Bass Reeves - The Original Lone Ranger T-Shirt

Bass Reeves was a legendary lawman who served as a deputy U.S. marshal in the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) from 1875 to 1907. He was known for his bravery, his tracking skills, and his ability to apprehend criminals. Reeves was also one of the first black lawmen in the United States. Reeves was born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. He escaped from slavery in 1863 and joined the Union Army. After the Civil War, he became a deputy U.S. marshal. He served under Judge Isaac Parker, who was known as the "hanging judge" for his tough stance on crime. Reeves was responsible for apprehending criminals in a 75,000-square-mile (194,000-square-km) region of what is now mostly Oklahoma and Arkansas.