| Notes |
- Charles was wounded in the battle of Vicksburg. He was superintendent of the Illinois Soldiers' Orphans' Home.
1880 Federal Census of Austin, Cook County, Illinois
Charles E. Bassett 36 M IL VT NY Head Clerk
Kate E. 28 F IL VT VT Wife Keeping House
Frank C. 9 M IL IL IL Son
Mabel E. 5 F IL IL IL Daughter
Laura E. 3 F IL IL IL Daughter
Mildred 1 F IL IL IL Daughter
1900 Federal Census of West Town, Chicago, Cook County, IL (14 Jun 190
Charles Bassett 55 Apr 1845 M IL NY NY Head Cashier
Kate E. 48 Mar 1852 F IL ST ST Wife
Laura 24 Dec 1876 F IL IL IL Daughter Operator (Telephone)
Margaret 22 Oct 1878 F IL IL IL Daughter Operator (Telephone)
George A. 19 Feb 1881 M IL IL IL School H.
(Living at 337 Price Ave.) (ST - Scotland)
Came to Austin in 1875
Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Bassett
Among Austin's pioneer residents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Bassett
of 116 North Pine, who came here in 1875 with their first two children, Frank
C. and Mabel B. Eddy. Their two-story frame residence, still standing a
occupied by their children, was then surrounded by prairie. So sparsely
settled was the community that the Bassetts could see Crawford avenue from
their home. There were no street cars or elevated cars. The only
transportation was the North Western railroad, which ran on the ground level.
Mr. Bassett, born in Batavia, and his wife, the former Katherine
Clark, whose birthplace was Ottawa, were married on Chicago's north side and
came to Austin from their home adjacent to the Newberry library. He had been a
Chicago resident since 1867 and she since the age of 10.
Mr. Bassett, a Civil war veteran and past commander of Kilpatrick post
276, Grand Army of the Republic, was secretary of the Austin board of
education for eleven years. He was one the committee appointed to find a site
for the first Austin high school building which was finally decided to be at
Long and Fulton. He was also appointed on the Illinois commission by the late
governor of Illinois, Richard Yates, to locate the position of Mr. Bassett's
regiment, 124th Illinois, Company B, for erection of the Illinois monument in
the National Military park at Vicksburg, Miss., in 1908.
At the time of the Civil war, Charles Bassett enlisted in the 124th
Illinois regiment, Company B, at Aurora on August 12, 1862, and was mustered
into the service that September. He was wounded in the battle of Vicksburg and
was honorably discharged August 15, 1865, at Camp Douglas in Chicag
Mr. and Mrs. Bassett were both active in the Masonic organizations of
Austin. Mr. Bassett was raised in Harlem Lodge 540, A.F& A.M in May, 1880, and
became master in 1885. He transferred his membership to Austin lodge 85
A.F&A.M in October, 1897, and was high priest of Cicero chapter 180, R.A.M.,
and member of Chicago council 4, R.&S.M., and Siloam commandery 54, K.T. Mrs.
Bassett served as president of Austin circle 45, Ladies of the Grand Army.
After serving 26 years in the chief clerk's office of the Chicago &
North Western railroad, Mr. Bassett accepted the position of superintendent
and his wife as matron of the Illinois Soldiers' Orphans home in Normal, Ill.
They held these positions from 1893 to 1897 and were appointed to the same
positions at Illinois Masonic Orphans' home on Chicago's west side, a position
Mr. Bassett held for several years. They moved with the Masonic home to
LaGrange in 1913 and later returned to the home at Normal where Mr. Bassett
passed away on June 19, 1915. Mrs. Bassett returned to the family ho
Austin and her death occurred at home on July 11, 1939.
Six children were born to the Bassetts, the late Frank C. and Mabel B.
Eddy, who came here with their parents, and two daughters and two sons, Laura
E. Bassett, Mildred B. Gleason, and George A. Bassett and the late Rae, who
were all born at the Pine avenue address in Austin. Rae died January 19, 1894,
in Normal, Ill., when Mr. and Mrs. Bassett were superintendent and matron of
the Illinois Soldiers Orphans' home. The others are at home here at the Pine
avenue address.
There are 10 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great-
grandson, Capt. James B. Stapleton, World War II army air force pilot, and one
great-great-great grandchild, Captain Stapleton's daughter, Sally Ann, 4 years
old, who is the pride and joy of the family at 116 North Pine.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1845 - 1916 (71 years)