| Other People | Frank J. Bradley | Olive Rambo Cook | Jerry Litton | | |||
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Past and Present of Livingston County Volume 2. Biographies by Major A. J. Roof. 1913 |
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Pages 160-161
The agricultural history of Livingston county world be incomplete without prominent mention of George H. Bassett, who owns two hundred and twenty acres of land in Jackson township, constituting two tracts, one comprising one hundred and eighty acres and the other forty acres. A comparatively recent arrival, coming to Livingston county in 1901, Mr. Bassett has quickly demonstrated his ability as agriculturist and has attained a success in a few years which takes many a lifetime to encompass. Born at Decorah, Iowa, May 18, 1858, he is a son of Elias and Jane (Lilly) Bassett,, the father a successful farmer. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Elias Bassett were nine children, of whom Francis and Robert died during the Civil war. The others are: Horton, a farmer in Nebraska; Fanny, who became the wife of D. W. McCutcheon and has passed away and is buried at Scottville, Mitchell county, Kansas; Obed E., an agriculturist of Farnhamville, Calhoun county, Iowa; George H., of this review; Oliver, a farmer of Wichita, Kansas; Albert, who resides at Colorado Springs, where he is engaged in the live stock business; and Walter, a farmer of Mercer county, Missouri. Elias Bassett died in 1873 and is buried at Leon, Iowa, his wife having preceded him in death when our subject was only three weeks old and found her last resting place at Decorah, Iowa.
George H. Bassett received his education in Decatur county, Iowa, attending school there until he was eleven years of age. He then went to Kansas, where he made his home with his sister and subsequently became a mail carrier at the age of thirteen years, working for one summer in that capacity. He next worked as a farm hand for eleven years, acquiring during that time by thrift and industry the means which enabled him to establish himself independently on rented land, following farming in that way for another period of eleven years, since which time he has been the owner of the farm which is now his property and where he pursues general farming and stock-raising. Since locating upon the farm here he has made a number of substantial improvements and instituted equipment which has greatly enhanced the value of his property.
On January 1, 1883, Mr. Bassett was united in marriage, in Fremont county, Iowa, to Miss Grace A. Baker, a daughter of Henry H. Baker of the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett became the parents of five children: Arthur M., who died November 16, 1909, at the age of twenty-four years; Alice, the wife of T. F. Ervin, an agriculturist of Kechi, Kansas; Fanny E., a graduate of the grade school, at home; and Francis R. and Florence J., both still attending school. On November 6, 1908, Mrs. Bassett passed away, deeply mourned by her family, her death causing widespread regret among her many friends, who highly esteemed her for her many rare qualities of character and of heart and mind.
In his political faith Mr. Bassett is a republican, giving his unqualified support to the measures and candidates of that party, Fraternally he is connected with the blue lodge of the Masonic order and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. The religious faith of the family is that of the Christian church, the services of which they regularly attend and in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. Mr. Bassett is highly esteemed wherever known and best esteemed where best known as a man of his word and a man of character. Entirely through his own efforts and overcoming hardships and obstacles, he has worked himself up to an independent financial position and is now considered one of the substantial agriculturists of Jackson township and a man worthy of confidence and good-will.