Bass Reeves: Frontier Lawman

People passing through Fort Smith, Arkansas often find their eyes drawn to a bronze statue in Pendergraft Park. Flanked by his faithful dog, a frontier lawman sits atop his horse, eagle eyes gazing off into the distance as if scanning the horizon for some fugitive from justice. A pair of Colt revolvers in a two-gun rig peek out of his open coat and a lever-action rifle rests casually on his thigh. Broad-shouldered, square-jawed, and clear-eyed with a full mustache, the man depicted could easily be an action hero in a modern western movie. At least one historian says he was the inspiration for the Lone Ranger. There were many striking similarities between the lawman and Rooster Cogburn from the movie, “True Grit”.

Except the man depicted on the statue was very, very real.

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Bass Reeves was born a slave in Arkansas in 1838. He later accompanied his master when the white man went off to fight in the Civil War. Some say the two parted ways after getting into an argument over a poker game. The men came to blows and Bass won the fight.

The escaped slave found refuge in Indian Territory. He lived among the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek Indians for several years and mastered their languages. While in the territory, he honed his shooting skill, becoming very quick and accurate with a pistol. Though Reeves claimed to be only fair with a rifle, he was later barred from shooting competitions on a regular basis.

After the abolishment of slavery, Bass returned to Arkansas, married, started a family, and took up farming.

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The Indian Territory, which later included Oklahoma Territory, was the most dangerous area for federal peace officers in the Old West. More than 120 lawmen lost their lives before Oklahoma became a state in 1907. During the time it was under no state or federal authority, it had attracted a large population of thieves, murderers, and anyone else wishing to hide from the law. Covering some 75,000 square miles, the jurisdiction of the United States Court at Fort Smith was the largest in the nation.

In 1875 president Ulysses S. Grant selected Isaac (the hanging judge) Parker as federal judge for the Indian Territory. Parker then appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. Marshall, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. marshals, although he would rarely employ more than 20 at any one time. The deputies were tasked with cleaning up Indian Territory and, according to Judge Parker’s orders, “bring them back, dead or alive.”

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Fagan had heard that Reeves knew the Indian Territory and could speak several of their languages, so he offered Bass the job. By accepting, Reeves became the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi. He began to ride the Oklahoma range in search of outlaws.

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Fagan couldn’t have found a better fit for the position. In his 32 years as a deputy marshal, Bass arrested some of the most dangerous criminals of the time. Yet he was never wounded. He had some close calls though, and had his hat and belt shot off on separate occasions.

Bass had a reputation for being incorruptible, courageous, and fiercely dedicated to his job. The ambidextrous marshal was a crack shot with his rifle as well as the two Colts he wore butt-forward on each hip for quick draw. He rode a white horse. Some of his adventures were stranger than fiction and he sometimes used disguises to accomplish his goals.

I guess that does sound like the Lone Ranger.

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At six foot two, 190 pounds, abnormally strong, a crack shot, riding a white stallion and wearing a white hat, Reeves cut an imposing figure. As his reputation grew, at least one desperado is known to have surrendered to authorities rather than face him. Many considered him the most feared law officer working the Indian Territory. That’s saying something considering such famed lawmen as Heck Thomas, Bud Ledbetter, and Bill Tilghman were plying their trade in that area during those same years.

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Throughout Bass Reeves’ 32 years of service as a deputy U.S. marshal he arrested over 3000 felons and killed between 14 and 20 men in self defense. That’s about one arrest every four days! It’s hard to believe that he was never shot, despite numerous attempts on his life.

Reminiscent of the fictional Rooster Cogburn, Reeves would often leave Fort Smith with a batch of warrants and return months later driving a herd of outlaws charged with crimes ranging from bootlegging to murder. He would be paid in fees and rewards, taking in a handsome profit, then spend a little time with his family before heading out in pursuit of lawbreakers again.

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In 1907, when Oklahoma achieved statehood, law enforcement was assumed by the state and Reeves’ duties as a deputy U.S. marshal ended. He found employment as a patrolman on the Muskogee Oklahoma Police Department. During his two years at that job it is reported that no crimes were committed on his beat. In 1909 he was diagnosed with Bright’s Disease (nephritis) and had to give up the job. He was soon bedridden due to deteriorating health, and passed away on January 12, 1910 at the age of 71. He was buried in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

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In 2012 in Fort Smith, Arkansas a bronze statue by Oklahoma sculptor Harold Holden was dedicated to the memory of Bass Reeves, one of the greatest lawmen in the history of the wild west.

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(above) Six foot two, 190 pounds, broad-shouldered and square-jawed, Bass Reeves epitomized the wild west lawman.

(below) The face that stared down about 3000 of the toughest criminals in Indian Territory during the late 19th century. It was the last face at least 14 of them ever saw.