Bass Reeves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bass Reeves
Born	July 1838 Crawford County, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	January 12, 1910(1910-01-12) (aged 71) Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.
Known for	3,000 Arrests
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) at age 30
Opponent(s)	Jim Webb Wiley Bear John Bruner Frank Buck Ned Christy Belle Starr
Spouse(s)	Nellie Jennie ​ ​ (m. 1864; died 1896)​ Winnie Sumter ​ (m. 1900)​
Children	11
Police career
Country	United States Government
Years of service	1875-1910
Rank	Deputy

Bass Reeves (born July 1838 – died January 12, 1910) was an amazing American lawman. He was born into slavery but later became a Deputy U.S. Marshal. He was one of the first African-American marshals west of the Mississippi River.

Bass Reeves worked mostly in the tough Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. This area was full of criminals like horse thieves, bandits, and murderers. Bass was known for his bravery and skill. He made over 3,000 arrests during his career. He also spoke several Native American languages, including Cherokee and Creek.

Bass faced many challenges in his life. He had to arrest his own son, Benjamin, who was charged with murder. His son was later released and lived a good life. Bass Reeves is remembered as a legendary figure in American history.

Becoming a Lawman

Bass Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. His family was enslaved by William Steele Reeves. When Bass was about eight years old, his owner moved to Texas.

During the American Civil War, Bass escaped to Indian Territory. There, he learned a lot from the Native American tribes, including their languages and how to track people. When the Emancipation Proclamation made him a free man, Bass returned to Arkansas and became a farmer.

In 1875, a new federal judge named Isaac Charles Parker was appointed for the Indian Territory. Judge Parker needed many new deputy U.S. marshals. He heard about Bass Reeves, who knew the territory well and spoke several Native languages. Bass, who was 37 years old, was hired. He became the first Black deputy marshal to serve west of the Mississippi River.

Life as a Deputy Marshal

Bass Reeves worked as a federal peace officer for 32 years. He covered a huge area, about 75,000 square miles, which is now Oklahoma. He was one of Judge Parker's most trusted deputies.

Bass was incredibly skilled at his job. He was a great shot with a rifle and revolver. He was also an excellent detective. Even though he faced many dangerous criminals, he was never seriously hurt. His hat and belt were shot off in different gunfights, but he always survived.

He arrested some of the most dangerous outlaws of his time. He even tracked down and killed a notorious outlaw named Jim Webb. When he retired in 1907, Bass Reeves had arrested thousands of criminals. Records show he killed 14 outlaws, but only to defend himself.

After Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Bass Reeves, at 68 years old, joined the Muskogee Police Department. He served as a police officer for two years before he became ill and retired.

Later Years and Legacy

Reeves (left) with a group of Marshals in 1907

Bass Reeves' health declined after he retired. He passed away on January 12, 1910.

Bass Reeves was married twice and had eleven children. His first wife was Nellie Jennie, and after she passed away, he married Winnie Sumter.

Bass Reeves' story has inspired many people. He is remembered in books, movies, and TV shows.

Honors and Memorials

Statue dedicated to Bass Reeves in Fort Smith, Arkansas

• In 2011, a bridge in Oklahoma was renamed the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge.
• In 2012, a bronze statue of Bass Reeves was placed in Pendergraft Park in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
• In 2013, he was honored by being inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame.

Bass Reeves in Pop Culture

Bass Reeves' life has been featured in many forms of entertainment:

• He has been the subject of TV shows like Wild West Chronicles and Gunslingers.
• He appeared as a character in episodes of Timeless and Wynonna Earp.
• The TV series Watchmen featured a fictional silent film about Bass Reeves.
• He was a character in an episode of Legends of Tomorrow.
• A new limited series based on his life, called Lawmen: Bass Reeves, started airing in 2023.
• In movies, he has been portrayed in films like They Die by Dawn (2013), Hell on the Border (2019), and The Harder They Fall (2021).
• He is also a character in the board game Western Legends and the card game Cartaventura Oklahoma.
• Bass Reeves has appeared in comic books, including Marshal Bass and a Lucky Luke adventure.