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Here's what really happened to the real Bass Reeves after the events of 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves'

Dec 18, 2023, 04:08 IST
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David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves in "Lawmen: Bass Reeves."Lauren Smith/Paramount+
  • Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Lawmen: Bass Reeves," which concludes on Sunday.
  • The series tells the story of the first Black US marshal west of the Mississippi River.
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Paramount+'s latest Western drama, "Lawmen: Bass Reeves," concludes Sunday.

Across eight episodes, the first season of the anthology series — which is executive-produced by Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the "Yellowstone" universe — tells the story of legendary lawman Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo,) the first Black US marshal west of the Mississippi River.

After being put on trial for murder and found innocent in the previous episode, the season finale sees Bass back wearing his badge and determined to put an end to the treacherous Mr. Sundown (Barry Pepper) once and for all.

The series ends with Bass returning home to his wife, Jennie (Lauren E Banks), after rescuing Jackson (Tosin Morohunfola) from the cannibalistic slave-catcher. It's a bittersweet ending, and it's implied that Bass gives up his role as a deputy US marshal after this particularly tough final act.

Here's what happened to the real Reeves.

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Bass Reeves stopped working as a deputy US marshal in 1907

David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves in "Lawmen: Bass Reeves."Lauren Smith/Paramount+

According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, Reeves arrested over 3,000 men and women throughout his 31 years as a ranger.

He stopped working as a marshal in 1907 — but only because his role became defunct, per the agency's website.

When Oklahoma became a state that year, Reeves' duties as a deputy US marshal ended, but he chose not to retire despite being 69 years old, according to The Norman Transcript.

Instead, he joined the Muskogee Police Department and saw little action during his years on the force, per the outlet.

He died 3 years later after falling ill

Most of what we know about Reeves' life comes from the 2008 book "Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves" by Art T. Burton, a former African American Studies history professor.

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Per Burton's book, Reeves welcomed 11 children with his wife and remained married until she died in 1896.

David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves and Lauren E Banks as Jennie Reeves in "Lawmen: Bass Reeves."Emerson Miller/Paramount+

According to Burton, Reeves was diagnosed with Bright's disease, a type of kidney disease, in 1909.

Bright's disease is an inflammatory disease of the kidneys now known as acute glomerular nephritis, per Science Direct. It affects the glomeruli, the part of the kidney that filters blood.

He retired shortly after his diagnosis and died the following year on January 12, 1910, at 71. He is buried at Muskogee in the old Union Agency Cemetery, according to The Norman Transcript.

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