Bass Reeves was a legendary lawman in the American Old West who served as a deputy U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas and the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) from 1875 to 1907.
He was born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas, and later became a free man after the Civil War.
Reeves was known for his exceptional tracking skills, marksmanship, and ability to speak several Native American languages, which made him an effective lawman in the Indian Territory.
He is credited with arresting more than 3,000 criminals during his career, and he was known for his bravery and dedication to justice.
Despite facing discrimination and racism as a black man in the late 19th century, Reeves earned the respect of his fellow lawmen and the communities he served.
His legacy as a pioneering African American lawman has inspired many and continues to be celebrated today.
How did Bass Reeves die?
Reeves died on January 12, 1910, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, at the age of 71, due to Bright’s disease, also known as nephritis, which is characterized by the swelling and presence of albumin in urine.
Bright’s disease is a condition that affects the kidneys and can lead to kidney failure if left untreated.
Reeves had served as a deputy marshal for 32 years and later became a police officer for the Muskogee Police Department in 1907 when Oklahoma became a state.
He served there for two years before his retirement.
Bass Reeves career
Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838.
His owners, the William S. Reeves family, moved to Grayson County, Texas in 1846.
During the Civil War, Reeves became a fugitive slave and found refuge in Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma) amongst the Creek and Seminole Indians.
It is unclear how and exactly when Reeves left his owner, but at some point during the Civil War, he gained his freedom.
One account recalls how Reeves and his owner had an altercation over a card game.
After the Civil War, Reeves worked as a guide for U.S. Deputy Marshals in the Indian Territory.
In 1875, he was commissioned as a deputy U.S. Marshal, becoming the first African American to hold such a position west of the Mississippi River.
For the next thirty-two years, Reeves brought to justice over 3,000 criminals and killed fourteen outlaws during his years as a marshal, garnering a reputation as one of the most successful lawmen in the Indian Territory.
Among those he captured was Bob Dozier, a murderer and cattle and horse thief who eluded Reeves for several years before being tracked down and killed after refusing to surrender.
He also tracked outlaw Tom Story for five years between 1884 and 1889, finally killing him in a gunfight.
Reeves was noted for his evenhandedness, honesty and integrity.
He tracked down and arrested his own son after a two-week manhunt; the son, wanted for the murder of his wife, was tried and convicted but later given a full pardon.
Reeves also arrested his church minister for selling illegal alcohol, and had a long and successful law enforcement career.
He gained a reputation for his bravery and his ability to catch outlaws that other deputies couldn’t.
Throughout his 32-year tenure as a deputy U.S. Marshal, Reeves arrested over 3,000 criminals, including his own son, and reportedly killed 14 to 20 outlaws.
He achieved all of this despite being illiterate, and memorized warrants and writs.
Reeves’ life story is one of resilience, determination, and justice.
He stands as a true testament to the power of the human will to overcome adversity and achieve greatness.
His legacy has lived on in myriad ways even until the present day: he ended up raising eleven children, and his exploits as a lawman have been the inspiration for books and cinematic adaptations.
How did Bass Reeves become a lawman?
Reeves became a lawman through a series of events and personal qualities that led to his appointment as a deputy U.S. Marshal.
During the Civil War, Reeves became a fugitive slave and found refuge in the Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma) among the Creek and Seminole Indians.
It is unclear how and exactly when Reeves gained his freedom, but one account suggests that he had an altercation with his slave master’s son over a card game and then fled to the Indian Territory.
He is believed to have served with the irregular or regular Union Indians that fought in Indian Territory during the Civil War.
After the Civil War, Bass Reeves settled in Arkansas with his wife and children and began working as a scout and guide.
In 1875, Judge Isaac C. Parker, the federal judge for the Western District of Arkansas, appointed Bass Reeves as a deputy U.S. Marshal.
This appointment made him one of the first Black deputy U.S. Marshals and the first west of the Mississippi River.
Reeves had a long and successful law enforcement career, gaining a reputation for his bravery and his ability to catch outlaws that other deputies couldn’t.
Throughout his 32-year tenure as a deputy U.S. Marshal, Reeves arrested over 3,000 criminals, including his own son, and reportedly killed 14 to 20 outlaws.
Reeves’ legacy has lived on in various ways, including books, comic book appearances, and his portrayal in the HBO series Watchmen.
His story continues to inspire and captivate audiences, with the upcoming series Lawmen: Bass Reeves set to bring his life to a larger audience.
