FORT WORTH, Texas — A legendary Black cowboy, lost to history, is seeing his day in the light thanks in part to an East Texas man’s dedication to bringing Bass Reeves’ story to life.
Ernest Marsh, a Tyler, Texas, resident, embodies Reeves through his accurate outfit, a mustache and even brandishing a rifle he once used.
“Bass Reeves is finally getting his acknowledgment,” Marsh said, as he prepared for his reenactment presentation at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
Reeves was a Black man who went from being a slave to one of the greatest Western Frontier heroes in U.S. history, during the mid-1800s and early 1900s. He was one of the first Black U.S. marshals, accounting for more than 3,000 arrests in the Wild West.
Despite his uncanny firearm skills, special partnership with countless Native American tribes and unique methods of arresting criminals, Reeves was historically left behind.
Marsh, who had learned about the Reeves a few decades back, said many great cowboys of color were tossed to the side of history books.
“Bass Reeves only has pictures that you can count on one hand that’s known of him, and that’s how history has passed over him,” Marsh said.
The Tyler resident started doing more research on Reeves a few years ago. As someone who was already doing reenactments of Black Buffalo soldiers, who were assigned to protect the Great Frontier, Marsh shifted his focus to the life of Reeves.
Marsh said having a “bushy mustache” being “6-foot-2 and 195 pounds” made his transformation into Reeves an easy one.
As someone who served in law enforcement as well, it was another layer to help Marsh connect with this historical figure.
Since then, Marsh has started spreading the word through presentations like the one held on April 19 in OKC. There, he shared the entire life of Reeves. From his days as a slave, to his final days of life.
Marsh and other historians believe Reeves’ adventures inspired the character of the Lone Ranger. He says Hollywood changed the ethnicity of the character because he was a Black man.
“It was a person that is legendary. This is a person that was a hero and no one knows about him,” Marsh said.
But that narrative has been quickly changing over the years. Thanks to the efforts of Marsh and others, Reeves’ story is set to be told in an upcoming CBS Paramount limited series.
In addition, Marsh has made appearances in several Western-related films and shows.
At the end of the day, Marsh is happy to share the story of Reeves. He’s even gotten the blessing from Reeves’ family, who gave him that aforementioned rifle.
Marsh hopes to bring more presentations to DFW and has no intention of slowing down.