Bassett Family Association Database

Rev. William Jackson Bassett

Male 1834 - 1897  (63 years)


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  • Name William Jackson Bassett 
    Title Rev. 
    Born 3 Jan 1834  North Adams, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 17 Jun 1897  Waco, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 1880 Federal Census of District 127, Travis County, Texas
      W.G. Bassete 47 M MA MA MA Head Farmer & Minister of G.
      Rosa 35 F KY KY OH Wife
      Wm N. 6 M TN MA KY Son
      Minna 4 F MO MA KY Daughter
      John M. 2 M TX MA KY Son


      Central Christian Advocate, 21 Jul 1897
      Rev. William J. Bassett

      Rev. William J. Bassett was born in North Adams, Mass., Jan. 3, 1834,
      and died Waco, Tex., June 17, 1897. He was educated in the common schools and
      at Amherst Academy. In 1856 he emigrated to Kansas, was a participant in the
      anti-slavery struggles, and after many hair breadth escapes was appoint
      sheriff of the 3rd U.S. District, embracing West Kansas and the territo
      about Denver City. In 1860 he went to Brookville, Ind., joined the
      Presbyterian Church, prepared for the ministry and was admitted to Whitewater
      Presbytery. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the 37th Ind. Volunteer
      serving three years, but with broken health; then he settled at Nashville,
      Tenn., and on Sept. 22, 1869, married Rosa Musgrove. In 1873 they removed to
      St. Louis and in 1876 to Texas, and found a home promising health in the
      mountains north of Austin. In 1878 he was reclaimed, obtained a rich religious
      experience and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1879 he was licensed
      a local preacher, and joined the Austin Conference as a probationer. He was
      ordained a deacon by Bishop Haven in 1880, and an elder in 1884 by Bish
      Harris. His appointments were Mason, Lawrence, Gainsville, Panhandle district,
      Austin, Austin district, Waco and Waco district. His disease disabled him for
      efficient work much of the time, and most men would have given up the
      struggle, but "the love of Christ constrained him." He was "a good man, full
      of faith and the Holy Ghost," trusted and beloved by all who knew him. He died
      triumphing over death, through Him who is "the resurrection and the life." His
      wife and five children survive him, and have the love and sympathy of many
      Christian hearts. M.A. Daughtery.


      Sketch of My Life, Wm. J. Bassett
      Provided by Kimbrough Stone Bassett

      I was born in North Adams Massachusetts on the 3d day of Jan'y 1834.
      My father soon after went to Amherst Mass. My mother having taken away, soon
      after I was taken by my Father's sister, Miss Mary Bassett to Goshen, Mass to
      live. At about seven years of age, I went to live with an uncle Mr. Sil
      Bassett, working on a farm & going to school a few months every year. At 17
      years of age I went to live with Mr. W.B Howland at Amherst to learn the
      carpenter's trade. I remained with him five years, attending while with him,
      two Winter terms of the Amherst Academy. I became acquainted, while there, with
      President Hitchcock of Amherst College & his family, Charles Hitchcock his son
      being a student in the Academy with myself. Deacon White Principal. I w
      acquainted with many of the Professors at Amherst, as Fowler, Tyler Clark &
      Haven. The memory of the latter has been a life long inspiration to me both
      intellectually and morally. Mr. Boltwood & family of Amherst were warm friends
      and had a good influence over me. While at Amherst about 1853 and while
      attending a protracted meeting in the Congregational Church, I was strangely
      converted but made the fatal mistake of not joining the church and soon wandered
      away from God. Under the Auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Co., I
      started for Kansas in the Spring of 1855 but stopped in Ill's to see my sister
      & staid there one year - then went on in the Spring of 1856 with Wm Strawn of
      Ottawa Ill's and a company of about twenty five or thirty men. We were
      plundered at Leavenworth by a party of the pro-slavery side & turned back down
      the river. I succeeded in escaping saving $1800.00 in Land warrants for Mr.
      Strawn who also escaped. After some strange vicissatives? having been hunted
      for three days and having many narrow escapes, by the aid of Mr. Vaughn Editor
      of the Leavonworth Herald who furnished me with two guides. I went to Lawrence
      Kansas & enlisted in Captain Cullers Co. of Genl Lanes army. Was with Lane
      when he invested Lecompaton. The only time when we came face to face with the
      United States forces. But the matter was adjusted without any fighting. Was in
      Lawrence when it was invested by 2700 Missourians who were turned back by our
      new Gov Geary. While in Kansas, I met, Summner Sedgewick Sherman (then a
      lawyer) Johnston Albert (??? 2 Dragoons) and others prominent during the Civil
      War. I often saw John Brown & heard him speak to the soldiers. After peace was
      restored I settled in Manhattan Riley Co. Was recommended for Sheriff by
      Andrew J Mead, member of the Territorial Legislature and Appointed by Gov. S.
      Medary. My jurisdiction was the 3d Dist. Elmore Judge (US Court) included the
      present site of Denver being over 500 miles in extent from East to West. I
      knew well, the man Green Russel who discovered gold at Cherry Creek. I met
      Horace Gauly on his overland trip to Cal. I knew well Chas. F De Garaldi a
      personal friend of Victor Emmanuel & political refugee. Also Kalloch the
      Baptist minister of Boston & afterwards the Mayor of San Francisco elected by
      the Woodburn element.
      Returned to Indiana where my father was living early in 1860. Joined
      the Presbyterian Church at Brookville Ind, of which my father was one of the
      Elders in the same year. Commenced studying for the ministry under Rev. Mr.
      Abbott Pastor, and was admitted to White Water Presbytery as a candidate for
      the minister in the Fall of same year.
      August 18th 1861 enlisted was a private soldier in 87th Ind. Vo
      Infantry, serving three years but with ??? health the last part of the turn.
      After the war, settled in Nashville, Tenn. as clerk Asst. City
      Engineer & as Revenue Officer. Was married Septr 22 1869 to Miss Rosa
      Musgrove. We moved to St. Louis in 1873 remaining there until the Spring of
      1876 when on account of broken health brought on by my Army life my physician
      advised me to remove to Texas and settled on the Fernalles River 35 miles from
      Austin.
      In the year 1878 at a revival meeting held by A Losett, joined the
      M.E. CHurch & was Licensed to preach by Rev. William Brush, Sept. 23, 1878 and
      joined the Annual Conference the Winter following or Fall. The Conferen
      being held at Austin, Texas. Was Ordained Deacon by Bishop E.O. Haven Dec. 2,
      1880, at Austin. Was Ordained Elder by Bishop William L. Harris at Austin Nov.
      30 1884.
      Was appointed Presiding Elder of the Clerendon Dist. by Bishop Merrill
      at Ft. Worth 1892 and P.E. of the Austin Dist. by Bishop Fitzgerald at Denison
      in 1893.
    Person ID I03428  1A William Bassett of Plymouth
    Last Modified 23 Sep 2011 

    Father William Bassett,   b. 29 Apr 1801, Chilmark, Dukes County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Feb 1861, Brookwell, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 59 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother Martha Smith,   b. Abt 1800,   d. Abt Jun 1851  (Age ~ 51 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Married 24 Jan 1825 
    Family ID F00742  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Rosa Musgrove,   b. 5 Jan 1846, LaRue County, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Oct 1922, Muskogee, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years) 
    Married 22 Sep 1869  Nashville, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. William Norton Bassett,   b. 2 Feb 1873, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
     2. Minnie Lula Bassett,   b. 8 Sep 1875,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
     3. John Musgrove Bassett,   b. 17 Aug 1878, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1890, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 11 years)  [Natural]
    +4. Shelley Sinclair Bassett,   b. 5 Dec 1880, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
    +5. Albert Edward Bassett,   b. 4 Jun 1887,   d. 10 Oct 1972  (Age 85 years)  [Natural]
    +6. Homer Benton Bassett,   b. 19 Jan 1888, Corwin, Travis County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Nov 1960  (Age 72 years)
    Family ID F01594  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart