He spends the next 32 years as a federal peace officer in Indian Territory. . Bass Reeves, is the first African-American to be deputized by the U.S. It is unclear how and exactly when Bass Reeves left his owner but at some A year later, he married Nellie Jennie of Texas. Winnie was a Cherokee Freedman.[1]. 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. After being freed in 1863, he married a woman named Nellie Jennie and . Failed to remove flower. Bass Reeves was credited with arresting. His reputation for persistence, his total fearlessness, his skills with a gun, and his ability to outsmart outlaws struck terror into lawbreakers in what we now call Oklahoma. 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. (1870 US Census, 1880 US Census). Bass Reeves is born in Crawford County, AR. The Inmate Case File of Ben Reeves (NAID 7861497), contains a wealth of information about his characteristics, correspondence, and his conduct while incarcerated. Reeves is almost killed while pursuing four men along the Seminole Whiskey Trail. In 1889, Love married his wife Alice and retired from cowboy life. with him. The stories of Reeves familiarity with the land and his own fugitive past eventually got around to Fagan. Winnie married Deputy U.S. Dozier eluded Reeves for several months until the lawman tracked him down in the Cherokee Nation. 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. You might start by introducing After his first wife's death, Reeves married Winnie Sumter of Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1900 and started a second family. By all accounts, Reeves was also a master of disguise. west of the Mississippi River. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. His wife, Nellie Jennie Reeves, tries to persuade Bass not to leave for his own safety,. Reeves was recruited because he knew the tribal languages and country well, and as a black he did not suffer from the reputation for abuse produced by the activities of the White criminal element among the Indians. A real-life hero. He married Nellie Jennie, a Texan, and fathered ten children, five boys and five girls. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. 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. Https://books.google.com/books?id=oLSZAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA627&lpg=PA627&dq=Cynthia+Tolliver+supreme+court&source=bl&ots=ppz5UDbEBj&sig=ACfU3U03UsaC1R9sBabfBMIWgxxUBI3hzA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiqtKr_6M7xAhWEPM0KHUoiCLQQ6AEwEXoECB4QAw#v=onepage&q=arkansas&f=false . Search above to list available cemeteries. Marshal service as a federal peace officer for the territory. His own son, Bennie, had been charged with murder, after having killed his wife in a fit of jealousy. discoveries. In 1909 his health failed, and he died on January 12, 1910, of Bright's disease. The rough and tough lawman decked out in an intimidating hat, slick suits, polished shoes, and two colt .45 Peacemakers strapped at his sides reportedly arrested over 3,000 outlaws. . Wikimedia CommonsThe Lone Ranger, Tonto, and his silver stallion from the 1950s TV series The Lone Ranger. Reeves used the fact that hed never learned how to read or write to his advantage in an inventive and effective way. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jane Jennie Reeves I found on Findagrave.com. Reeves used the "piece of paper" ruse several times in his career to distract felons to similar ends. . Reeves was arrested himself in 1887, and charged with murder in the death of his posse cook, William Leach. Every dollar helps. . [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. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. We need your support because we are a non-profit organization that relies upon contributions from our community in order to record and preserve the history of our state. Marshal. Signup today for our free newsletter, Especially Texan. In 1906 Bass only wrote one letter to his son and received none for that whole year. He was a lawman from the Old West and a hero. 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. accessed March 02, 2023, Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. He married Nellie Jennie (or Jinney), a Texas native, in 1864, and they raised a family of ten, five boys and five girls. His mother died in 1896 due to consumption (tuberculosis) leaving his father widowed with eleven children to care for. 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. But they weren't the only citizens of Indian Territory. In the end, Reeves was acquitted. 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 Reeves grew up illiterate and remained illiterate for his entire life. 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. In 1882, Reeves arrested Belle Starr for horse theft. Please try again later. He married Nellie Jennie, built an eight-room house with his bare hands, and raised ten. Understanding that the penalty for a slave to strike his master was death, Bass fled to Indian Territory and lived as a fugitive among the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole peoples. Have you taken a DNA test? 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. Even in the face of morally conflicting circumstances, Reeves held the law above all else. Two weeks later, Bass returned to Muskogee with his son in tow and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. [5] [6] [7] [8] In 1875, Isaac C. Parker was appointed federal judge of Indian Territory. This would have made her birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves' age. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Bass Reeves Born to slave parents in 1838 in Arkansas, Bass Reeves was a member of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. There was an error deleting this problem. Ben grew into a tall, lean man with slate blue eyes. Here, he also honed his firearm skills, becoming very quick and accurate with a pistol and rifle. He lists his closest relative as Zola Reeves and gives his name as Bennie Bass Reeves. Children. Reeves is the first Black deputy US marshal to receive a commission west of the Mississippi river. "Bass Reeves" was originally a standalone limited series that was coming to Paramount+ with Taylor Sheridan, but it's morphed a bit. Verify and try again. This award is given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values (source: ALA.org/rt/emiert/cksbookawards). ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. Nellie married Bass Reeves in 1864, at age 24 in Arkansas, United States. 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. Mary retired in 1904 and died 11 years later at the age of 82. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Reeves took his job very seriously. Reeves eventually procured a homestead in Van Buren, Arkansas, where he was the first black settler. He arrested over 3,000 criminals and was . Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Depending on the outlaws for whom he was searching, a deputy would generally take with him from Fort Smith, a wagon, a cook, and a Native American posseman. Bass was 62, he was an imposing figure; always riding on a large white stallion. After 1907 the role and the duties of the United States deputy marshal as a primary law-enforcement officer were assumed by state agencies. Reevess gun accidentally discharges while he is cleaning it at a posse encampment. Period: 1865 to 1875. He lived in Muscogee, Georgia, United States in 1900. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). He had a settlement of 75,000 square miles in what is now Oklahoma and Arkansas and killed 14 outlaws as part of the over 3,000 he took in. Buffalo Soldiers, the first all-Black peacetime regiments in U.S. history. Beetzs character in The Harder They Fall is about 30 years younger than the actual Stagecoach Mary would have been in the late 1800s. Bass Reeves died on January 10, 1910 in Muskogee, 1898. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Nellie Jennie married Bass Reeves and had 11 children. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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 also arrested Unavailable. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. He registered for the draft on September 12, 1918 at the age of 39 as was required by law. He was paid fees in those days that sometimes amounted to thousands of dollars for a single trip . Wikimedia CommonsBass Reeves was born during the Antebellum Era, a turbulent time period before the American Civil War. 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. Once asked why he spent so much effort enforcing the "white man's laws," Bass reportedly replied, "Maybe the law ain't perfect, but it's the only one we got, and without it we got nuthin'. 1901 - Reeves's Arrests Make the Press . He is named for his grandfather, Bass Washington. Life was good, but it was about to change for Bass Reeves. . And Reeves was soon hired on as a Deputy U.S. Exploring records relating to African Americans with the Say It Loud! 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. But according to biographer Art T. Burton, Bass Reeves is the closest real person to resemble the fictional Lone Ranger on the American western frontier of the nineteenth century.. Of course, its worth noting that theres no concrete proof that Reeves inspired the famous character. He worked there for two years before In 1895, the gang robbed, raped, and murdered; eventually being captured in August of that year. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Born into slavery in Virginia, James Beckwourth was freed by his white father and apprenticed as blacksmith in his early years. The deputy's respect for the law was legendary. his church minister for selling illegal alcohol. Records relating to Bass Reeves and his family: Inmate Case Files from Leavenworth Penitentiary (. 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. Reeves traveled the long circuit with a wagon, cook, and often a posse. 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. Jim Webb, a cowboy and horse thief with eleven notches on his pistol handle, was outshot in a fierce running gunfight after a manhunt that lasted from 1893 to 1895; the dying Webb acknowledged Reeves as the better man by giving the deputy his pistol and scabbard. Bass married Nellie Jinny Reeves (born Wilson) in 1864, at age 26. He is also the leader of the Rufus Buck gang, which includes the mysterious Trudy Smith (Regina King), and Cherokee Bill, played by Lakeith Stanfield. your viewers to Bass Reeves, the lawman. The second outlaw dropped his gun in surprise, and they were both arrested. Born Crawford Goldsby in 1876, Bill and his group, the Cook Gang, ravaged the Indian territory in 1895 and 1896. At this time he resided on South 2nd Street and worked as a manager at Meltons Caf. 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. After the Civil War, his family was freed and began working on plantations in and around Davidson County, Tennessee. These locations are repeated in Bass, Jane and Bass' parents alleged birth places. Many of the district courts asked for Reeves because of his reliability in serving warrants. In 1902, Bass Reeves son, Benny, was charged with the murder of his wife. However, in recent years, Reeves story has started to get more attention. There he associated with Native Americans from the Creek and Seminole tribes, learning their language and customs. Reeves and his wife Nellie Jennie raised a family of ten children, five boys and five girls. 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. Marshal Leo Bennett in Muskogee, Oklahoma, he was given some bad news. He learned their customs and languages and became a proficient territorial scout. He learned their languages and customs, and sharpened his skills as an ambidextrous marksman. 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. Resend Activation Email. In 1893, he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas, and in 1897, to serve at the Muskogee Federal Court in the Indigenous territory. He married Nellie In 1889, after Reeves was assigned to Paris, Texas, he went after the Tom Story gang for their long-term horse theft operation. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. On July 1, 1896, the gang was hanged. It includes the descendants of these slaves. Reeves diagnosis with Brights disease finally ended his career. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. After five years in flight from the law, Tom Story attempts to shoot Reeves. 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