Bassett Family Association Database

William Ichabod Bassett

Male 1876 - 1953  (77 years)


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  • Name William Ichabod Bassett 
    Born 12 Dec 1876  Forest City, Mason County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Dec 1953  Reno, Washoe County, Nevada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Riverside Cemetery, Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • From Ric Bassett, W. I. Bassett divorced Alvis Reed Bassett, and married a cigarette model ½ his age, on Long Island, New York. They adopted two girls who were not blood relatives, named Margaret Mary and Elizabeth. W.I. Bassett wanted to move back to Reno and the B&B Cattle Ranch, but the model did not want to go. W.I. divorced her, took the kids and the nanny, Ruby, and moved back to the ranch in Reno. W.I. married Ruby in Reno after the girls were 19-20, just before he died.

      1900 Federal Census of Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa (4 Jun 1900)
      William Bassett 23 Dec 1876 M IL OH PA Head
      Avis 22 Feb 1878 F WI WI WI Wife
      Glenn G. 4 May 1896 M IA IL WI Son
      William D. 2 Mar 1898 M IA IL WI Son
      Clair D. 6/12 Nov 1899 M IA IL WI Son
      (Married 4 years, 3 children, 3 living) (Living on Irving Street)

      1920 Federal Census of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York (14 Jan 1920)
      William Bassett 43 M IL NY NY Head Proprietor Elevator Co.
      Avis 41 F WI IL WI Wife
      Glenn 23 M IA IL WI Son Draughtsman
      Dale 21 M IA IL WI Son Engineer
      Dell 20 M IA IL WI Son
      Edith 20 F IA IL WI DauL

      1930 Federal Census of Port Washington, Nassau County, New York (18 Apr 1930)
      William Bassett 50 M IL IL IL Head Sales Manager Elevator Co.
      Margaret 26 F NY NY NY Wife
      Margaret Miller 57 M NY NY GM MotherL
      & 2 others
      (Living on East Rd.) (Married at 18 and 22)

      1930 Federal Census of Port Washington, Nassau County, New York (24 Apr 1930)
      Aubrey Fletcher 39 M CN CN CN Head Mechanical Engineer Sand & Gravel
      Ethel 35 F CN CN CN Wife
      Lillian 18 F CN CN CN Daughter Bookeeper Radio Store
      Ruby 17 F CN CN CN Daughter
      Rita 12 F CN CN CN Daughter
      Donald 10 M CN CN CN Son

      The Nassau Daily Review, Long Island?s Greatest Newspaper
      Monday, March 4, 1935
      Bassetts Return to Court as 2nd Honeymoon Fizzles
      Reconciliation, Effected By Judge Steinbrink Fails to Settle Difficulties

      The reconciliation efforts of Justice Meier Steinbrink, in the separation suit of Mrs. Margaret Helen Bassett against her wealthy husband, William Bassett of Port Washington, have crumbled, it was revealed today.
      A motion to restore the case on the calendar is under consideration by Justice Steinbrink in Brooklyn supreme court, today. The application for restoration of the case to the calendar was made by Robert H. Elder, counsel for Mrs. Bassett.

      Reconciled January 20

      The reconciliation between the 32-year-old wife and 55-year-old husband was effected in Justice Steinbrink?s chambers in Nassau supreme court, January 30. At the time, the couple did not leave the courtroom together, leaving with their counsel, but indicating that they would meet the following day.
      Mrs. Bassett claimed that last fall she returned to her home, ?Harbor Aces,? in Port Washington, to find the place closed up, furniture moved out and her husband and two adopted children missing. The children were later located on a ranch in Nevada. Mrs. Bassett obtained a sequestration order against her husband which was later held in abeyance pending outcome of the case.
      After the reconciliation efforts the couple were quoted as saying that they still loved each other and would plan a long trip together within a short time. What intervened to upset their plans was not indicated in the brief court proceedings.
      Mrs. Bassett seeks to have the case tried in Brooklyn while counsel for Mr. Bassett have indicated that they desire trial in Nassau county where the case was originally filed. George Gordon Batle is counsel for Mr. Bassett, with Elvin N. Edwards as trial counsel.


      Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York, Friday, March 29, 1935
      Bassett Denies He Sent his Wife to Reno for Divorce
      Retired Elevator Executive Refutes Testimony in Separation Action

      William I. Bassett, 55, retired vice president of the Otis Elevator Company, yesterday on the witness stand in Supreme Court, Mineola, in the separation action brought by his wife, Margaret Helen Bassett, of Port Washington, contradicted her testimony in regard to circumstances which led up to their separation in August, 1934.
      Bassett denied he had urged his wife to go to Reno and get a divorce. He said that he had repeatedly tried to keep her from taking that action.
      Bassett declared that his wife turned over to him the 49 shares of stock in the realty company of which he was president on the condition that he would take care of the children. He also said that his wife told him that he could have all of her jewelry except her wrist watch and wedding ring, which she wished to give to their two children when they grew up.
      Denies Any Coolness
      The defendant also denied that he treated Mrs. Bassett cooly upon her return from Bermuda in January, 1934, and told of writing to her while she was in Bermuda and also in Reno.
      Testimony was given also by Sally Steele, 246 West End Ave., and by Ruby P. Fletcher, who came from Reno where she has been taking care of the Bassett children.
      Miss Steele, a nurse in the Bassett home in 1933 and part of 1934, said that Mrs. Bassett told her that she was going to ruin her husband.
      She said she was going to get a divorce, Miss Steele testified, and that she would always get what she wanted if she threatened to go to Reno. She characterized Mrs. Bassett’s behavior as irrational.
      The case continued today.
    Person ID I00271  56B Jonathan Bassett of New York
    Last Modified 3 Nov 2023 

    Father John Bassett,   b. 26 Apr 1837, Russellville, Brown County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Dec 1914  (Age 77 years) 
    Mother Mary Clark,   b. 14 Feb 1836, Washington County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 03 Feb 1905, Bassett, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years) 
    Married 01 Sep 1864  Minouk, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F00059  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Avis Read 
    Children 
    +1. William Dale Bassett,   b. 21 Mar 1897 SSDI), Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 04 Jul 1969, Salano Beach, San Diego County, California (CDI) Find all individuals with events at this location  [Natural]
    +2. Glen Gordon Bassett,   b. 03 May 1895 (SSDI), Bassett, Chickasaw County, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 May 1955, Encino, Los Angeles County, California Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. Dell Clare Bassett,   b. 27 Nov 1899, Charles City, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location  [Natural]
    Family ID F00117  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Margaret Miller 
    Married Abt 1926 
    Children 
     1. Elizabeth Bassett  [Natural]
     2. Margaret Mary Bassett,   b. 22 Jan 1931, New York City, New York Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Sep 2007  (Age 76 years)  [Natural]
    Family ID F00199  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Ruby Ellen Fletcher,   b. 7 Nov 1912 (SSDI),   d. 11 Aug 2007, Reno, Washoe County, Nevada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Abt 1940 
    Family ID F00201  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart