| Notes |
- History of Fairfield County, Connecticut
(1881) D. Hamilton Hurd
Harvey Bassett Rumsey
Harvey Bassett Rumsey was born in Monticello, Sullivan Co., N.Y. June 11 1832.
His father, Lewis Rumsey, also a native of Monticello, was a farmer by
occupation, was a Whig in politics, as were his ancestors before him, and was
prominent in the politics of his town and county. He was married at the age of
twenty-five to Nancy Bassett, of his town, but who was a native of Washington
Co., N.Y. Their children were Harvey B. and S. Louisa.
The early life of our subject was spent in New York, assisting his
father and attending school. He enjoyed educational advantages of the common
school and academy, leaving the latter institution at the age of nineteen to
go to the Sacramento Valley under the following circumstances: His mother's
youngest brother went to California among the earliest pioneers to that State.
Losing his health in the mines, he was advised to cross the plains to
recover it. He went to New Orleans, purchasing there four hundred and fifty
head of cattle and about twenty horses. With these he started overla
California. Losing his foreman by drowning, he wrote to his nephew's parents
asking that he be allowed to go by steamer and meet him at Sacrament
assist him on his arrival there with the stock. The nephew, Harvey B.,
nothing loath, thus found himself, at a very tender age, in the then Eldorado
of the world. He remained with his uncle two and a half years, returning only
when his presence was imperatively demanded by the condition of affairs at
home, caused by his father's death, which had occurred eighteen months before.
During his uncle's mining career, he and a partner took from a place called
Rattlesnake Bar eighty thousand dollars within a month. Mr. Rumsey resided
with his mother until one year after his marriage, after his return from
California, when he removed to Redding. He was married Jan. 10, 1867, to
Adeline Briggs, daughter of George and Emeline Briggs, of Sherman. Mr. Briggs
was a large farmer, and one of the most successful raisers and feede
cattle in Connecticut. The children of Mr. Rumsey have been Emma and Louie C.
Mr. Rumsey resides on what was formerly known as the Dudley Place, a farm of
two hundred and sixty-six acres, and devotes himself to cattle-raising,
feeding, and farming, also dealing in real estate. He is Republican in
politics, and has represented Redding in the Legislature since taking up his
residence in the town.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1830 - 1897 (66 years)