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- HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, MISSOURI
(By Alexander H. Waller 1920)
Robert H. Bassett, a retired farmer and stockman now residing at 626 South Clark street, Moberly, Missouri, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Missouri and a native of this state. He was born one mile east of Middlegrove in Monroe County, June 2, 1850. He is a son of George H. and Columbia R. (Staples) Bassett, pioneer settlers of Monroe County. George H. Bassett was born in Henry County, Virginia, October 18, 1806 and in 1825 came to Missouri and first settled in Randolph County four miles east of Moberly. Later he sold out there and removed to Monroe County where he entered land from the government and from time to time added more acreage to his holdings until he was the owner of 1200 acres which he divided among his children. In 1882, he retired and removed to Middlegrove where he died October 9, 1895. During his active career he was a successful man of extensive business affairs and prior to the Civil War owned a great many slaves. His wife, Columbia Staples, was also a native of Henry County, Virginia, born December 7, 1814. She died in Monroe County in September, 1900.
Robert H. Bassett was one of a family of 11 children born to his parents and he was the ninth in order of birth. He was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the district schools and in the schools at Middlegrove where he received a good common school education. In early life he taught school for a few years and then engaged in farming and stock raising on land which he received from his father's estate. He improved this place and sold it about 1876 and during succeeding years he owned a number of different farms and carried on stock feeding on an extensive scale and met with success. October 7, 1901 he disposed of his farming and stock business and removed to Moberly where he has since resided.
Mr. Bassett was married August 27, 1874 to Miss Lena T. Stephens. She is a daughter of Thomas N. and Mary (SIndell) Stephens, early settlers in Monroe County, Missouri. Thomas Stephens was born in Benton County, Kentucky, July 11, 1808. He was an early settler in Monroe County and became a large land owner and well to do. At the time of his death, December 6, 1887, he was the owner of 1300 acres of land. His wife was born in Virginia, August 27, 1817 and died in Monroe County, August 31, 1895. Her parents were also early settlers in Missouri.
To Robert H. Bassett and wife have been born the following children: Virginia, married Hugh D. Nave of Moberly, Missouri; Homer Bassett, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Mrs. Jewell Williams of St. Louis; Sadie, married Herbert B. Lamb, Moberly, Missouri; Ida S., deceased, and Joseph H., deceased.
Mr. Bassett is a member of the Christian church and the Bassett family is one of the representative families of Moberly and Randolph County.
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