| Notes |
- Algernon and Frances moved to Texas and raised a large family.
Sid's mother died when he was only 9 years old. His father remarried
two years later. Life was not easy being a son of a farmer in the early days.
It was very hard work.
In 1857, Sid's father moved from Indiana to Foster Township, Marion
County, Illinois, hoping to secure a better life for himself and his family.
The Bassetts were one of the early settlers of the county. They first lived in
a log cabin, but soon built a nice frame house.
Sid's father enlisted in the 111th Illinois Infantry, 18 Sep 1862. But
because of his age, Sid soon went in to replace his father. Although Sid is
not recorded as having fought in the Civil War, he did so under his father's
name. The following is from his diary:
"Sunday Jan 1st 1865"
This is the beginning of a new year. May peace dawn before its close.
Cool but warmer than one year ago. I am at Mound City, Illinois. We are
expecting to be paid soon. There has been no news from Sherman since he left
Savannah, Ga. Unwell.
"Tuesday 3rd"
There is an examination for the V.R.C. The Dr. wants me to go into it
but I would rather go to my Rgt. Unwell.
"Thursday 5th"
There was a sale of the deceased Soldiers' effects. They went very
cheap.
"Tuesday 10th"
Considerable snow and rain. I have a very bad cold. Hosp. fu
sick.
After the war, Sid returned home to Marion County, Illinois. He
married in 1867 into the also prominent Nichols family of Foster Township.
Life was once again saddened for them as their first child died in 1869, at
the age of one month and ten days.
On 7 Apr 1873, Sid bought 40 acres, Sec. 23, Twp. 4, Range 2, f
$5.00 from his father and step-mother. This was in Foster Township near the
homestead.
Sid was a very intelligent man. He read and studied everything. He
became a practicing country doctor in Pleasant Grove, an area in Foster
Township. Taken from the 8 Nov 1878 Marion County Herald, "Dr. A. S. Bassett
resumes his practice at Pleasant Grove."
In 1879 Sid and his wife and four children moved to Cooke Count
Texas. They left Salem by wagon. The roads were bad and there were few
bridges. When streams were up they camped and waited for the water to recede.
The trip took 27 days.
Sid purchased a farm 1½ miles southwest of Woodbine from Henry Nelson,
who had homesteaded it. After farming for three years, he went into the
nursery business. He named it Spring Dale Nursery. He operated it for
approximately 20 years. He planted many trees including pines, oak, cedar,
magnolia, pear, crepe myrtle and pecan, of which are still living in 1988. One
of the pine trees which is now dead, hit by lightning, exceeded the 1981 state
champion loblolly pine in diameter by 8 inches.
Sid also had a variety of shade and fruit trees and shrubs. One of his
newly propagated apples won first prize at the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago and
was named "Capitola".
In connection with his nursery business, he made fine wines from his
fruits. And after many years of successful business, he and his wife, a
daughter Mary Belle, moved to Sarita, Texas.
Sid had a brilliant mind and he never quit trying to learn more. He
often wrote for magazines and newspapers.
Besides trips to see his children and trips back to Illinois to visit
his brothers and their families, Sid lived out the remaining years of his life
in Sarita, Texas.
1880 Federal Census of Foster, Marion County, Illinois (22 Jun 1880)
Sydney A. Bassett 35 M IN IN IN Head Farmer
Frances E. 30 F IL NY IL Wife Keeping House
Walter 9 M IL IN IL Son
Mary 7 F IL IN IL Daughter
Amy 5 F IL IN IL Daughter
Harry 3 M IL IN IL Son
Fillmore Nichols 24 M IL NY IL BroL Farmer
1900 Federal Census of Precinct 1, Cooke County, Texas (16 Jun 1900)
A. Bassett 65 M Mar 1845 IN IN IN Head Nurseryman
Frances E. 50 F Mar 1850 IL NY IL Wife
Mary 26 F Dec 1873 IL IN IL Daughter
Amy 25 F Mar 1875 IL IN IL Daughter
& 1 Boarder
(Married 33 years, 5 children, 4 living)
The Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb 1936
E.S. Bassett, Early Cooke Resident, Dies
GAINESVILLE, Texas, Feb. 15 – E. S. Bassett, 90, who came to Cooke
County from Indiana sixty years ago and operated a fruit farm and nurse
seven miles east of Gainesville, will be buried Sunday.
He died Friday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Patterson of
Sarita, Kenedy County. Besides Mrs. Patterson, two sons and two brothers
survive.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1845 - 1935 (89 years)