Marshal Bass Reeves in 1900. Learn more about merges. Reeves, who at this point was now nearly 70, joined the Muskogee Oklahoma Police Department as the only Black patrolman. Although details are unclear, it is believed that during an argument over game of cards, Bass struck George. They had 11 children: Robert E Reeves, Bass Reeves and 9 other children. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. 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. Winnie married Deputy U.S. When William S. Reeves died, his son George made Bass Reeves his personal companion and servant. Reeves buys farmland near Van Buren, AR. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. He married Nellie Jennie in 1864, and then Winnie Sumter after she died. This browser does not support getting your location. Thanks for your help! All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real . He lived in Muscogee, Georgia, United States in 1900. 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. and arrested his own son after a two week manhunt. There have also been quite a few impressive bronze statues that were erected in his likeness. A real-life hero. Of course, its worth noting that theres no concrete proof that Reeves inspired the famous character. Sorry! his church minister for selling illegal alcohol. Bass Reeves was credited with arresting more than 3,000 felons. In 1902, Bass Reeves son, Benny, was charged with the murder of his wife. Records relating to Bass Reeves and his family: Inmate Case Files from Leavenworth Penitentiary (. 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. The second outlaw dropped his gun in surprise, and they were both arrested. Please enter your email and password to sign in. . In 1907, law enforcement was assumed by state agencies and Reeves duties as a deputy marshal came to an end. 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." 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. Harriet Reeves 1868 - Unknown. Reeves is the first Black deputy US marshal to receive a commission west of the Mississippi river. The legendary actor and director Morgan Freeman has also expressed interest in working on a project focused on the deputy. Nellie Jennie family tree. There was an error deleting this problem. federal judges or other court officials. Though shaken by the thought of it, Reeves soon arrested his own son. Bass Reeves (1838 - 1910) (shown) was a former slave who became a deputy U.S. Signup today for our free newsletter, Especially Texan. He learned their languages and became familiar with the landscape during this time. In 1887, Bass was charged with murdering a posse cook. He married Nellie Jennie, a Texan, and fathered ten children, five boys and five girls. Written, directed, and scored by Jeymes Samuel, this movie highlights a moment in history and shows that cowboys came in different forms, contrary to popular belief. If so, login to add it. Bass Reeves, 1838 - 1910. 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. Parker, in turn, appointed a U.S. At 71, two months after leaving the Muskogee police force, Bass Reeves dies of Brights disease. He shot and killed 14 criminals in self-defense. He arrested over 3,000 criminals and was never wounded while doing so. Unavailable. During this time, Reeves health diminishes, forcing him out of the Muskogee police force. And as the criminals became confused and distracted, Reeves would draw his gun. However, dodging bullets was by no means his only skill. The Western District of Arkansas is established. His wife, Nellie Jennie Reeves, tries to persuade Bass not to leave for his own safety,. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. The marshal was famous for fair-mindedness and was impossible to bribe or corrupt. After having delivered two prisoners to U.S. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Reeves used the fact that hed never learned how to read or write to his advantage in an inventive and effective way. The prison kept records of who sent letters and when, recording communication with his father and other relatives throughout his incarceration. Three men ambush and corner him. https://www.tshaonline.org, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/reeves-bass. [7] There is no evidence that he served in any branch of the military. The son, wanted for the murder 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. Reeves and his wife Nellie Jennie raised a family of ten children, five boys and five girls. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Covering some 75,000 square miles, the United States Court at Fort Smith, was the largest in the nation. During the prior two years, not a single crime was committed in his patrol area. Although Reeves was a skilled frontiersman and spoke several languages, he had never learned to read. Nellie was born circa 1850, in Texas. In 2007 the US Route 62 Bridge crossing the Arkansas River, connecting Muskogee with Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, was named the Bass Reeves . All copyrighted materials included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 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. outlaw Tom Story for five years between 1884 and 1889, finally killing him in a gunfight. Bass eventually moved to Arkansas where he met his wife Nellie Jennie and raised their ten children. Try again. 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. Google Books. The state of Oklahoma at the time was two different territories: Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. with him. 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. Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many desperadoes of the territory. Marshal. Nellie Reeves (Jennie) Also Known As: ""Nellie Jennie"" Birthdate: estimated between 1814 and 1874 : Birthplace: Texas, United States: Death: Immediate Family: Wife of . His parents are enslaved by the Arkansas State Legislator William Steele Reeves. He tracked down You can always change this later in your Account settings. Desperate bands of deserters turn to banditry to survive in isolated parts of Arkansas. The film tells the story of Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), an outlaw hell bent on avenging the death of his parents, who were murdered in cold blood by Rufus Buck (Idris Elba). You need a Find a Grave account to continue. He married Nellie Jennie (or Jenney), a Texan, and the couple had 10 children, five boys and five girls. When Bass charges into the desert . Spouse(s) Bass Reeves 1838 - 1910. S > Sumter | R > Reeves > Winnie (Sumter) Reeves, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. He takes Bass, now a grown man, with him as a guard and valet and still as his slave. . Bass Reevess legendary career as a U.S. marshal ended in 1907 when the new state He is named for his grandfather, Bass Washington. He spends the next 32 years as a federal peace officer in Indian Territory. Because of his knowledge of the area and fluency in the Creek and Seminole languages, The dispute went all the way up to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in April of 1908. Reeves, along with the other deputies, was ordered to bring the outlaws back to Parker dead or alive. (However, others say Reeves simply heard that slaves were being freed and decided to run in order to free himself.). Because Dozier was unpredictable, he was also hard to catch and though many lawmen had tried to apprehend him, none were successful until it came to Reeves. Winnie was a widow when she married Bass Reeves. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. She passed away on 19 March 1896. At this time, the Freemen's Bureau Act of. 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. In 1864 he married Nellie Jennie (d. 1896) and after her death Winnie Sumter (1900-1910). The Oklahoma Territory Act extends civil and criminal laws of Arkansas over Indian territory. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. White outlaws had so terrorized the interior groups, especially the Creeks and Seminoles, that Whites, with or without a badge, were unwelcome. The rest of the gang disbanded and were never heard from again. He became a barber and on November 20, 1900, married Castella Brown. . Reeves was also skilled at disguising himself Todays post was written by Holly Rivet, archival technician at the National Archives in St. Louis. She was the second womanand first African American womanto have that occupation. Refining his skills as an outdoorsman, Bass became an expert sharpshooter. 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. 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. The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry. In 2011, the bridge that connects Muskogee and Fort Gibson in Oklanahoma was named the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge. an African American who made a difference in this country. The son, wanted for the murder of his wife, was tried and convicted but later given a full pardon. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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'. Reeves, Bass, 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. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. The 13th Amendment is proclaimed, abolishing slavery in the United States. His mother died in 1896 due to consumption (tuberculosis) leaving his father widowed with eleven children to care for. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Reeves severely beat his owner However, in recent years, Reeves story has started to get more attention. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. The real Nat Love was born into slavery in 1854. He always bore a very good reputation and I never know of him doing anything wrong until he got into the trouble which caused his commitment to the penitentiary. Search above to list available cemeteries. 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. Contrary to what classic Westerns might lead us to believe, one in four American cowboys was actually African American. That man's son, Colonel George R. Reeves, took Bass with him when he joined the Confederate Army in the Civil War. based on information from your browser. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. Born to slave parents in 1838 in Arkansas, Bass Reeves was a member of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Graphics ( borders, embellishments ruse several times in his career to distract felons to ends... 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