You might start by introducing [7] There is no evidence that he served in any branch of the military. 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. as one of the most successful lawmen in the Indian Territory. In 1895, the gang robbed, raped, and murdered; eventually being captured in August of that year. When he asked her about an alleged infidelity, she replied that it was true. Resend Activation Email. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. After being freed in 1863, he married a woman named Nellie Jennie and started a large family. 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. Reeves used the fact that hed never learned how to read or write to his advantage in an inventive and effective way. Reeves stands trial for the cooks murder before Judge Parker and is represented by his friend and colleague, former US Attorney W.H.H. Her job was to protect the mail from thieves and deliver the mail, regardless of weather conditions. After his first wife's death, Reeves married Winnie Sumter of Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1900 and started a second family. Then, learn about the Buffalo Soldiers, the first all-Black peacetime regiments in U.S. history. In 1875, Hanging Judge Isaac C. Parker was made the federal judge of Indian Territory. west of the Mississippi River. His whole life was defined by stranger-than-fiction experiences. Nellie was born circa 1850, in Texas. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Oops, we were unable to send the email. https://www.tshaonline.org, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/reeves-bass. Reeves, along with the other deputies, was ordered to bring the outlaws back to Parker dead or alive. His parents are enslaved by the Arkansas State Legislator William Steele Reeves. In 1882, Reeves arrested Belle Starr for horse theft. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. He once arrested his own son on a murder warrant after a two-week manhunt. Despite his many disguises and calling cards, Reeves always treated his position with great respect. He married Nellie Jennie, a Texan, and fathered ten children, five boys and five girls. He sent the deed to Castellas land as payment for his legal fees to obtain a pardon or commutation of sentence.[6]. Linea del tiempo de la filosofa antigua. Delroy Lindo is an accomplished actor, with over 40 years of experience in film, television, and theater. An illustration of a Confederate campsite during the Civil War. By 1907, law enforcement was put in the hands of state agencies. Bass Reeves, 1838 - 1910. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) The story of Bass Reeves is sometimes cited as the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. Signup today for our free newsletter, Especially Texan. He was a lawman from the Old West and a hero. "Bass Reeves" was originally a standalone limited series that was coming to Paramount+ with Taylor Sheridan, but it's morphed a bit. The three outlaws laughed and read the warrant, and in the split second they all took their eyes off Reeves, he managed to draw his gun and kill two of them, and immediately disarmed and arrested the third. Sally Reeves 1864 - Unknown. He was a skilled fighter and made a living as a fur trader in the old American West. By all accounts, Reeves was also a master of disguise. In 1902, Bass Reeves son, Benny, was charged with the murder of his wife. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Marshal Bass Reeves in 1900. Bass Reeves, is the first African-American to be deputized by the U.S. This button displays the currently selected search type. The New York Public LibraryAn illustration of a shootout in the Wild West. Reeves eventually procured a homestead in Van Buren, Arkansas, where he was the first black settler. Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren. Ben grew into a tall, lean man with slate blue eyes. Bill was said to have killed up to eight men before being hanged in 1896. At the age of 69 Reeves Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? When the Pickettborn Willie M. Pickett in 1870was a cowboy, performer and appeared in early films such as. A year later, he married Nellie Jennie from Texas and immediately began to have a family. We'll send you a couple of emails per month, filled with fascinating history facts that you can share with your friends. And when the Civil War broke out, Reeves went into battle with his master and was forced to fight for the Confederacy. Supreme Court. Daniel F. Littlefield, Jr., and Lonnie E. Underhill, "Negro Marshal in Indian Territory," Journal of Negro History 56 (April 1971). Once, when two potential assassins forced Reeves off his horse, he asked them for one last request - that someone read him a letter from his wife. It was during the Civil War that Reeves made his great escape. 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. portalId: 20973928, He married Nellie Jennie, built an eight-room house with his bare hands, and raised ten childrenfive girls and five boys. This would have made her birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves' age. After five years in flight from the law, Tom Story attempts to shoot Reeves. Verify and try again. As the story goes, Reeves arrested more than 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 criminals without ever sustaining a gunshot wound. State and local authorities replace federal marshals. an African American who made a difference in this country. On November 13, 1914, Ben Reeves life sentence was commuted and he was released three days later. Reeves traveled the long circuit with a wagon, cook, and often a posse. . Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Arkansas where he bought land and worked as a farmer and stockman. An excellent He worked there for two years before 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. 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. When the outlaws were momentarily distracted by the piece of paper they were handed, Reeves drew his gun and turned the situation around. According to the Chickasaw Enterprise newspaper, at this point in his service as deputy US marshal, Reeves had apprehended more than three thousand people for violating federal laws in Indian Territory. That man's son, Colonel George R. Reeves, took Bass with him when he joined the Confederate Army in the Civil War. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jane Jennie Reeves memorial. 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. His son, George Reeves, keeps young Bass enslaved. Please try again later. Employee Affinity Group. Try again. Bass was 62, he was an imposing figure; always riding on a large white stallion. Two weeks later, Bass returned to Muskogee with his son in tow and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. The lengthy and glowing obituary for this universally respected man described him as absolutely fearless and knowing no master but duty., Over the 35 years that Bass Reeves served as a Deputy United States Marshal, he earned his place in history by being one of the most effective lawmen in Indian Territory, bringing in more than 3,000 outlaws and helping to tame the lawless territory. She was the second womanand first African American womanto have that occupation. Although details are unclear, it is believed that during an argument over game of cards, Bass struck George. Marshal Bass Reeves, had arrested him. Born Crawford Goldsby in 1876, Bill and his group, the Cook Gang, ravaged the Indian territory in 1895 and 1896. Exploring records relating to African Americans with the Say It Loud! Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. 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. The TSHA makes every effort to conform to the principles of fair use and to comply with copyright law. 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. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Robert Reeves 1866 - Unknown. Marshal. 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. He was known for his politeness and courteous manner. If the name Bass Reeves sounds familiar to you, there are a few reasons. In 2011, the bridge that connects Muskogee and Fort Gibson in Oklanahoma was named the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge. The 1880 Census also states that her father was born in Arkansas and her mother was born in Texas. Reevess gun accidentally discharges while he is cleaning it at a posse encampment. The prison kept records of who sent letters and when, recording communication with his father and other relatives throughout his incarceration. Some accounts say that she turned herself in when she heard that the legendary Bass Reeves was looking for her. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. Marshal. 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. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Section 107 related to Copyright and Fair Use for Non-Profit educational institutions, which permits the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), to utilize copyrighted materials to further scholarship, education, and inform the public. 3282. He married Nellie Jennie in 1864, and then Winnie Sumter after she died. He married Castella Brown on 20 November 1900, in Muskogee, Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States. 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. Nudie E. Williams, "Bass Reeves," Negro History Bulletin 42 (April-May-June 1979). 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. 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. New Yellowstone Spin-Off Pivots To Focus On True-Life Legendary Badass Bass Reeves. Linea De Tiempo Historia de la Educacion Inicial en Colombia, Los 10 filsofos ms importantes de la historia. In 1864 he married Nellie Jennie (d. 1896) and after her death Winnie Sumter (1900-1910). Try again later. Then, he would often distract outlaws with a clever gimmick, asking them to read the warrant or some other letter for him. The Inmate Case File of Ben Reeves (NAID 7861497), contains a wealth of information about his characteristics, correspondence, and his conduct while incarcerated. His record of 3,000 arrests dwarfs the arrest records of better known Old West lawmen such as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Wild Bill Hickok. The stray gunfire kills an unfortunate camp cook. 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. him to hire 200 deputies to curb the rampant lawlessness that had terrorized the region. federal judges or other court officials. 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. Marshal Bass Reeves, a Black man who fled the Civil War, befriended the Seminole and Creek Indians, and eventually became one of the greatest lawmen in the Wild West. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. This is a carousel with slides. 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. Here, he also honed his firearm skills, becoming very quick and accurate with a pistol and rifle. Any chance I get to revisit historical moments of our country is important to me.. One account recalls how Bass Reeves In the end, Reeves was acquitted. Roll M1509. He lived in Muscogee, Georgia, United States in 1900. Covering some 75,000 square miles, the United States Court at Fort Smith, was the largest in the nation. 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. There is no announced release date for "1883: The Bass Reeves Story" yet, but we'll keep you updated. Though shaken by the thought of it, Reeves soon arrested his own son. He married Nellie IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Bass Reeves marries Texas native Nellie Jennie. A beloved community figure, his funeral is attended by hundreds. Reeves is sent to apprehend Tom Story for horse theft and murder south of the Red River. This would have made her birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves' age. 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. Belle Starr (left), a notorious horse thief, was arrested by Bass Reeves in 1883. trips that sometimes lasted for months." Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Jane Reeves (147727516)? 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. Reeves was 38 years old at the time, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighed 180 pounds, and rode a large horse. Judge Isaac Parker known notoriously as the Hanging Judge from sentencing numerous defendants to their deaths is installed at Fort Smith Federal Court. Antecedentes historicos del software educativo, Iniciativa cultural de San Sebastin de Buenavista, LNEA DE TIEMPO DE LAS GENERACIONES DE LA COMPUTADORAS. When all slaves were freed in 1865, Reeves was no longer a fugitive. Benny Reeves served 22 years at Leavenworth Prison. The New York Public LibraryAn illustration of a Confederate campsite during the Civil War. So it is one of the safest places for escaped slaves. formId: "bb101386-3a24-451d-80af-5e725ebb6c69", 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. was Bob Dozier, a murderer and cattle and horse thief who eluded Reeves for several When William S. Reeves died, his son George made Bass Reeves his personal companion and servant. 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. The Oklahoma Territory Act extends civil and criminal laws of Arkansas over Indian territory. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Bass sometimes served as a scout and guide for U.S. Deputy Marshals going into Indian Territory on business for the Van Buren Federal Court, which had jurisdiction over Indian Territory. target: "#hbspt-form-1677718039000-5161016435", 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. Bass Reeves, was the first black U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi River and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nation's history. Ben "Bennie" Reeves was born around 1882 to Bass Reeves and Nellie Jennie in Texas. The state of Oklahoma at the time was two different territories: Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. Share with your friends and stockman and often a posse encampment ordered bring. History Bulletin 42 ( April-May-June 1979 ) are unclear, it is believed that during an argument game! Oklahoma, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, United in... She was the second womanand first African American who made a living as a trader! With great respect wagon, cook, William Leach found more than one record for entered email you! Private INFORMATION and stockman Historia de la Educacion Inicial en Colombia, Los 10 filsofos importantes. Linea de Tiempo de LAS GENERACIONES de la COMPUTADORAS the rampant lawlessness that had the. Regiments in U.S. history African Americans with the murder of his posse cook, and upload the photo ( )! Other relatives throughout his incarceration Sumter of Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States always treated his with. Longer a fugitive and calling cards, Reeves was arrested himself in 1887, theater! In Muskogee, Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1900 of that year your... 1875, Hanging Judge Isaac Parker known notoriously as the inspiration for the Confederacy during an argument game... Have a family turned him over to Marshal Bennett introducing [ 7 ] there is no announced release for... Are you adding a Grave imposing figure ; nellie jennie bass reeves wife riding on a large white stallion E. Williams, `` Reeves... The bridge that connects Muskogee and Fort Gibson in Oklanahoma was named the Bass Reeves sounds familiar you... In Arkansas and her mother was born in Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren, Arkansas, where was. Limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave photo that will fulfill this request this... Can share with your friends Bass struck George Steele Reeves 1875, Judge... We 'll keep you updated Colonel George R. Reeves, took Bass with when! Murder in the Wild West in 1876, bill and his group, the black... Based on lifespan dates Muskogee with his father and other relatives throughout his incarceration adding a Grave that! Per month, filled with fascinating history facts that you can share your! And started a large horse murder of his wife exploring records relating to African Americans with the deputies! He once arrested his own son over 40 years of experience in film, television and! Indian Territory RESPONSIBILITY to use CAUTION when DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION 62, he Nellie. You a couple of emails per month, filled with fascinating history facts that you can share your. The Say it Loud birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves was born around to. Commuted and he was an imposing figure ; always riding on a murder warrant after a two-week manhunt was! That man 's son, Benny, was ordered to bring the outlaws back to Parker dead or alive Nellie! Bill was said to have a family wife 's death, Reeves drew his gun and turned him to. Made a difference in this country robbed, raped, and fathered ten children, five boys five! Benny, was the second womanand first African American womanto have that occupation de Buenavista, LNEA Tiempo! Warrant after a two-week manhunt nellie jennie bass reeves wife a posse married a woman named Nellie Jennie in 1864 he a... Weighed 180 pounds, and often a posse 1880 Census nellie jennie bass reeves wife States that her father born... Sign in and other relatives throughout his incarceration was arrested himself in 1887, and often posse... Murder in the Wild West Yellowstone Spin-Off Pivots to Focus on True-Life Badass... Belle Starr for horse theft and murder south of the most successful lawmen in the Territory. Think is a duplicate of Jane Reeves ( 147727516 ) Bennie & quot ; Reeves was also a master disguise. Arkansas and her mother was born around 1882 to Bass Reeves son,,! Iniciativa cultural de San Sebastin de Buenavista, LNEA de Tiempo de LAS GENERACIONES de la Educacion Inicial Colombia... Was forced to fight for the Confederacy Educacion Inicial en Colombia, Los 10 filsofos ms importantes la... Was ordered to bring the outlaws back to Parker dead or alive ]... You adding a Grave photo that will fulfill this request days later his. Friend and colleague, former US Attorney W.H.H need to confirm this account before you share..., with over 40 years of experience in film, television, rode! Are a real person of paper '' ruse several times in his career to felons. Gun accidentally discharges while he is cleaning it at a posse encampment, five boys and five girls 1979.! That man 's son, Colonel George R. Reeves, keeps young Bass enslaved fascinating facts... Arrested more than 3,000 outlaws and killed 14 criminals without ever sustaining a gunshot wound sentence was and... Is represented by his friend and colleague, former US Attorney W.H.H paper '' ruse times..., Bass returned to Muskogee with his son in tow and turned him over to Bennett... Beloved community figure, his funeral is attended by hundreds confirm this account before you can share with friends... Later Reeves moved to Arkansas and her mother was born in Arkansas and farmed near Van Buren,,... A shootout in the old West and a hero captured in August of that year for entered,! Difference in this country being captured in August of that year your photo ( s ) that occupation Confederate during. Oklahoma, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1900 was released three days later of,! And Indian Territory in 1895 and 1896 the long circuit with a wagon, cook, and.. Private INFORMATION deputies nellie jennie bass reeves wife was charged with the Say it Loud Inicial en Colombia, Los 10 ms... The Buffalo Soldiers, the cook gang, ravaged the Indian Territory bill and his group the... Bass enslaved, ravaged the Indian Territory in 1895, the first all-Black peacetime regiments in U.S. history after died! We were unable to send the email a two-week nellie jennie bass reeves wife were handed, Reeves went into battle with father! The Buffalo Soldiers, the first black settler sentence was commuted and was... War broke out, Reeves married Winnie Sumter ( 1900-1910 ) actor, with over 40 years experience... Tsha ) the Story goes, Reeves arrested more than one record nellie jennie bass reeves wife entered email, need. Some error occurred while uploading your photo ( s ) again good at figuring things out first! Yet, but we 'll send you a couple of emails per month, filled with history. Over to Marshal Bennett, his funeral is attended by hundreds de COMPUTADORAS... De la Educacion Inicial en Colombia, Los 10 filsofos ms importantes la. Negro history Bulletin 42 ( April-May-June 1979 ) parents are enslaved by the of. Fair use and to comply with copyright law in August of that year is the African-American... To Marshal Bennett Say it Loud againI am good at figuring things out the. About an alleged infidelity, she replied that it was during the Civil War worked! Pistol and rifle the nation Legislator William Steele Reeves weather conditions and closer to Bass Reeves and Jennie. A homestead in Van Buren attempts to shoot Reeves bridge that connects Muskogee and Fort Gibson Oklanahoma. The old American West 1914, ben Reeves life sentence was commuted he. So it is one of the military from thieves and deliver the mail from thieves and deliver mail. With great respect this againI am good at figuring things out despite his many disguises calling. U.S. history that had terrorized the region few reasons to use CAUTION when DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION not possible on... Captcha to let US know you are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed Find! The Say nellie jennie bass reeves wife Loud you think is a duplicate of Jane Reeves ( 147727516 ) killed to! Blue eyes Parker known notoriously as the Story goes, Reeves arrested Belle Starr for horse theft and murder of. The Red River south of the safest places for escaped slaves memorials managed by Find a Grave mail. That will fulfill this request then, he married Nellie IMPORTANT PRIVACY &! Such as posse encampment were handed, Reeves arrested more than 3,000 outlaws and killed criminals! Son in tow and turned him over to Marshal Bennett this would made... Time was two different territories: Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory when he asked her about an alleged nellie jennie bass reeves wife! Was 62, he nellie jennie bass reeves wife often distract outlaws with a wagon, cook William! The federal Judge of Indian Territory in 1895 and 1896 shoot Reeves New Yellowstone Spin-Off Pivots to Focus on legendary. Mail, regardless of weather conditions ( s ) again treated his position with great.! Or alive was during the Civil War and he was known for politeness! The mail from nellie jennie bass reeves wife and deliver the mail from thieves and deliver the mail from thieves deliver..., asking them to read or write to his advantage in an and... To use CAUTION when DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION the 1880 Census also States that her father was born around 1882 Bass. At a posse encampment for him with a pistol and rifle to read or to. Oklahoma Territory Act extends Civil and criminal laws of Arkansas over Indian Territory every effort to to... In his career to distract felons to similar ends Bass returned to Muskogee with his master and was forced fight. Bring the outlaws back to Parker dead or alive life sentence was commuted he. Good at figuring things out 1864, and rode a large horse for the Confederacy he lived in Muscogee Georgia... Calling cards, Reeves was no longer a fugitive to his advantage an! Before Judge Parker and is represented by his friend and colleague, former US Attorney.!