terrorized the region. ). 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. When the The legendary actor and director Morgan Freeman has also expressed interest in working on a project focused on the deputy. 1898. Parker hired U.S. Oklahoma. When all slaves were freed in 1865, Reeves was no longer a fugitive. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Jane Reeves (147727516)? While there is not a large amount of information on Wiley Escoe in circulation, he was known as a lawman, and a Black deputy U.S. He married Nellie Marshal and is thought to be the inspiration for the Lone Ranger. He sent the deed to Castellas land as payment for his legal fees to obtain a pardon or commutation of sentence.[6]. 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. The Oklahoma Territory Act extends civil and criminal laws of Arkansas over Indian territory. She enjoys the strange and unusual, and green tea. He learned their languages and became familiar with the landscape during this time. State and local authorities replace federal marshals. Learn more about merges. They had 11 children: Robert E Reeves, Bass Reeves and 9 other children. as one of the most successful lawmen in the Indian Territory. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Period: 1865 to 1875. and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived as a fugitive slave among the Creeks years before being tracked down and killed after refusing to surrender. Jennie, a Texan, and fathered ten children, five boys and five girls. 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. your viewers to Bass Reeves, the lawman. Directed to hire 200 deputies, Fagan commissions Reeves as a deputy US marshal on his reputation for knowing the landscape of the Indian Territory and learning the languages of the indigenous people with whom he lived as a fugitive. and there is an ongoing debate as to whether or not the inspiration for the Lone Ranger . The TSHA makes every effort to conform to the principles of fair use and to comply with copyright law. for the Federal Western District Court at Fort Smith, Arkansas, a jurisdiction that Reeves and his family farmed in Van Buren until 1875. region: "", He married Nellie Jennie, built an eight-room house with his bare hands, and raised ten. His children were named Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice. Daniel F. Littlefield, Jr., and Lonnie E. Underhill, "Negro Marshal in Indian Territory," Journal of Negro History 56 (April 1971). The quicker of the two, Reeves shoots first, killing his quarry in self-defense. After 1907 the role and the duties of the United States deputy marshal as a primary law-enforcement officer were assumed by state agencies. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many desperadoes of the territory. While the story told in the Netflix film released today is entirely fictional, many of its characters were historical figures. 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. [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. An excellent 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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. An illustration of a shootout in the Wild West. He became a barber and on November 20, 1900, married Castella Brown. 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. formId: "bb101386-3a24-451d-80af-5e725ebb6c69", Wikimedia CommonsThe Lone Ranger, Tonto, and his silver stallion from the 1950s TV series The Lone Ranger. This is a carousel with slides. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. Weve updated the security on the site. of Oklahoma assumed policing duties over the Indian Territory. All deputies were tasked with cleaning up Indian Territory and on Judge Parkers orders, Bring them in alive or dead!. In 1887, Bass was charged with murdering a posse cook. It is unclear how and exactly when Bass Reeves left his owner but at some The 2010 straight-to-video movie Bass Reeves is a fictionalized account of the lawman's life. In 1909 his health failed, and he died on January 12, 1910, of Bright's disease. He arrested over 3,000 criminals and was . Led by the 18-year-old Rufus Buck(center), the members of the gang included Maoma July, Lucky Davis, Sam Sampson, and Lewis Davis. Listen above to the History Uncovered podcast, episode 23: Bass Reeves, also available on Apple and Spotify. In 2013, he was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame. 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. Lula Reeves 1881 - 1899. Bass married Winnie Jane FOREMAN Sumner on month day 1900, at age 62 at marriage place . After refusing to surrender, Reeves killed Dozier in an accompanying gunfight on December 20, 1878. hbspt.enqueueForm({ Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. 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. He met and married his first wife Nellie Jennie from Texas with whom he had 10 children (5 boys and 5 girls). This story (of which this is just the tip of the iceberg) is fascinating and I encourage you to read more! He married Nellie Jennie (or Jenney), a Texan, and the couple had 10 children, five boys and five girls. 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! Nellie Reeves was born in 1840, in Texas,United States. The multitalented LaKeith Stanfield plays the infamous Cherokee Bill in the film. If you change your mind, you can easily unsubscribe. You might start by introducing One account recalls how Bass Reeves There was a problem getting your location. As such, he was authorized to arrest both black and white lawbreakers. 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. Although other colorful characters made their way into our pop culture, Bass was the real badass of the Old West. In any case, Reeves went to live among the Creek and Seminole Indians. The New York Public LibraryAn illustration of a Confederate campsite during the Civil War. The state of Oklahoma at the time was two different territories: Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. He waited along the route Tom Story used, and surprised him with an arrest warrant. His father was an officer in the old Indian Territory for more than 30 years and was always considered an honest and honorable man, and I believe Ben has in his nature some of his fathers good qualities. On February 13, 1903 he was received at Ft. Leavenworth Penitentiary and became Inmate No. He became a barber and on November 20, 1900, married Castella Brown. The majority of his violations included jovial conversation with other inmates and one for trading barber services for a toothbrush. When William S. Reeves died, his son George made Bass Reeves his personal companion and servant. He married Nellie Jennie in 1864, and then Winnie Sumter after she died. We'll send you a couple of emails per month, filled with fascinating history facts that you can share with your friends. Bass Reeves, 1838 - 1910. Bass Reeves was born a slave in Arkansas in 1838. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? You can always change this later in your Account settings. Reeves, who at this point was now nearly 70, joined the Muskogee Oklahoma Police Department as the only Black patrolman. She was known for her volatile temper and gun-toting, which eventually led to her being kicked out of the convent. He quickly gained a reputation as a tough and fearless lawman who managed to bring in outlaws thought to be invincible. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147727516/jane-reeves. His son was tried, convicted to life in prison, and sent to Kansas Leavenworth Penitentiary. [7] There is no evidence that he served in any branch of the military. Reeves, along with the other deputies, was ordered to bring the outlaws back to Parker dead or alive. Spouse(s) Bass Reeves 1838 - 1910. The second outlaw dropped his gun in surprise, and they were both arrested. During this time, Reeves health diminishes, forcing him out of the Muskogee police force. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. [online version available through Ancestry.com]. Bass Reeves' Family: Wife and Children. accessed March 02, 2023, Add to your scrapbook. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Though shaken by the thought of it, Reeves soon arrested his own son. 1866 - Bass Reeves settles down . 1901 - Reeves's Arrests Make the Press . 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. After their emancipation and citizenship, the Cherokee Freedmen and their descendants struggled to be accepted as a legitimate part of the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Freedmen refers to the African American men and women who were formerly slaves of the Cherokee before and after removal to Indian Territory and the American Civil War. Reeves had eleven children from two marriages. Winnie married Deputy U.S. Always wearing a large hat, Reeves was usually a spiffy dresser, with his boots polished to a gleaming shine. He learned their languages and customs, and sharpened his skills as an ambidextrous marksman. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. 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. trips that sometimes lasted for months." 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. He is named for his grandfather, Bass Washington. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. There are many sources with expanded information about Bass Reeves in books and articles, 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. She passed away on 19 March 1896. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Make sure that the file is a photo. During the chaos of the Civil War, Indian Territory where federal and state governments had virtually no jurisdiction had become a popular hiding ground for outlaws. Marshal and order him to hire 200 deputies. Maybe the law aint perfect, but its the only one we got, and without it we got nuthin Bass Reeves. He married Nellie Jennie, a woman from Texas, in 1864, and they had 10 children. There is no announced release date for "1883: The Bass Reeves Story" yet, but we'll keep you updated. Learn more about managing a memorial . In 1889, after Reeves was assigned to Paris, Texas, he went after the Tom Story gang for their long-term horse theft operation. Bass Reeves's legendary career as a U.S. marshal ended in 1907 when the new state of Oklahoma assumed policing duties over the Indian Territory. Wikimedia CommonsBelle Starr (left), a notorious horse thief, was arrested by Bass Reeves in 1883. He was always acquitted of the deaths of his prisoners. 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 the end, Reeves was acquitted. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. was Bob Dozier, a murderer and cattle and horse thief who eluded Reeves for several Born a slave in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas, Bass Reeves served Arkansas state legislator William S. Reeves. 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