He learned their languages and customs, and sharpened his skills as an ambidextrous marksman. This would have made her birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves' age. 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. Winnie was a widow when she married Bass Reeves. Leave a message for others who see this profile. A beloved community figure, his funeral is attended by hundreds. Year should not be greater than current year. 1866 - Bass Reeves settles down . Failed to delete memorial. Below is an article about Reeves from Matt Helm first published in blackpast.org. Records relating to Bass Reeves and his family: Inmate Case Files from Leavenworth Penitentiary (. He married a woman named Nellie Jennie, and they must have been really into each other. On November 13, 1914, Ben Reeves life sentence was commuted and he was released three days later. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. 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. 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. So he decided to leave Indian Territory to farm his own land near Van Buren, Arkansas. and his owner had an altercation over a card game. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. After being freed in 1863, he married a woman named Nellie Jennie and . 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. His own son, Bennie, had been charged with murder, after having killed his wife in a fit of jealousy. Bass was hired as a U.S. Deputy Marshal by Judge Issac Parker, known as "the hanging judge". Now, according to the MTV Entertainment Studios upfront presentation (via Deadline), it's going to be a new chapter in the "Yellowstone" prequel "1883." The dispute went all the way up to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in April of 1908. Born into slavery in Virginia, James Beckwourth was freed by his white father and apprenticed as blacksmith in his early years. In 1889, after Reeves was assigned to Paris, Texas, he went after the Tom Story gang for their long-term horse theft operation. Stagecoach Mary is his on-again, off-again lover, and assists him in his journey for revenge. There he associated with Native Americans from the Creek and Seminole tribes learning their language and customs. Reeves used the fact that hed never learned how to read or write to his advantage in an inventive and effective way. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. His memoir. Marshal Bass Reeves, had arrested him. If you change your mind, you can easily unsubscribe. In 1906 Bass only wrote one letter to his son and received none for that whole year. Every penny counts! Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. His great-uncle, Paul L. Brady, was the first black person to be appointed as a federal administrative law judge in 1972. . Possibly based on his exceptional record, Reeves is acquitted. 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. The deputy's respect for the law was legendary. 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. 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. After spending time in Denver as a Pullman porter, he and his family settled in southern California.In 1907, Love published his autobiography, Life and Adventures of Nat Love, Better Known in the Cattle Country as Deadwood Dick, by Himself, which added to his legacy as a cowboy. Reeves was recruited to work as a deputy U.S. marshal in the Indian Territory. 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. On July 1, 1896, the gang was hanged. There is a problem with your email/password. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? [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. After reading about Bass Reeves, take a look at 9 iconic Black soldiers who risked it all to fight for America. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. However, it was his refusal to make exceptions that was extraordinary. In 2007 the US Route 62 Bridge crossing the Arkansas River, connecting Muskogee with Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, was named the Bass Reeves . During this time, young Bass impresses the owner of his family with his pleasant demeanor and aptitude for working with livestock. Born Crawford Goldsby in 1876, Bill and his group, the Cook Gang, ravaged the Indian territory in 1895 and 1896. "1883: The Bass Reeves Story" is executive produced by Sheridan, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, and Bob Yari. When all slaves were freed in 1865, Reeves was no longer a fugitive. Marshal and is thought to be the inspiration for the Lone Ranger. In 1889, after Bass was assigned to Paris, Texas, he went after the Tom Story gang of horse thieves. Non-Indians were under the jurisdiction of federal courts, but there were few marshals to supervise a very large area. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Jane Reeves (147727516)? There is no announced release date for "1883: The Bass Reeves Story" yet, but we'll keep you updated. 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. Benny Reeves served 22 years at Leavenworth Prison. 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. was Bob Dozier, a murderer and cattle and horse thief who eluded Reeves for several His slavemaster, William S. Reeves, moved the household to Texas in 1846. Before going on a pursuit, he would have someone read him the warrants so he could memorize which was which. His son was tried, convicted to life in prison, and sent to Kansas Leavenworth Penitentiary. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Bass Reeves' Family: Wife and Children. portalId: 20973928, Make sure that the file is a photo. Some accounts say that she turned herself in when she heard that the legendary Bass Reeves was looking for her. 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. At . By many historical accounts, Nat was a skilled cowboy. Bass Reeves was the first African American commissioned to serve as a deputy marshal The American Civil War begins when confederate soldiers open fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina and union soldiers surrender. 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. Marshal, Reeves had seen bullets fly through his clothing and hat, but was never injured by an outlaw. Always wearing a large hat, Reeves was usually a spiffy dresser, with his boots polished to a gleaming shine. 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. 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. 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bass Reeves was born during the Antebellum Era, a turbulent time period before the American Civil War. 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. Producing are MTV Entertainment Studios, Bosque Ranch Productions, Yoruba Saxon, and 101 Studios. [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. 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. The second outlaw dropped his gun in surprise, and they were both arrested. He died in 1910 from nephritis. The Oklahoma Territory Act extends civil and criminal laws of Arkansas over Indian territory. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. The 13th Amendment is proclaimed, abolishing slavery in the United States. That man's son, Colonel George R. Reeves, took Bass with him when he joined the Confederate Army in the Civil War. Little is known of their early relationship but in less than two years, it ended in her murder and his incarceration at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. The legendary actor and director Morgan Freeman has also expressed interest in working on a project focused on the deputy. Dependability and devotion to duty were the benchmarks of Reeves's service to the government. Wikimedia CommonsBelle Starr (left), a notorious horse thief, was arrested by Bass Reeves in 1883. During the two years that he served in this capacity, there were reportedly no crimes on his beat. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. [online version available through Ancestry.com]. (. . Bass eventually moved to Arkansas where he met his wife Nellie Jennie and. But despite being shot at on multiple occasions, he managed to dodge every single bullet, earning him the moniker The Indomitable Marshal.. There have also been quite a few impressive bronze statues that were erected in his likeness. Marshal service. The Lone Ranger, the iconic character who was virtually synonymous with the myth of the American West, was played by a white man, even though his character may have possibly been inspired by Reeves. The couple ultimately raised five girls and five boys together. 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'. 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. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Failed to report flower. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. So much of history is lost on us today. 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. He married Nellie Jennie (or Jinney), a Texas native, in 1864, and they raised a family of ten, five boys and five girls. Since he was illiterate Reeves often memorized warrants that were read to him by the Tragedy struck Reeves when a warrant came in for the arrest of his own son for the murder of his wife . At 71, two months after leaving the Muskogee police force, Bass Reeves dies of Brights disease. You might start by introducing In her early years, she worked as groundskeeper at the Ursuline Convent of the Sacred Heart in Toledo, Ohio. Another outlaw was Tom Story, expert horse thief and murderer, who sold stolen horses south of the Red River from 1884 to 1889, and who lost his life at the Delaware Bend crossing in an attempt to beat Reeves to the draw. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Reeves was 38 years old at the time, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighed 180 pounds, and rode a large horse. Bass Reevess legendary career as a U.S. marshal ended in 1907 when the new state Reeves was married twice and had eleven children. 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. One of his first acts was to make James Fagan a U.S. Reeves, who at this point was now nearly 70, joined the Muskogee Oklahoma Police Department as the only Black patrolman. Ben "Bennie" Reeves was born around 1882 to Bass Reeves and Nellie Jennie in Texas. For the next thirty-two years Bass Reeves brought to justice over 3,000 criminals (Lincoln NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2006); Kathy Weiser, Legends of America, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-BassReeves.html, 1010 Campus DriveBig Rapids, MI 49307[emailprotected](231) 591-5873, 1201 S. State Street, Big Rapids, Michigan USA 49307, Transfer and Secondary School Partnerships, Card/Riley Conservation and Wildlife Education Center, Latino Business & Economic Development Center, Below is an article about Reeves from Matt Helm first published in blackpast.org, Legends of America, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-BassReeves.html. 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). And perhaps most exciting, he was portrayed in the HBO series Watchmen in 2019. His son, George Reeves, keeps young Bass enslaved. became a policeman for the City of Muskogee. The stray gunfire kills an unfortunate camp cook. and killed fourteen outlaws during his years as a marshal, garnering a reputation After his first wife's death, Reeves married Winnie Sumter of Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1900 and started a second family. At the most opportune moment, Reeves escaped while George was sleeping and took off out west for Indian Territory. So it is one of the safest places for escaped slaves. Exploring records relating to African Americans with the Say It Loud! https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/reeves-bass. Nellie was born circa 1850, in Texas. Arkansas secedes from the United States, joining forces with the Confederate south. She was known for her volatile temper and gun-toting, which eventually led to her being kicked out of the convent. She passed away on 19 March 1896. The following work is the result of the memorial creator Jane Jamell-Hinkle's research:Funeral Home Record from Birnie Brothers Funeral Home. Reeves was well aware of the historic precedent, and took his responsibilities seriously. Like the many outlaws he had arrested, he was tried before Judge Isaac Parker. However, dodging bullets was by no means his only skill. 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