He waited along the route that the gang was known to have used and surprised Tom Story with an arrest warrant. When the outlaws were momentarily distracted by the piece of paper they were handed, Reeves drew his gun and turned the situation around. Often they rode to such places as Fort Reno, Fort Sill and Anadarko, a round trip of more than 800 miles. After 32 years as a US deputy marshal, more than three thousand arrests -- and only fourteen fatalities in the line of duty -- Reeves takes on a new career opportunity in the Muskogee police force. He learned their languages and became familiar with the landscape during this time. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Reeves was also skilled at disguising himself After refusing to surrender, Reeves killed Dozier in an accompanying gunfight on December 20, 1878. Over his 32-year career as a Deputy U.S. There he associated with Native Americans from the Creek and Seminole tribes learning their language and customs. Reeves, thinking quickly, explains that he needs to write down the date of their capture, buying him enough time to draw his revolver, which he used to shoot dead one of his attackers. Possibly based on his exceptional record, Reeves is acquitted. Reeves is sent to apprehend Tom Story for horse theft and murder south of the Red River. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. If so, login to add it. In 2013, he was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame. 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." 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Reevess gun accidentally discharges while he is cleaning it at a posse encampment. [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. Then, he would often distract outlaws with a clever gimmick, asking them to read the warrant or some other letter for him. Born a slave in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas, Bass Reeves served Arkansas state legislator William S. Reeves. Just one grandparent can lead you to many But they weren't the only citizens of Indian Territory. During the prior two years, not a single crime was committed in his patrol area. In 1875, Hanging Judge Isaac C. Parker was made the federal judge of Indian Territory. Roll M1509. 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. Although Bass Reeves accomplishments as a lawman greatly overshadow those of many of his more famous white contemporaries, the legend of Bass Reeves was, for the most part, lost to history. Winnie was a Cherokee Freedman.[1]. On July 1, 1896, the gang was hanged. William Reeves moves to Grayson County, Texas. 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. Records relating to Bass Reeves and his family: Inmate Case Files from Leavenworth Penitentiary (. Ben Reeves remained in Okmulgee and later married Fleccia Cromartie of Iowa. Nellie Jennie married Bass Reeves and had 11 children. Led by the 18-year-old Rufus Buck(center), the members of the gang included Maoma July, Lucky Davis, Sam Sampson, and Lewis Davis. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. federal judges or other court officials. The story of Bass Reeves is sometimes cited as the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. They had 11 children: Robert E Reeves, Bass Reeves and 9 other children. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. One account recalls how Bass Reeves When Bass Reeves was finally freed by the Thirteenth Amendment, he returned to Arkansas in 1865, married a Texas woman named Nellie Jennie and settled on a farm; they had ten children. After being freed in 1863, he married a woman named Nellie Jennie and started a large family. and fled to the Indian Territory where he lived as a fugitive slave among the Creeks Every penny counts! Marshal and order him to hire 200 deputies. He became a barber and on November 20, 1900, married Castella Brown. His children were named Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice. . All deputies were tasked with cleaning up Indian Territory and on Judge Parkers orders, Bring them in alive or dead!. During his time in Tennessee, Nat became skilled at cattle punching and raised enough money to go out on his own at the age of 16. By several accounts, Reeves served as a guide for U.S. marshals going into the Indian Territory. Nellie Reeves (Jennie) Also Known As: ""Nellie Jennie"" Birthdate: estimated between 1814 and 1874 : Birthplace: Texas, United States: Death: Immediate Family: Wife of . In 1895, she earned a contract from the postal service as a route carrier. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Bass Reeves was born in 1838, at birth place, Arkansas. Linea del tiempo de la filosofa antigua. When all slaves were freed in 1865, Reeves was no longer a fugitive. Wikimedia CommonsBass Reeves was known for his exceptional shooting skills and his ability to dodge bullets. Daniel J. Littlefield, Jr., and Lonnie E. Underhill, Negro Marshal in the Indian 1898. In 1889, after Bass was assigned to Paris, Texas, he went after the Tom Story gang of horse thieves. The New York Public LibraryAn illustration of a shootout in the Wild West. There is a problem with your email/password. The American Civil War ends. Reeves began to earn a reputation for his courage and success at bringing in or killing many desperadoes of the territory. In 1895, the gang robbed, raped, and murdered; eventually being captured in August of that year. accessed March 02, 2023, [3] Several people petitioned for his release including E.H. Hubbard of the U.S. Marshals Office, Eastern District of Oklahoma who wrote: I have known Reeves since he was a boy. The 2010 straight-to-video movie Bass Reeves is a fictionalized account of the lawman's life. 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. He was known for his politeness and courteous manner. There is where Bass met his first wife, Nellie Jennie from Texas. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jane Jennie Reeves memorial. 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 ] If the name Bass Reeves sounds familiar to you, there are a few reasons. During this time, Reeves health diminishes, forcing him out of the Muskogee police force. Contrary to what classic Westerns might lead us to believe, one in four American cowboys was actually African American. The following work is the result of the memorial creator Jane Jamell-Hinkle's research:Funeral Home Record from Birnie Brothers Funeral Home. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Born Crawford Goldsby in 1876, Bill and his group, the Cook Gang, ravaged the Indian territory in 1895 and 1896. After five years in flight from the law, Tom Story attempts to shoot Reeves. At the age of 69 Reeves When the Civil War broke out, William Reeves' son George was made a colonel in the Confederate army and took Bass to war with him. 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. point during the Civil War he gained his freedom. Bill was said to have killed up to eight men before being hanged in 1896. It includes the descendants of these slaves. Bass was now a free man and was able to settle in Arkansas, becoming a farmer near Van Buren. There have also been quite a few impressive bronze statues that were erected in his likeness. He lists his closest relative as Zola Reeves and gives his name as Bennie Bass Reeves. Desperate bands of deserters turn to banditry to survive in isolated parts of Arkansas. This would have made her birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves' age. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The legendary actor and director Morgan Freeman has also expressed interest in working on a project focused on the deputy. Marshal Bass Reeves, had arrested him. The marshal was famous for fair-mindedness and was impossible to bribe or corrupt. The stray gunfire kills an unfortunate camp cook. Marshal James F. Fagan to lead 200 deputies in the pursuit of these outlaws. Nellie Jennie (Bass Reeves' wife) What is Palomino Mugging? Bass eventually moved to Arkansas where he met his wife Nellie Jennie and. 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. Try again. 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. Winnie married Deputy U.S. Meet Bass Reeves, The Legendary Black Deputy Who Patrolled The Wild West. Nudie E. Williams, "Bass Reeves," Negro History Bulletin 42 (April-May-June 1979). So he decided to leave Indian Territory to farm his own land near Van Buren, Arkansas. He married Nellie Jennie (or Jinney), a Texas native, in 1864, and they raised a family of ten, five boys and five girls. Reeves and his family farmed in Van Buren until 1875. 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. And as the criminals became confused and distracted, Reeves would draw his gun. 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. Learn more about managing a memorial . The majority of his violations included jovial conversation with other inmates and one for trading barber services for a toothbrush. 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. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Many of the district courts asked for Reeves because of his reliability in serving warrants. Freeman said that he has always wanted to do his own Western as long as its about Reeves. On February 13, 1903 he was received at Ft. Leavenworth Penitentiary and became Inmate No. 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 was always acquitted of the deaths of his prisoners. By many historical accounts, Nat was a skilled cowboy. He registered for the draft on September 12, 1918 at the age of 39 as was required by law. Arkansas secedes from the United States, joining forces with the Confederate south. She was the second womanand first African American womanto have that occupation. Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Now, according to the MTV Entertainment Studios upfront presentation (via Deadline), it's going to be a new chapter in the "Yellowstone" prequel "1883." Parents. In 1882, Reeves arrested Belle Starr for horse theft. Freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and no longer a fugitive, the six-foot-two, 190-pound former slave left the Indian country, bought land near Van Buren, Arkansas, and became a successful stockman and farmer. But despite being shot at on multiple occasions, he managed to dodge every single bullet, earning him the moniker The Indomitable Marshal.. 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. Weve updated the security on the site. Linea De Tiempo Historia de la Educacion Inicial en Colombia, Los 10 filsofos ms importantes de la historia. After being freed in 1863, he married a woman named Nellie Jennie and . For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Harriet Reeves 1868 - Unknown. Delroy Lindo is an accomplished actor, with over 40 years of experience in film, television, and theater. -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. 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. They had 11 children: William Reeves, Edgar Reeves, Lulu Reeves, Sally Reeves, Robert Reeves, Harriet Reeves, George Reeves, Alice Mae Reeves, Newland Reeves, Benjamin Bennie . The multitalented LaKeith Stanfield plays the infamous Cherokee Bill in the film. 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. . Bass Reevess legendary career as a U.S. marshal ended in 1907 when the new state First, it is intended to be a spiritual successor to Bill Crider's blog, Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine. an African American who made a difference in this country. The real Nat Love was born into slavery in 1854. 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. 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. 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. He married Nellie Jennie, built an eight-room house with his bare hands, and raised ten. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. 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. Marshal. The court stated, therefore we hold that Ben Reeves, because of the fact that he murdered his wife, Castella Brown, is not disqualified from inheriting from her under the Creek law of descent and distribution, and therefore the plaintiff in error DeGraggenreid took, by his conveyance set forth in this cause, his entire interest in the allotment of said Castella Brown.[5], On September 22, 1911, a Ft. Leavenworth clerk wrote to Mrs. Sallie Sanders of Ft. Smith, Arkansas on behalf of Ben Reeves. When the . He married Nellie Jennie (or Jenney), a Texan, and the couple had 10 children, five boys and five girls. Nellie Reeves (born Jennie), 1840 - 1896. When he asked her about an alleged infidelity, she replied that it was true. Fagan knew of Reeves and his ability to negotiate Indian Territory and speak the languages, so Reeves was named the first black Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. He was a skilled fighter and made a living as a fur trader in the old American West. 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