Bassett Family Association Database

James Calhoun Bass

Male 1831 - 1924  (93 years)


Personal Information

  • Name James Calhoun Bass 
    Born 24 Jan 1831  Chatham County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _UID B7F494D8CF39ED4F80281C78F3282788612E 
    Died 4 Jun 1924  Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Johnson City Gazette, Tennessee, Thursday, June 5, 1921
      Rev. J.C. Bass Died Suddenly

      Death Came Peacefully to Aged Minister in His 93 Year, at Home of Daughter. Funeral Will Be Held Friday.

      Rev. J.C. Bass, the oldest Minister in the Christian Church died unexpectedly at 6 o'clock Tuesday morning, at the home of his daughter Mrs. B. F. White, 901 East First Avenue. Rev. Bass was in his 93rd year having been born in January 24, 1832.Rev. Bass had arisen as usual in the morning, had partaken of breakfast, and was sitting in a chair in his room when a granddaughter came into the room and spoke to him. Receiving no answer she informed her mother, who found that death had occurred. The end came peacefully, without warning, and while he was sitting in a natural position in his chair.Funeral services have not been definitely arranged, except that they are announced for Friday, probably at the second Christian Church. Details await messages from sons of the deceased in distant states.

      Rev. Bass is survived by two daughters; Mrs. BF White, and Mrs. William Smith, both of Johnson City: and four sons Tom Bass, living in Ohio, WH Bass and Frank Bass of Duquesne. PA., and J.S. Bass, of Speedwell, VA.

      The deceased was not only the oldest in years, but one of the most widely known ministers in the Christian Church. He had been at Cleveland Tennessee, about ten or twelve years ago. Since that time he has preached here on or near his birth date each year, the services being feature events in the Christian Church.

      He was a confederate soldier, active in many of the notable campaigns of the war; was in General Pickett's command, one of the well known sharp-shooters, and had a part in the battle of Gettysburg, as well as other large engagements.

      His wife preceded him to the grave many years ago. For more than six months he was cared for at a local hospital, treatment there being in charge of the Loyal Sons Class of the First Christian Church here.

      On the first of April Last he returned to the home of his daughter, Mrs. B.F. White, and has made his home there since. He has lived in Johnson City with his daughter for the past twenty-two years; and his passing marks the end of an unusually notable career in the religious field.


      East Tennessee Christians, page 217
      James C. Bassett - Minister of the Gospel
      James C. Bass was born in Chattam County, North Carolina, January 24, 1831. In his early years brother Bass served as a minister among the Methodists. David Buck convinced him to take his stand on the Bible alone in 1846 while on a preaching mission to Russell County, Virginia. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Bass enlisted in the Confederate army in South Carolina. He served as a private, fighting in twenty-seven battles. He received several flesh wounds and a severe wound to his right leg which left him crippled for life. James and Martha Bass had four sons and several daughters. His son, Thomas T. Bass, followed his father's calling as a gospel preacher. Brother Bass was active in the East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia Cooperation. He preached for the Turkey Town Church monthly for many years. His final work was with the church at Cleveland, Tennessee. Death came to James Bass at the home of his daughter, Carmon White, in Johnson City, on June 4, 1924. J.J. Musick preached his funeral at the Unaka Ave. Christian Church. His early remains rest in the Frank White lot at Monta Vista Cemetery.


      Comet, Johnson City, Tennessee, Thursday, July 1, 1915
      Rev. J.C. Bass Retires From Active Ministry

      Rev. J.C. Bass, who has been a faithful minister of the gospel for almost a half century, retires from active service. For the past six months he has been the pastor of the Anderson Street Christian church in Knoxville, but his health has failed and he has returned to Johnson City to make his home. Mr. Bass is almost 85 years of age. He has baptized more than 4,000 people.

      1870 Federal Census of District #3, Carter County, Tennessee (August 5, 1870)
      James Bass - 33 - Male - South Carolina - Farmer
      Daritha - 22 - Female - North Carolina - Keeps House
      William H. - 4 - Male - North Carolina - At Home
      James S. - 2 - Male - North Carolina - At Home
      Sharlotte - 1 - Female - North Carolina - At Home
      Adaline - 18 - Female - North Carolina - At Home
      Mary Morgan - 17 - Female - North Carolina - At Home
      Thomas J. Morgan - 16 - Male - North Carolina - At Home
      Samuel Morgan - 14 - Male - North Carolina - At Home
      Martha Workman - 32 - Female - North Carolina

      1880 Federal Census of Crab Orchard, Carter County, Tennessee
      James C. Bass - 48 - Male - SC-SC-SC - Head - Farmer
      Dorothy L. - 32 - Female - NC-NC-NC - Wife - Keeps House
      William H. - 14 - Male - NC-SC-NC - Son - Farm laborer
      James S. - 12 - Male - NC-SC-NC - Son - Farm laborer
      Charlotte - 10 - Female - NC-SC-NC - Daughter - At Home
      Asbury F. - 8 - Male - TN-SC-NC - Son
      Mary E. - 6 - Female - TN-SC-NC - Daughter
      Samuel G. - 2 - Male - TN-SC-NC - Son

      1900 Federal Census of Allentown, Carter County, Tennessee (June 5, 1900)
      James Bass - 67 - Male - Jan 1833 - TN-NC-NC - Head - Preacher
      Martha - 63 - Female - Jun 1836 - NC-NC-NC - Wife
      (Married 15 years, no children)
      1910 Federal Census of Johnson, Washington County, TN (18 May 1910)
      Frank White 57 M TN TN TN Head
      Fannie 37 F NC SC NC Wife
      Ethel 18 F TN TN NC Daughter
      Harry 15 M TN TN NC Son
      James 13 M TN TN NC Son
      Carman 10 M TN TN NC Son
      Hazel 6 F TN TN NC Daughter
      James Richard 25 M TN TN TN SonL
      Leola 20 F TN TN NC Daughter
      William A. 5 M TN TN TN Son
      James Bass 78 M SC UN UN FatherL Minister Gospel
      Martha 73 F NC NC NC MotherL
      (Married 24 years, 6 children, 6 living)
      (James & Leola married 0 years, 1 child, 1 living)
      James and Martha, married 24 years, no children)

      100th Anniversary History and Directory
      1871 ? 1971
      First Christian Church
      Johnson City, Tennessee
      James C. Bass (Jan. 24, 1831, N.C. ? June 4, 1924, Johnson City, Tenn.)

      James C. Bass, minister of the Christian Churches in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, and a Confederate Veteran, was born in Chatham co. N.C. and died at the home of a daughter, Carmon White, in Johnson City, on June 4, 1924. Buried in Monta Vista Cemetery. He early served in the Methodist church, until 1846, when he was converted to the Restoration doctrine under the preaching of David M. Buck in Russell Co., Va., Buck was the district Evangelist for the E.T. & S.W. Va. Co-Operation. He later moved into Carter Co. Tenn., and during his long life served many churches in this area.
      Having enlisted in the Confederate Army in South Carolina, he served in 1861 as a Private in Co. K. in Capt. Cunningham, Col Nance? reg. His pension No. 10118, says he was in 27 battles, was wounded in right leg, several flesh wounds, and was crippled for life. He was paroled May 1, 1865 at Greensboro, N.C. His wife?s name was Martha. In later years he was a member of the John B. Gordon Camp C.V. Martha Bass was 64 years old in 1908, when he applied for his pension. He had four sons, and several daughters. One son, Thomas T. Bass, was a minister of the Church of Christ in Croton, Ohio. It is not known what education he had but Bro. Bass was not an ignorant person. He had evidently been acquainted with books, and he knew his Bible well. He always preached at some church on the date nearest to his Jan. 24th birthday. The writer remembers him well. He was most active in the E.T. & S.W. Va. Co-Operation. He served at Turkey Town one Sunday each month for years. They had his photo. His last pastorate was at Cleveland, Tenn. 1910-1912. After this he returned to Johnson City. His wife died and he made his home with a daughter.
      After a long search the writer found his Obituary and ordered a Government Marker to be set at his grave in the Frank White Lot at Monta Vista Cemetery. Bro. J.J. Musick preached his funeral at the Unaka Avenue Christian Church on June 6, 1924. A final tribute in the J.C. Press Chronicle says, ?His passing marks the end of an unusually notable career in the religious field.?


    Person ID I1  Bass13B James Calhoun Bass of NC
    Last Modified 25 Nov 2022 

    Family 1 Dorothy (Daritha) L. Morgan,   b. Abt 1848, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1884  (Age ~ 36 years) 
    Married 27 Jun 1865  Chatham County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. William Henry Bass,   b. 4 May 1865, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Mar 1929, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years)
    +2. James Spencer Bass,   b. 26 Feb 1868, Salem, Chatham County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Nov 1943, Wythe County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years)
    +3. Charlotte Frances Bass,   b. 6 Oct 1869, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Jan 1903  (Age 33 years)
    +4. Asbury Franklin Longstreet Bass,   b. 24 Dec 1871, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jan 1947, Greenburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years)
     5. Mary E. Bass,   b. Abt 1874, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1945  (Age ~ 71 years)
     6. Samuel G. Bass,   b. Abt 1878, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location
    +7. Thomas Tipton Bass,   b. 22 Mar 1881, Shell Creek, Carter County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1948, Brunswick, Rensselaer County, New York Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years)
    +8. Edgar B. Bass,   b. 10 Oct 1883, Shell Creek, Carter County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jun 1913, Summit, Somerset County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 29 years)
    Last Modified 30 Jan 2019 
    Family ID F1  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Martha Morgan,   b. Jun 1836, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Abt 1885 
    Last Modified 30 Jan 2019 
    Family ID F4  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart