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). The Pacific Reporter, Volume, 95. Her job was to protect the mail from thieves and deliver the mail, regardless of weather conditions. and killed fourteen outlaws during his years as a marshal, garnering a reputation In this arrangement, the trustee will continue to serve time within the prison walls, but is able to stay in a dormitory, have special privileges, and spend much more time outside of confinement.[4]. Reeves severely beat his owner He learned their languages and became familiar with the landscape during this time. While the story told in the Netflix film released today is entirely fictional, many of its characters were historical figures. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) Whatever the case, Reeves soon took refuge with the Creek and Seminole Indians in what is now Oklahoma. Bass Reeves Born to slave parents in 1838 in Arkansas, Bass Reeves was a member of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. and there is an ongoing debate as to whether or not the inspiration for the Lone Ranger Handbook of Texas Online, 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. West Publishing Company, 1908. A year later, he married Nellie Jennie of Texas. . Roll M1509. Though shaken by the thought of it, Reeves soon arrested his own son. Bass Reeves was credited with arresting more than 3,000 felons. [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. Belle Starr (left), a notorious horse thief, was arrested by Bass Reeves in 1883. Bass Reeves, 1838 - 1910. He was appointed a U.S. deputy marshal in 1875, and arrested over 3,000 criminals, killing 14 outlaws in the process. Add to your scrapbook. Producing are MTV Entertainment Studios, Bosque Ranch Productions, Yoruba Saxon, and 101 Studios. Reeves, who at this point was now nearly 70, joined the Muskogee Oklahoma Police Department as the only Black patrolman. His father was an officer in the old Indian Territory for more than 30 years and was always considered an honest and honorable man, and I believe Ben has in his nature some of his fathers good qualities. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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. It also may have been an inspiration for the film Django Unchained. 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. Though the warrant had been lying on Bennetts desk for two days, the other deputies were reluctant to take it and though Reeves was shaken, he demanded to accept the responsibility for finding his son. Dependability and devotion to duty were the benchmarks of Reeves's service to the government. Possibly based on his exceptional record, Reeves is acquitted. Of course, its worth noting that theres no concrete proof that Reeves inspired the famous character. Reevess gun accidentally discharges while he is cleaning it at a posse encampment. This would have made her birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves' age. By all accounts, Reeves was also a master of disguise. Wikimedia CommonsBass Reeves was known for his exceptional shooting skills and his ability to dodge bullets. 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. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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. . But interestingly enough, the inspiration behind The Lone Ranger may have actually been the real-life Deputy U.S. Marshal. Bass Reeves was born a slave in Arkansas in 1838. On February 13, 1903 he was received at Ft. Leavenworth Penitentiary and became Inmate No. 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. Oops, something didn't work. Reeves and his wife Nellie Jennie raised a family of ten children, five boys and five girls. The story of Bass Reeves is sometimes cited as the inspiration for The Lone Ranger. For the next thirty-two years Bass Reeves brought to justice over 3,000 criminals Civil War began, George Reeves, Bass owner, joined the Confederate Army, taking Bass 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. And when he wasnt in disguise, he was recognized by the silver dollars he left as his calling card. The rest of the gang disbanded and were never heard from again. However, when the purpose served him, he was a master of disguises and often utilized aliases. There have also been quite a few impressive bronze statues that were erected in his likeness. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. He was paid fees in those days that sometimes amounted to thousands of dollars for a single trip . In 2011, the bridge that connects Muskogee and Fort Gibson in Oklanahoma was named the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge. Nellie Jennie (Bass Reeves' wife) What is Palomino Mugging? 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 real Bass Reeves was born in July of 1838, died in January 1910, and was the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshall that lived west of the Mississippi River. In 1887, Bass was charged with murdering a posse cook. As the story goes, Reeves beat up his master after a dispute over cards and then fled to avoid punishment. 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. Non-Indians were under the jurisdiction of federal courts, but there were few marshals to supervise a very large area. Daniel F. Littlefield, Jr., and Lonnie E. Underhill, "Negro Marshal in Indian Territory," Journal of Negro History 56 (April 1971). Ben grew into a tall, lean man with slate blue eyes. This award is given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values (source: ALA.org/rt/emiert/cksbookawards). During this time, Reeves health diminishes, forcing him out of the Muskogee police force. The stray gunfire kills an unfortunate camp cook. His parents are enslaved by the Arkansas State Legislator William Steele Reeves. 1866 - Bass Reeves settles down . These locations are repeated in Bass, Jane and Bass' parents alleged birth places. Try again later. He tracked down After the death of his wife, Reeves married Winnie Sumter of Muskogee, Okla., and. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. You can always change this later in your Account settings. As such, he was authorized to arrest both black and white lawbreakers. His authority extends throughout Indian Territory and covers about 75,000 square miles at the time, the Fort Smith Federal Court was the largest in the nation. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. He then became a city police officer in Muskogee, Oklahoma. First, it is intended to be a spiritual successor to Bill Crider's blog, Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine. Sorry! 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. target: "#hbspt-form-1677718039000-5161016435", While Jane or Jennie Reeves was reportedly born in 1850 in the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Census, the deponent (a family member) of her burial record stated that she was 56 years old at the time of her death. In the early afternoon of June 7, 1902, a young Ben Reeves paid a visit to his estranged wife, Castella Brown, at her cousins house not far from their home in Muskogee, OK. If the name Bass Reeves sounds familiar to you, there are a few reasons. He was a skilled fighter and made a living as a fur trader in the old American West. This large family was a huge help when it came to chores, and the farm became quite profitable over the years. New Yellowstone Spin-Off Pivots To Focus On True-Life Legendary Badass Bass Reeves. After refusing to surrender, Reeves killed Dozier in an accompanying gunfight on December 20, 1878. 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. Two weeks later, Bass returned to Muskogee with his son in tow and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. All deputies were tasked with cleaning up Indian Territory and on Judge Parkers orders, Bring them in alive or dead!. 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. Marshal James F. Fagan to lead 200 deputies in the pursuit of these outlaws. 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'. Marshal. [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. In a statement he gave in February of 1903, he said, By constant worry over her actions and the breaking up of my home, and receiving such an answer I lost all control and shot her.[1] It was in this statement that he confirmed that his father, the famous frontier Deputy U.S. 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. A real-life hero. After the death of his wife, Reeves married Winnie Sumter of Muskogee, Okla., and. 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. Together with his wife, spend the next ten years farming and raising ten children (five sons and five daughters): Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice. A year later, he married Nellie Jennie from Texas and immediately began to have a family. Todays post was written by Holly Rivet, archival technician at the National Archives in St. Louis. Lnea del tiempo de desarrollo embrionario y fetal. Next, Bass took a job as a patrolman with the Muskogee, Oklahoma Police Department. Bass Reeves died on January 12, 1910 and a letter from his wife arrived at Ft. Leavenworth Penitentiary just four days later. They ended up having a whopping ten childrenfive boys and five girls. The 2010 straight-to-video movie Bass Reeves is a fictionalized account of the lawman's life. In 1895, she earned a contract from the postal service as a route carrier. Nellie Reeves, the wife of Bass Reeves, dies of tuberculosis. 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. Bass Reeves, is the first African-American to be deputized by the U.S. Google Books. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. Bass Reeves died on January 10, 1910 in Muskogee, At this time, the Freemen's Bureau Act of. Nellie Jennie family tree. Unavailable. [5] [6] [7] [8] Three men ambush and corner him. He also tracked However, dodging bullets was by no means his only skill. Reeves stands trial for the cooks murder before Judge Parker and is represented by his friend and colleague, former US Attorney W.H.H. The real Bass Reeves was born in July of 1838, died in January 1910, and was the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshall that lived west of the Mississippi River. There he associated with Native Americans from the Creek and Seminole tribes learning their language and customs. Parents. Nellie Reeves (Jennie) Also Known As: ""Nellie Jennie"" Birthdate: estimated between 1814 and 1874 : Birthplace: Texas, United States: Death: Immediate Family: Wife of . The New York Public LibraryAn illustration of a Confederate campsite during the Civil War. While the story told in the all-Black western is entirely fictional, many of its characters were actual figures. Reeves died of Bright's disease in 1910. A bridge in Oklahoma has been named after him. Nevertheless, Reeves was a real, well known deputy marshal Then, he would often distract outlaws with a clever gimmick, asking them to read the warrant or some other letter for him. 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. Bass married Nellie Jinny Reeves (born Wilson) in 1864, at age 26. Benny Reeves served 22 years at Leavenworth Prison. In 1893, he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas, and in 1897, to serve at the Muskogee Federal Court in the Indigenous territory. Freeman said that he has always wanted to do his own Western as long as its about Reeves. "1883: The Bass Reeves Story" is executive produced by Sheridan, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, and Bob Yari. and taking on other aliases to assist his apprehension of criminals. Reeves was well aware of the historic precedent, and took his responsibilities seriously. ", 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. When all slaves were freed in 1865, Reeves was no longer a fugitive. Failed to remove flower. He cut an imposing figure as he patrolled the 75,000 square miles of Indian Territory. This would have made her birth year 1840 and closer to Bass Reeves' age. . , , Linea del tiempo-GENERACIONES DE LAS COMPUTADORAS, See more Science and Technology timelines, http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/courts_district_ar.html, http://newsok.com/feed/statue-of-u.s.-marshal-to-travel-from-oklahoma-to-arkansas-wednesday/article/3675994?custom_click=pod_headline_news, https://fortsmith.org/bass-reeves-monument. In the film, Beetz portrays Nats on-again, off-again lover, the fearless Stagecoach Mary. We'll send you a couple of emails per month, filled with fascinating history facts that you can share with your friends. 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. 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. -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. Reeves approached the three murderous Brunter brothers and handed them a warrant for their arrest. Though the tales of Bass heroics are many and varied, the toughest manhunt for the lawman was that of hunting down his own son in 1902. 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. Familiar to you, there are a few reasons if not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA chores and. Of course, its worth noting that theres no concrete proof that inspired... 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