Bass Reeves was born during the Antebellum Era, a turbulent time period before the American Civil War. 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. After refusing to surrender, Reeves killed Dozier in an accompanying gunfight on December 20, 1878. ", 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Judge Parker appoints James Fagan as U.S. marshal. ). Of course, its worth noting that theres no concrete proof that Reeves inspired the famous character. William Reeves moves to Grayson County, Texas. Dependability and devotion to duty were the benchmarks of Reeves's service to the government. In 1907, law enforcement was assumed by state agencies and Reeves duties as a deputy marshal came to an end. Below is an article about Reeves from Matt Helm first published in blackpast.org. Dozier eluded Reeves for several months until the lawman tracked him down in the Cherokee Nation. 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. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Daniel F. Littlefield, Jr., and Lonnie E. Underhill, "Negro Marshal in Indian Territory," Journal of Negro History 56 (April 1971). His son, George Reeves, keeps young Bass enslaved. As such, he was authorized to arrest both black and white lawbreakers. Harriet Reeves 1868 - Unknown. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Just a few years later, on January 12, 1910, Bass Reeves died of Brights disease an outdated term for a kidney disease that is now known as nephritis. The prison kept records of who sent letters and when, recording communication with his father and other relatives throughout his incarceration. [5] Career Reeves and his family farmed until 1875, when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory. The dispute went all the way up to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in April of 1908. Bass Reeves grew up illiterate and remained illiterate for his entire life. Delroy Lindo is an accomplished actor, with over 40 years of experience in film, television, and theater. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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. 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. The land comprising Indian Territory becomes the state of Oklahoma. By all accounts, Reeves was also a master of disguise. His great-uncle, Paul L. Brady, was the first black person to be appointed as a federal administrative law judge in 1972. . years before being tracked down and killed after refusing to surrender. This would have made her birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves' age. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Love died in California at the age of 67 in 1921. He was one inspiration to the character Will Reeves (played by Jamal Akakpo) in the HBO series "Watchmen," one of the main characters in"The Harder They Fall" played by Delroy Lindo,and he is believed to be the inspiration for "The Lone Ranger." Employee Affinity Group. 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. His lawyer, Robert P. DeGraffenried, sued his mother-in-law Cynthia Tolliver for Bens share. When he asked her about an alleged infidelity, she replied that it was true. Born into slavery in Virginia, James Beckwourth was freed by his white father and apprenticed as blacksmith in his early years. Led by the 18-year-old Rufus Buck(center), the members of the gang included Maoma July, Lucky Davis, Sam Sampson, and Lewis Davis. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Jane Reeves (147727516)? If the man Reeves arrested could not read, then the deputy had to locate someone who could to make sure that he had the right person. Benny Reeves served 22 years at Leavenworth Prison. Reeves was well aware of the historic precedent, and took his responsibilities seriously. 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. Nellie Reeves was born in 1840, in Texas,United States. Born Crawford Goldsby in 1876, Bill and his group, the Cook Gang, ravaged the Indian territory in 1895 and 1896. He died on January 12, 1910, and he was buried in the Union Agency Cemetery at Muskogee, Oklahoma, but the exact location of his grave is unknown. He learned their languages and customs, and sharpened his skills as an ambidextrous marksman. Nellie was born circa 1850, in Texas. [5] He married Nellie Jennie from Texas, with whom he had ten children, five boys and five girls. 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. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Ben kept in close contact with his sisters and their stepmother, but his relationship with his father appears to have been strained. Bass Reeves, is the first African-American to be deputized by the U.S. In 1902, Bass Reeves son, Benny, was charged with the murder of his wife. Children. You can always change this later in your Account settings. In her early years, she worked as groundskeeper at the Ursuline Convent of the Sacred Heart in Toledo, Ohio. 1898 - The Muskogee Years Reeves transfers to Muskogee, Indian Territory Nov 28, 1901. Wikimedia CommonsBelle Starr (left), a notorious horse thief, was arrested by Bass Reeves in 1883. formId: "bb101386-3a24-451d-80af-5e725ebb6c69", Marshal. His slavemaster, William S. Reeves, moved the household to Texas in 1846. Born to slave parents in 1838 in Arkansas, Bass Reeves was a member of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. His own son, Bennie, had been charged with murder, after having killed his wife in a fit of jealousy. region: "", 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. Bass Reeves began to ride the Oklahoma range in search of outlaws. and there is an ongoing debate as to whether or not the inspiration for the Lone Ranger While Reeves was a successful farmer, rancher, and father, he occasionally worked as a scout and used his tracking skills to help lawmen find criminals but his true second act had yet to begin. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. He arrested over 3,000 criminals and was never wounded while doing so. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the
Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 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 quickly gained a reputation as a tough and fearless lawman who managed to bring in outlaws thought to be invincible. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. It would be a good idea to occasionally highlight To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. During the prior two years, not a single crime was committed in his patrol area. Covering some 75,000 square miles, the United States Court at Fort Smith, was the largest in the nation. Possibly based on his exceptional record, Reeves is acquitted. Cause of death - Peritonitis result of cancer.Note: Name on funeral home receipt, Green Sanders, is Jennie's son-in-law, married to daughter Sallie Reeves Sanders.After cross referencing old Block numbers and current block numbers it is determined that Jennie Reeves is in Block 36. Contrary to what classic Westerns might lead us to believe, one in four American cowboys was actually African American. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Judge Isaac Parker known notoriously as the Hanging Judge from sentencing numerous defendants to their deaths is installed at Fort Smith Federal Court. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) He became a barber and on November 20, 1900, married Castella Brown. 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. Ben Reeves remained in Okmulgee and later married Fleccia Cromartie of Iowa. And when he wasnt in disguise, he was recognized by the silver dollars he left as his calling card. White outlaws had so terrorized the interior groups, especially the Creeks and Seminoles, that Whites, with or without a badge, were unwelcome. It's an interesting move and one that I think is very positive. All copyrighted materials included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. At the age of 69 Reeves Reeves severely beat his owner An illustration of a Confederate campsite during the Civil War. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. He carried chains to secure prisoners to the wagon, as he sometimes had a dozen or more by the time he returned to Ft. Smith, where Judge Parker held court. 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. Beetzs character in The Harder They Fall is about 30 years younger than the actual Stagecoach Mary would have been in the late 1800s. -1863 The Emancipation Proclamation is issued by President Abraham Lincoln; Bass Reeves, still living in confederate territory, is now legally a free man and no longer must live as a fugitive. Sorry! 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. https://www.tshaonline.org, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/reeves-bass. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. is based on Bass Reeves. Bass Reeves . Always wearing a large hat, Reeves was usually a spiffy dresser, with his boots polished to a gleaming shine. 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. But they weren't the only citizens of Indian Territory. . Marshal and order him to hire 200 deputies. The real Nat Love was born into slavery in 1854. and his owner had an altercation over a card game. Bass Reeves was born to enslaved people in Arkansas, and the person who likely enslaved his family was William Reeves. He married Nellie Jennie in 1864, and then Winnie Sumter after she died. Arkansas where he bought land and worked as a farmer and stockman. Maybe the law aint perfect, but its the only one we got, and without it we got nuthin Bass Reeves. There is where Bass met his first wife, Nellie Jennie from Texas. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jane Jennie Reeves memorial. Oklahoma. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. . 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 was a skilled fighter and made a living as a fur trader in the old American West. Reeves and his wife Nellie Jennie raised a family of ten children, five boys and five girls. The Inmate Case File of Ben Reeves (NAID 7861497), contains a wealth of information about his characteristics, correspondence, and his conduct while incarcerated. He tracked down Nevertheless, Reeves was a real, well known deputy marshal He was 68 years old by then, but took on another position with the Muskogee Police Department, which he kept until his health began to fail. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. 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. Tragedy struck Reeves when a warrant came in for the arrest of his own son for the murder of his wife . He married Nellie Jennie, a woman from Texas, in 1864, and they had 10 children. When William S. Reeves died, his son George made Bass Reeves his personal companion and servant. Freedmen[2]is a term given to emancipated slaves and their descendants after slavery was abolished in the United States following the American Civil War. Indian Territory was where the Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, and Chickasaw tribes who were forcibly removed from their homes were resettled following the Indian Removal Act of 1830. 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. It was during the Civil War that Reeves made his great escape. He married Nellie Jennie, a Texan, and fathered ten children, five boys and five girls. Bass Reeves' Family: Wife and Children. Just one grandparent can lead you to many Google Books. Winnie married Deputy U.S. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jane Jennie Reeves I found on Findagrave.com. One account recalls how Bass Reeves was Bob Dozier, a murderer and cattle and horse thief who eluded Reeves for several included the Indian Territory. After having delivered two prisoners to U.S. Nudie E. Williams, "Bass Reeves," Negro History Bulletin 42 (April-May-June 1979). This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Bass Reeves is born in Crawford County, AR. There is no announced release date for "1883: The Bass Reeves Story" yet, but we'll keep you updated. Nellie married Bass Reeves in 1864, at age 24 in Arkansas, United States. Two weeks later, Bass returned to Muskogee with his son in tow and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Now it's continuing as "1883: The Bass Reeves Story," and this is not only going to get people familiar with a badass person from American history, but it will hopefully drive all of the "1883" fans to watch. Her job was to protect the mail from thieves and deliver the mail, regardless of weather conditions. Three men ambush and corner him. 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. He began his life as an outlaw at the age of 18, robbing stagecoaches, banks, and stores. 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. It also may have been an inspiration for the film Django Unchained. She was the second womanand first African American womanto have that occupation. Bass Reeves died on January 12, 1910 and a letter from his wife arrived at Ft. Leavenworth Penitentiary just four days later. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. When the In the film, he is an outlaw, and another member of Loves gang. 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. In the end, Reeves was acquitted. He also tracked After his first wife's death, Reeves married Winnie Sumter of Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1900 and started a second family. In addition to farming and ranching, Reeves occasionally worked as a scout and guide for U.S. Deputy Marshals entering "Indian Territory" on business of the Van Buren Federal Court. Association ( TSHA ) he became a barber and on November 20, 1878 he... Precedent, and then Winnie Sumter after she died - the Muskogee Reeves!, William S. Reeves died, his son in tow and turned him to... Reeves I found on Findagrave.com its worth noting that theres no concrete proof that Reeves made great. 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