Bassett Family Association Database

Owen Abbott Bassett

Male 1834 - 1896  (62 years)


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  • Name Owen Abbott Bassett 
    Born 16 Jul 1834  Troy, Bradford County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 19 Jul 1896  Ellsworth, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Topeka Weekly Capital, Kansas, Tuesday, July 21, 1896
      Judge Bassett Dead
      Funeral Will Be Held in Lawrence Today by the Masons
      Special to the Capital

      Lawrence, Kan., July 20. ? The funeral of Judge Owen A. Bassett, whose death occurred at Ellsworth, yesterday at noon, will take place in Lawrence tomorrow afternoon at 4 o?clock on the arrival of the remains from Ellsworth.
      Judge Bassett?s old home was in this city and he lived here for many years, which is the reason the interment is in this city. The funeral will be in charge of the Kansas Grand Lodge of Masons, and the Grand Lodge will be convened in Ellsworth tomorrow morning, take charge of the remains and escort them in state to Lawrence, where they will be buried by the grand lodge. All the Masonic bodies of the city, the local G.A.R. posts, and the bar association will meet as organizations to attend the funeral.

      Topeka Weekly Capital, Kansas, Friday, July 24, 1896
      Judge Bassett Buried
      Laid to Rest in Oak Hill Cemetery at Lawrence ? Masonic Rites
      Special to the Capital

      Lawrence, Kan., July 21.- The funeral of Judge Owen A. Bassett that took palce on the arrival of the remains from Ellsworth this afternoon, was one of the largest attended that has been held in this city for a long time. The entire Masonic fraternity and kindred organizations turned out in bodies to take part, as well as the members of the local bar association. The services were conducted at the train and at Oak Hill cemetery by the Kansas grand lodge of Masons, most of the grand lodge officers being here for the occasion. There was a very large turn-out of the older residents of the city, to pay their respects to one of the old-time resident of Lawrence.



      1880 Federal Census of 2nd Ward, Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas
      Owen A. Bassett 45 M PA NY RI Head Lawyer
      Josephine E. 42 F MD EN EN Wife Keeping House
      May V. 13 F KS PA MD Daughter Student
      Thomas B. 9 M KS PA MD Son At school
      Frederick L. 7 M KS PA MD Son At school
      Josephine E. 4 F KS PA MD Daughter At home
      Mary A. Barnwell 15 F IL IR IR Other Servant


      BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY KANSAS VOLUME (1879)
      Judge Owen Abbott Bassett - Lawrence

      Owen A. Bassett, son of Samuel Kellogg and Jane Augusta Bassett, was
      born at Troy, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 1834, the second of a
      family of six, viz: Jane Augusta, Owen Abbott, Samuel Bradford, Mary
      Josephine, Leonard Jarvis, and Charles Francis, all now living but the third
      named who died in 1869, then a first lieutenant in the 7th Cavalry Unit
      States Army.
      His father, Samuel Kellogg, son of John and Clarissa Bassett, was born
      at Spencer, New York, in 1805; was by trade a wheelwright, the inventor of
      several useful machines, one being a steam plow, and died in 1878. His mother,
      Jane Augusta, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Bradford, was born at Bristo
      Rhode Island, in 1810, the sixth descendant of Governor Bradford, and is now
      living. His parents were married in Smithfield, Pennsylvania in 183
      His grandfather, John Bassett, was born at Coventry, Rhode Island, in
      1770, was by trade a wheelwright, and died in 1842. His grandmother, Clarissa,
      daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Rogers) Kellogg was born at Poultney, Vermont,
      in 1782, and is now living. His grandfather, Daniel, son of Daniel and Susann
      (Jarvis) Bradford, was born at Attleborough, Massachusetts, in 1778; was by
      profession a lawyer, and died in 1821. His grandmother, Sarah, daughter of
      Joseph and Sarah (Cox) Reynolds, was born at Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1782,
      and died in 1833.
      On November 19, 1857, at New London, Iowa, he married Miss Josephine
      Eliza Butland, only child of Richard and Mary Butland, who was born at
      Baltimore, Maryland, on November 27, 1835, and educated at Denmark Academy,
      Iowa. Her father, Richard, son of Richard and Eliza Butland, was born at
      London, England, in 1800; was a professor of languages. Her mother, Mar
      daughter of Sampson and Mary (Gillard) Crocker, was born in Devonshire county,
      England, in 1819, and is now living. Her parents were married at Baltimore,
      Maryland, in 1834.
      His wife, Josephine Eliza, has borne to him five children, all born at
      Lawrence, Kansas, viz: Anna Gertrude, September 4, 1858; Mary Viele, August 2,
      1866; Thomas Butland, October 21, 1870; Frederick Leonard, May 19, 1873; and
      Josephine Edson, September 28, 1875- all now living except the first named
      who died January 10, 1860. Her mother removed from Baltimore to Jacksonville,
      Illinois, in 1838, thence to Henry county, Iowa, in 1840, and to Lee county,
      Iowa, in 1844. She was confirmed and united with the Protestant Episcop
      church at Lawrence, Kansas, in 1868. Her mother was re-married to Philo G.
      Fox, and now resides in California.
      His father removed with his family from Pennsylvania to Hancock
      county, Illinois, in 1837, thence to Lee county, Iowa, in 1839, residing first
      at Fort Madison, and afterward at Denmark. He received the rudiments of an
      education at a school taught by his mother for the purpose of educating her
      own children, and afterward pursued his studies at Denmark Academy, Iow
      where he completed the academic course. After leaving the academy he pursued
      his studies with a view to qualifying himself for a civil engineer, and soon
      afterward entered upon the study of the law, to qualify himself for the bar.
      At the age of sixteen he was engaged for five months in teaching one
      of the public schools at Fort Madison, Iowa. (with an average attendance of
      over ninety pupils,) which he conducted successfully. In 1855 he was employed
      in a subordinate position in the United States land office at Fort Des Moines,
      Iowa, but having been educated a Whig, and refusing to support the Democratic
      administration of Mr. Pierce, he did no long remain. Soon afterward he formed
      a partnership with Stillman H. Blood and George C. Brackett, to enga
      business in the new Territory of Kansas, and in the spring of 1856 started
      with Mr. Brackett for that Territory, their objective point being Lecompton,
      the territorial capital.
      On arriving at Leavenworth via the Missouri river April 5, 1856, he
      first realized the true political situation by being called up at midnight by
      a mob intent on learning who he was, whence he came, and what was his purpose.
      At first he demurred to this public demonstration at so unseasonable an hour,
      but finally yielded to the importunate invitation conveyed by the mayor and
      marshall in person, and responded to the clamorous call from the steps of the
      Leavenworth Hotel, thanking those assembled for their hearty welcome, assuring
      them that as a private citizen, coming among them a stranger, he had not
      anticipated such a reception, and in this manner disarmed the
      Soon after his arrival at Lecompton occurred the wounding of Sheriff
      Jones at Lawrence, while engaged in making arrests of certain free-state men,
      and having given free expression to his opinions and made some effort to
      secure the release of the prisoners, he was "spotted," and in the evening was,
      while on the street, surrounded by a mob from which he was rescued by General
      Joseph C. Anderson, representative in the Kansas Legislature and formerly from
      Lexington, Missouri, who declared that Bassett was a gentleman and his friend,
      that they had drank together, but, adopting his friend Anderson's advice, he
      went to Lawrence the next day, and concluded to devote his attention
      thenceforth to the free-state cause in Kansas.
      A congressional committee was then engaged in an investigation of the
      political troubles in Kansas, and he attended its sessions as a reporter for
      the press. While so engaged at Leavenworth it was definitely understood that
      an attack was to be made on Lawrence by the border ruffians, and that the town
      would be defended. With zeal for the cause in which he enlisted he proceeded
      alone and on foot to Lawrence, two days before the attack, for the purpose of
      assisting in the defense, but those in authority decided to submit and
      Lawrence was delivered over to the enemy to be pillaged, burned and humbled.
      The sack of Lawrence on May 21, 1856, would not have been had the counsels of
      her young men prevailed.
      After the sack of Lawrence, in company with Mr. Brackett, he went to
      Leavenworth, and, at the request of parties interested, they underto
      escort ex-Governor Reeder out of the Territory. The Governor had come to
      Kansas as a witness before the investigating committee, and being threatened
      with arrest under a bogus indictment, demanded the protection of the
      committee, and being refused it was necessary for an immediate departur
      Accordingly the Governor was taken up at a wood yard, incognito, as a wood-
      chopper, by a steamboat, and with his escort landed at another wood-yard below
      St. Charles on the Missouri river, going thence across the country to t
      Mississippi, he was safely landed on the Illinois shore, rejoicing that he had
      escaped the vengeance of a border-ruffian mob.
      He again returned to Kansas by what was termed the "overland route"
      through Iowa and Nebraska, and reached Ropka on July 4, 1856, in time to
      witness the dispersal of the Topeka Legislature by federal bayonets, instead
      of being permitted to stand with the free-state men in their defense of the
      right. On August 12, 1856, he joined the "Stubbs," a military company at
      Lawrence, and that night was in the battle, so called, at Franklin, where a
      six-pounder brass field piece and some small arms were captured. He was also
      at the taking of Fort Saunders, August 15, a bloodless victory, and at the
      capture of Colonel Titus and party, August 16. From this time he was constantly
      engaged in the service of the free-state army of Kansas, holding the important
      positions of engineer and quartermaster.
      In December, 1856, he removed to Leavenworth county, and engaged as
      engineer of the Quindaro Town Company. In the fall of 1857 he was elected to
      the Territorial Legislature and served in the special session of 1857, and in
      the regular session of 1858. He was the youngest member of that body, but none
      served more faithfully or labored more diligently. In his canvass he pledged
      himself to work for the repeal of every general law enacted by the bogus
      Legislature, and introduced a bill at an early day for that purpose, and at
      the close of the session the bogus laws were publicly burned on Massachusetts
      Street, in the city of Lawrence, and Kansas was proclaimed a free Territory
      for all mankind. This was substantially the close of the struggle for dominion
      between freedom and slavery in Kansas.
      In the spring of 1858 he removed to Franklin county, and for a time
      edited and published a newspaper, the "Kansas Statesman." This was a temporary
      enterprise and soon abandoned, when he returned again to Lawrence in July,
      1858, where his home has ever since been.
      In October, 1858, he was admitted to the bar of Douglas county, and at
      once entered upon the practice of the law, his chosen profession. From this
      time he was an adherent of the conservative, or anti-Lane party, in politics,
      and, although not an active politician, was always out-spoken and positive in
      his convictions and expressions of opinion. In 1860 he was engaged as counsel
      for the heirs of Gaius Jenkins, on the re-hearing of the Lane and Jenki
      contested land case, involving the title to one hundred and sixty acres of
      land near the city of Lawrence.
      At the breaking out of the war, in 1861, he tendered his services to
      the Governor, and rendered some assistance in organizing the first Kans
      regiments, and early in August undertook the hazardous enterprise of
      traversing the enemies' country as a bearer of dispatches from Colonel Weer at
      Fort Scott, to General Lyon at Springfield, Missouri, but before reaching the
      latter place he learned the result of the battle of Wilson's Creek, and
      overtook the retreating Union forces at Rolla, where he delivered his
      despatches to Major Sturgis, then in command. He returned to Kansas via St.
      Louis, and soon afterward received the appointment of first lieutenant under
      Colonel Root, who was authorized to raise a regiment of cavalry, and at the
      organization of Colonel Davis' regiment in November, 1861, then known as the
      96h Regiment of Kansas Cavalry, he was commissioned lieutenant-colone
      In the spring of 1862, under a general order from the Governor, the
      several skeleton regiments were re-organized, the 9th, Colonel Davis, w
      consolidated with the 2nd, Colonel Mitchell, under command of the latter. Soon
      afterward Colonel Mitchell was commissioned a brigadier-general of Volunteers,
      and by order of the Secretary of War, W.F. Cloud was appointed to succeed to
      the command, notwithstanding the Governor's commission to Colonel Bassett.
      This was one of the petty usurpations at the behest of a politician which the
      War Department was constantly indulging in, and the result in this case was
      that the lawful successor to the colonelcy of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry, carried
      his colonel's commission for three years in his pocket, appealing in vain for
      a just recognition of his claims. The act of Congress expressly vested the
      appointment in the Governor, but the law was disregarded and justice failed.
      Notwithstanding this he rode at the head of his regiment and commanded
      it in every important action in which it was engaged. At Fort Wayne, in the
      Indian Territory, October 22, 1862, with his regiment unsupported and in the
      face of vastly superior numbers, he captured a four-gun battery. At Cane Hill,
      Van Buren, Reeds Mountain, Prarie Grove, and the Fourche he led the advance,
      and at Prairie de Anne, then commanding a cavalry brigade, he covered t
      retreat of the 7th Army Corps to Camden. With a well-drilled and thoroughly
      disciplined regiment, he was almost without exception assigned to the first
      post of honor, the front in the advance and the rear in the retreat. During
      the winter of 1863-4, he commanded a brigade at Waldron, Arkansas, a
      General Steele's Camden expedition he commanded a cavalry brigade, and from
      May, 1864, until he left the service in January, 1865, he was chief of staff
      for the frontier division at Fort Smith, Arkansas.
      While in the army he made himself familiar with the details of the
      service in all its branches, and he became, as it were, authority upon all
      matters in the division in which he served, excepting in the medical
      department, concerning which at all times he disclaimed having any knowledge,
      although conversant with the regulations for its government. This service gave
      opportunity for, and brought out, his special characteristic - that of
      endeavoring to ascertain the reason for the existence of a fact, and never
      leaving the subject half learned. Near the close of the war General Steele, at
      Little Rock, commanding the Department and 7th Army Corps, offered him the
      position of chief of staff, but this was declined for the reason that he
      believed he could be of more service to the country, and especially to his own
      regiment, by accepting the same position on the staff of General Thayer, at
      Fort Smith, commanding the district and frontier divisions, which had been
      offered to him and which he was strongly urged to accept.
      At the close of the war he returned again to Lawrence, and engaged in
      the business of prosecuting claims against the Government, growing out of the
      war, and in 1868, after a sharp contest was nominated by the Republican party
      and elected to the office of district judge. He entered upon the duties of
      this office in January, 1869, and served with such credit, and so much to the
      satisfaction of the people, that he was re-elected in 1872 with little
      opposition. In 1876 he declined to run for a third term, although strongly
      solicited, and though it was generally conceded that he could be successful as
      a candidate, he chose rather to resume the practice of his profession, and is
      now engaged in his chosen work. As a judicial officer he maintained an
      enviable reputation for integrity and impartiality, and ranked high among the
      judicial officers of the State, and at the organization of the State Judicial
      Association, in January, 1876, he was chosen as its first presiding officer.
      He was made a Mason in Belle Point Lodge No. 10, Fort Smith, Arkansas,
      in December, 1864. He assisted in the organization as junior warden, of Acacia
      Lodge No. 9, Kansas, in January, 1867, and served as master of that lodge in
      1870. In 1867 he was appointed by the grand master one of the custodians of
      the work, and in 1868 was elected by the Grand Lodge of Kansas to the office
      of custodian of the work for six years, and was appointed grand lecturer. In
      1873 he was elected grand master of Masons for Kansas, and was re-elected in
      1874.
      He was exalted to the degree of royal arch Mason in Bellyue Chapter
      No. 8, Fort Smith, Arkansas, in January, 1865. He organized Lawrence Chapter
      No. 4, in 1866, and presided as high priest therein three years. He assisted
      in the organization of the Grand Chapter of Kansas in 1866, and was its first
      grand marshal. He was appointed also to the office of grand lecturer, which he
      held three years. He was elected deputy grand high priest in 1868, and grand
      high priest in 1869, and re-elected in 1870 and 1871.
      He passed the circle in Leavenworth Council No. 1, in August, 1866. He
      organized Lawrence Council No. 4, in 1867, and presided as thrice illustrious
      master therein two years. He assisted in the organization of the Grand Council
      of Kansas in 1867 and was elected grand conductor of the work, and in 1878
      most illustrious grand master.
      He was created a Knight Templar in Leavenworth Commandery No. 1, in
      February, 1868. He organized DeMolay Commandery No. 4, at Lawrence, Kansas, in
      March, 1868, and presided as eminent commander therein five years. He assisted
      in the organization of the grand commandery of Kansas in 1868, and was its
      first grand captain-general. He was elected grand generalissimo in 1869,
      deputy grand commander in 1874, and grand commander in 1877. He is a prominent
      member of the society of Free Masons, having a reputation extending beyond the
      limits of the jurisdiction in which he lives.


      A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, by William E. Connelley
      Owen A. Bassett (1918)

      Owen A. Bassett was one of the ablest and most energetic actors in the
      Border troubles, the Civil war and the civil affairs of the Reconstruction
      period. A Pennsylvanian by birth, his father moved to Illinois in 1837 and two
      years later to Iowa. The family home was first in Lee County. The son's
      original intention was to be a civil engineer, but he finally decided in favor
      of the law, although the stirring and compelling affairs which entered his
      life prevented him for many years from utilizing the legal training which he
      acquired. In 1855 he was employed in the United States land office at Fort Des
      Moines, Iowa, but in the spring of 1856 resigned to engage in busine
      Lecompton. Soon afterward he entered heartily into the free-state cause,
      joined the military company known as the Lawrence Stubbs, and was engaged both
      in the battle of Franklin and the capture of Fort Saunders. Subsequently he
      held the positions of engineer and quartermaster with the free-state army of
      Kansas, and in December, 1856, moved to Leavenworth. There he engaged as
      engineer for the Quindaro Town Company, and in 1857 and 1858 served in the
      Territorial Legislature. In the latter year he moved to Franklin County,
      published the Kansas Freeman a few months, returned to Lawrence and was
      admitted to the bar. At the outbreak of the Civil war he assisted in the
      organization of the First Kansas Infantry, but later was commissioned
      lieutenant colonel of the Ninth Kansas, which later became the Second Cavalry,
      and with which he served until 1865. Colonel Bassett was elected distri
      judge in 1868 and, by re-election, held that office until 1876. He was a
      prominent Mason and died at Ellsworth, July 19, 1896.
    Person ID I07722  1A William Bassett of Plymouth
    Last Modified 25 Mar 2020 

    Father Samuel Kellogg Bassett,   b. 27 Nov 1804, Mill Town, Bradford County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Apr 1878, Galesburg, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Mother Jane Augusta Bradford,   b. 22 Aug 1809, Bristol, Rhode Island Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jul 1883, Lawrence, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Married 20 Mar 1831  Smithfield, Bradford County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F01725  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Josephine Eliza Butland,   b. 27 Nov 1835, Baltimore, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Mar 1901, Las Vegas, New Mexico Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 65 years) 
    Married 19 Nov 1857  New London, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Anna Gertrude Bassett,   b. 4 Sep 1858, Lawrence, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Jan 1860  (Age 1 years)  [Natural]
    +2. Mary Viele Bassett,   b. 2 Aug 1866, Lawrence, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jan 1945, Kansas City, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)  [Natural]
     3. Thomas Bradford Bassett,   b. 21 Oct 1870, Lawrence, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased
    +4. Frederick Leonard Bassett,   b. 19 May 1873, Lawrence, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 May 1928, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 54 years)
    +5. Josephine Edson Bassett,   b. 28 Sep 1875, Lawrence, Kansas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 May 1955, Phoenix, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)  [Natural]
    Family ID F03372  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart