Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves, Cherokee Bill and Black Cowboys of the Shawnee Trail
Art Burton will share tales of frontier marshal Bass Reeves, Cherokee Bill and black cowboys of the Shawnee Trail at the Allen Heritage Village. Burton is the author of Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves and Cherokee Bill: Black Cowboy, Indian Outlaw.
At the outset of the Civil War, Bass Reeves narrowly escaped slavery and traveled to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), living with the Cherokee and Creek. In 1875, Reeves was appointed one of the first African American deputy U.S. marshals. Through careful tracking skills undoubtedly learned from his Native American mentors, he is credited with over 3,000 arrests. Also, working under cover and using various disguises, Reeves unraveled mysterious crimes.
Until the advent of the railroad, cattle from Colling County were shipped to the northern markets along the Shawnee Trail, now Preston Road. Cowboys faced frostbite, potential drowning, venomous snakes, serious accidents and more. An estimated one in five of the cowboys were black, many of whom were former Union soldiers.
Cherokee Bill, whose real name was Crawford Goldsby, was a 19th-century American outlaw. Responsible for the murders of seven men, including his brother-in-law, Cherokee Bill and his gang terrorized the Indian Territory for over two years.
When asked what inspired him to write about these subjects, Art explained, "My family of origin was comprised of cowboys and documenting the African American experience in the wild west was my goal."
Call 214.509.4911 for additional information.
Event Address: 450 E. St. Mary Drive, Allen, Tx 75002, Allen Heritage Village
info: AllenLibrary.org
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Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves, Cherokee Bill and Black Cowboys of the Shawnee Trail
Art Burton will share tales of frontier marshal Bass Reeves, Cherokee Bill and black cowboys of the Shawnee Trail at the Allen Heritage Village. Burton is the author of Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves and Cherokee Bill: Black Cowboy, Indian Outlaw.
At the outset of the Civil War, Bass Reeves narrowly escaped slavery and traveled to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), living with the Cherokee and Creek. In 1875, Reeves was appointed one of the first African American deputy U.S. marshals. Through careful tracking skills undoubtedly learned from his Native American mentors, he is credited with over 3,000 arrests. Also, working under cover and using various disguises, Reeves unraveled mysterious crimes.
Until the advent of the railroad, cattle from Colling County were shipped to the northern markets along the Shawnee Trail, now Preston Road. Cowboys faced frostbite, potential drowning, venomous snakes, serious accidents and more. An estimated one in five of the cowboys were black, many of whom were former Union soldiers.
Cherokee Bill, whose real name was Crawford Goldsby, was a 19th-century American outlaw. Responsible for the murders of seven men, including his brother-in-law, Cherokee Bill and his gang terrorized the Indian Territory for over two years.
When asked what inspired him to write about these subjects, Art explained, "My family of origin was comprised of cowboys and documenting the African American experience in the wild west was my goal."
Call 214.509.4911 for additional information.
Event Address: 450 E. St. Mary Drive, Allen, Tx 75002, Allen Heritage Village
info: AllenLibrary.org
===============
Download the ACTV App:
Roku tinyurl.com/3zf4jv7f
AppleTV tinyurl.com/3k8tyc6n
Amazon Fire TV tinyurl.com/brnfsuz4
CITY INFO
===============
Watch ACTV online 24/7: ACTV.org
Like us: facebook.com/CityofAllen
Follow us: instagram.com/cityofallentx
Tweet us: twitter.com/CityofAllenTX
