| Notes |
- James was eight years old in 1858 when his parents moved to Fost
Township, Marion County, Illinois, about five miles east of Patoka and located
on the Salem-Vandalia Road (the old stage coach road, no longer in use). There
he attended the Chance School, so named for the Chance family, and there he
grew to be a man.
After Bell and Jim were married, they lived in Pakota. In 1876, the
spring following the birth of their first child, they, along with his parents,
his sister and brother-in-law (Mr. & Mrs. Fenton Caldwell), set out for Texas.
They arrived in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas on the first day of April. From
there they took wagons to Stephens County, Texas, and remained there until
August. Because of it being so dry, they moved once again and settled in Cooke
County, Texas, locating at Cross-timbers (according to Texas relatives this
was the Dye Community, near Woodbine).
Jim's brother, John "Jack" Altum, moved to the area also. They went
into business together. They had a mercantile in Woodbine. The railroad went
through Gainsville instead of Woodbine causing a decline in the Woodbine
community.
Jim's brother-in-law died in Aug 1877, his father 17 Mar 1882, his
mother 7 Sep 1883, his only daughter, whom Bell loved very much died 2 Oct
1883, and his brother, John P., Jan 1892. Following all of these deaths, they
decided to move to the prairie and there they lived seven years, near t
Scott family, with whom they became very good friends. Jim farmed ther
Once again they decided to move, so in June of 1897, they sold their
farm and moved to Indian Territory, locating near Moore (now Cleveland County,
Oklahoma). There he was living in March of 1898. At some point, they moved to
Oakland, Marshall County, Oklahoma, for he was in the dairy business with his
son Harvey.
In the year 1900, Jim and Bell took their sentimental journey back to
their childhood home of Marion County, Illinois. There they were able to visit
Jim's relatives in Patoka and then to stay at Bell's childhood home with her
brother Elmer, his wife, Maggie, and their first child, Gage, as well as her
mother, Sarah. Both the Texas family and the Illinois family have pictures of
the occasion.
Jim died of heart failure in Oakland after being in poor health for
some time. Bell remained in Oakland, living with her son, Harvey, and h
family. But in the meantime, Mr. Scott's wife died. When he found out
that Jim also died, he called on Bell. On his third calling, they were married
in Harvey's home.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1850 - 1902 (52 years)