Who was the first Afro-American deputy US Marshal west of the Mississippi River?

This man was born into slavery (in the family of slaves). However, in 1865 he managed to flee from his fate and became a free farmer. He even married a girl from Texas with whom he had 10 children. He was recruited as a deputy because he knew several Indian languages. Despite being Afro-American, he became known as one of the most valued and respectable deputies of that time.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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14 Comments

Pat Wells

I love reading positive stories like this one. Another American hero.

earlepg

Reeves was highlighted on a television documentary that I saw in 2019. It seems that he is the subject of a couple of recent movies. Could have been a real-life Lone Ranger.

mlhoover

Biographer Art Burton, in 2006 asserted in his book, Black Gun Silver Star, that Bass influenced stories for the Lone Ranger series.

tbear

Just read this somewhere recently that the Lone Ranger was based on him! 😊👍 Who knows?

Bob Blumrick

Reeves was tough as nails. Highly respected Ranger.

Donald Tyler

Hollywood portrayed him as The Lone Ranger. He rode a silver horse and gave out silver coins

bettye

Bass Reeves was a legend. He never learned to read or write, but the Marshal would hand him a stack of warrants, read them to him, and send him on his way. He would track down and arrest each culprit and never made a mistake.

Camille Curran

Yes! We need MORE of them. Pat Wells,

smurray

Tremor made finger slip.

John W Shreve

filmnut, No, but Reeves was a Texas Ranger (or something like it in Oklahoma (then "Indian Territory"). The Lone Ranger was also a Texas Ranger who went on his own. Reeves did most of his work on his own as well. He once tracked and arrested his own son.