Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves, Cherokee Bill and Black Cowboys of the Shawne

Art Burton will share tales of frontier marshal Bass Reeves, Cherokee Bill and black cowboys of the Shawnee Trail at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Drive. 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 Collin 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.”

Art has appeared in four documentaries for the History Channel. In 2015, Art was featured on FOX Cables’ “Legends and Lies” series’ episode “The Real Lone Ranger.” He was also a participant in the AHC cable series “Gunslingers” episode on Bass Reeves. Art spoke at the B.B. King Symposium at Mississippi Valley State University in the fall of 2018 on African American and Native American cultures. In 2024, the Cherokee Nation invited Art to present “Frontier Era Lawmen and Outlaws in the Cherokee Nation.” In 2025, Art addressed the Oklahoma Historical Society regarding Black lawmen on the frontier. He is also the historian for the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum of Fort Worth, Texas.

Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.

Host or Publisher Allen Public Library