The Legacy of Lawmen: Bass Reeves and His Extraordinary Life

The Rise of Bass Reeves

The finale of Lawmen: Bass Reeves leaves the legendary Old West lawman at a high point, having defeated the heinous Mr. Sundown and finally returning home to his wife and kids in Van Buren, Arkansas. The Taylor Sheridan-produced Paramount+ series chronicles the rise of Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) from a slave forced to fight for the Confederate Army to one of the most successful Deputy U.S. Marshals in American history. Although the latter half of the season pivots into a fictional narrative with the mythical Mr. Sundown, the first half of the series offers a historically accurate account of Bass Reeves' rise to prominence.

Bass Reeves in Lawmen Bass Reeves episode 7

There is no official word as of the time of writing on the status of a potential Lawmen: Bass Reeves season 2. Oyelowo, who also served as an executive producer on the series next to Sheridan, had hinted that Lawmen will become an anthology series at Paramount that is set to chronicle several real-life Old West lawmen over the course of multiple seasons. Lawmen: Bass Reeves creator Chad Feehan has recently stated that the possibility of extending Bass Reeves' story into a second season is still on the table, as the eight-part miniseries only covered roughly 15 years of the lawman's extraordinary life.

The end of Lawmen Bass Reeves finale

Bass Reeves' Service and Relocation

Following the events of Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Bass Reeves continued to serve as a Deputy U.S. Marshal within the jurisdiction of Indigenous Territory and Western Arkansas near Hell on the Border federal jail in Fort Smith. Although the end of Lawmen: Bass Reeves may imply that Bass has hung up his gun and badge for good, it's more likely that he is only taking some well-deserved time away from the job to refocus on his responsibilities as a husband and father to several young children. After nearly being racially intimidated off their property, the Reeves family finally reunites on their ranch to make it clear that they are not going anywhere.

Jennie and Rachel Reeves in Lawmen Bass Reeves finale

Bass Reeves would eventually relocate from Western Arkansas to Paris, Texas in 1893, where he stayed only for a few years until 1897. During this time, Bass's lawful jurisdiction transferred from Western Arksanas to Eastern Texas where he made several great improvements to the safety of the community. According to the Encylopedia of Arkansas, 'He was stationed at Calvin in the Choctaw Nation and took his prisoners to the federal commissioner at Pauls Valley in the Chickasaw Nation. While working for the Paris court, Reeves broke up the Tom Story gang of horse thieves that operated in the Red River valley.'

Bass Reeves in court in Lawmen Bass Reeves episode 7

Bass Reeves' Family Tragedies and Legacy

While it appears that Bass has regained a sense of importance in his family life at home, he was eventually brought back to his lawman profession in real life. While he was stationed in eastern Texas, his wife Jennie stayed on their ranch in Fort Smith with their children, where she ultimately died on March 19, 1896 from peritonitis. Bass would continue to work in Texas until 1897 and carried on prioritizing his profession over his family obligations. Several of his children either died or ran into problems with the law after Jennie's passing.

Jennie Reeves in Lawmen Bass Reeves epiosde 6

One of Reeves' daughters, Lula, passed away in 1889 from epilepsy at the age of 17. Several of Bass's sons, including Newland, Edgar, and Benjamin, went to prison for several years. Bass would arrest Benjmain for murdering his wife in June 1902, sending him to an eleven-year prison sentence. Several of Bass Reeves' children were not included in his will for unknown reasons, including Georgie and Newland. Despite all these family tragedies, Bass remarried in 1900 to Winnie Sumter. Bass was also financially ruined after his own murder trial in 1884, resulting in him having to sell his Van Buren ranch.

Sally Reeves in Lawmen Bass Reeves epiosde 6

Bass Reeves' Later Years and Legacy

Bass Reeves was transferred from the jurisdiction of Eastern Texas to Muskogee Federal Court, located in Indigenous Territory just north of Checotah. When Oklahoma became an official U.S. state in 1907, Reeves became one of the very Muskogee police officers. His tenure in his new role would be shortlived, as he died three years later at the age of 71. Even in his old age, Bass Reeves was still celebrated by the local community in Muskogee. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, 'Reeves would herd into Fort Smith, often single handed, bands of men charged with crimes from bootlegging to murder.'

Bass Reeves and Esau Pierce in Lawmen Bass Reeves finale

It was in Oklahoma where Bass Reeves truly sealed his legacy, winning the favor of many newspapers such as the Muskogee Times Democrat and the Muskogee Phoenix. Following Bass Reeves' death in 1910, the Muskogee Phoenix wrote, 'In the history of the early days of Eastern Oklahoma the name of Bass Reeves has a place in the front rank among those who cleansed out the old Indian Territory of outlaws and desperadoes.' A 25-foot statue of Bass Reeves on horseback honors the Old West icon at the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

Bass Reeves on Pistol in Lawmen Bass Reeves finale