34 Facts About Bass Reeves

Bass Reeves was a deputy US Marshal, gunfighter, farmer, scout, tracker, railroad agent, and a runaway slave.

Bass Reeves spoke the languages of several Native American tribes including Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole and Creek.

Bass Reeves made up to 4,000 arrests in his lifetime, killing twenty men in the line of duty.

Bass Reeves's family were slaves belonging to Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves.

At some point, Bass Reeves escaped and fled to Indian Territory, where he learned American Indian languages and customs, as well as tracking and survival skills.

Bass Reeves was well acquainted with the Indian Territory and served there for over 32 years as a peace officer, covering over 75,000 square miles in what is Oklahoma.

Bass Reeves was involved in several tragedies during his lifetime.

Bass Reeves accidentally shot his cook, William Leach, which led to the court case United States vs Bass Reeves, for which he was acquitted.

Bass Reeves encountered some of the most ruthless outlaws of his day.

Bass Reeves tracked and killed notorious outlaw Jim Webb, who had murdered over eleven people.

Bass Reeves rounded him up along with his gang, which included John Simmons and Sam Lasly.

Bass Reeves was in a gunfight with the Creek desperado Frank Buck, whom he shot and killed.

Bass Reeves was immortalized in popular media, including TV shows, films, novels, poems, and books.

Bass Reeves was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame.

Bass Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838.

When Bass was eight, in about 1846, William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman in the Peters Colony.

Bass Reeves escaped to Indian Territory which is Kansas and Oklahoma.

Fagan had heard about Bass Reeves, who knew the Territory and could speak several Native languages.

Bass Reeves was assigned as a deputy US marshal for the Western District of Arkansas, which had responsibility for Indian Territory.

Bass Reeves worked for 32 years as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory and became one of Judge Parker's most valued deputies.

Bass Reeves brought in some of the most dangerous fugitives of the time.

Bass Reeves was never wounded, despite having his hat and belt shot off on separate occasions.

When he retired in 1907, Bass Reeves had on his record thousands of arrests of felons, some accounts claiming over 3,000.

Benjamin "Bennie" Bass Reeves was charged with the murder of his wife.

Bass Reeves was ultimately tried and convicted, serving 11 years at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas before his sentence was commuted.

Bass Reeves reportedly lived the rest of his life as a model citizen.

Bass Reeves served for two years before he became ill and retired.

At his trial before Judge Parker, Bass Reeves claimed to have shot the man by mistake while cleaning his gun.

Bass Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his exceptional record.

Bass Reeves died of Bright's disease on January 12,1910.

Bass Reeves's children were named Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr.

Bass Reeves was a great-uncle of Paul L Brady, who became the first Black man appointed as a federal administrative law judge in 1972.

Bass Reeves's great-great-grandson is former National Football League and Canadian Football League player Willard Reaves.

Bass Reeves's great-great-great-grandsons are National Hockey League player Ryan Reaves and CFL player Jordan Reaves.