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Birth
Bass was born in Crawford County, Arkansas to slave parents. He took the surname of his owner, William Reeves, and his first name from his grandfather, Basse Washington. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1747 -
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working in Crawford County
Bass Reeves started out as a water boy until he was old enough to work as a field hand. He was working alongside his parents https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/ -
Moving
William Reeves moved his operations, family, and slaves to Grayson County, Texas. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/ -
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Civil War
Bass Claimed to have served in the Pea Ridge, Chickamuaga, and Missionary Ridge under Col. George Reeves, the son of Bass's owner.
George Reeves' family members claimed that Between 1861 and 1862, Bass attacked George and escaped to Indian Territory. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bass-Reeves -
Bass becomes free
When he was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, Bass left the Indian Territory and bought land near Van Buren, Arkansas. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/ -
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Bass's Land
After he bought the land, he became a farmer and rancher. He married a year later to Nellie Jennie, and he got ten children, five girls, five boys. He sometimes served as a guide through the Indian Territory for U.S. Deputy Marshals. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/ -
Bass becomes U.S. Deputy
Bass Reeves was hired due to his vast knowledge of the Indian Territory and able to speak multiple tribal languages, making him one of the first black federal lawmen west of the Mississippi. http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1747
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/ -
Lawlessness in Arkansas
the Federal Western District Court was moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Isaac C. Parker was appointed, his first official act was to appoint U.S. Marshal James F. Fagan to lead about 200 deputies. This was done because the Indian Territory became a lawless area where criminals hid from the law. Orders were "Bring them in alive - or dead" https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/ -
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Bass's Deputy Skills
Bass could shoot a pistol or rifle with either of his hands. He was a master of disguises and often utilized aliases. He would leave with a pocketful of warrants and return months later herding outlaws to Fort Smith. He turned in around 3,000 outlaws in his entire career, and only killed 14 outlaws. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bass-Reeves
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1747 -
Period: to
Bass's Deputy carrer
Bass, along with other lawmen, covered an area of about 75,000 square miles. Lack of ability to read or write didn't stop Reeves, as he would remember the warrants when they were read out to him. He was known to ride a white stallion and always wearing a large hat. Of the many outlaws he captured, one of them was his own son, Bennie, for domestic murder. http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net
https://www.britannica.com
https://www.legendsofamerica.com -
Death
Diagnosed with Bright's Disease and took to his sickbed in 1909, then died on January 12th, 1910. Buried the Union Agency Cemetery at Muskogee, Oklahoma. Exact location of his grave is unknown. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bassreeves/2/
