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- 1850 Federal Census of Northfield, Summit County, Ohio (30 Oct 1850)
Ed Beany - 32 - M - England - Farmer 1200
John Beany - 75 - M - England
Jane Beany - 71 - F - England
Ann Bassett - 28 - F - England 300
John W. Bassett - 3 - M - Ohio
Mary J. Bassett - 1 - F - Ohio
1870 Federal Census of Richfield Township, Summit County, Ohio (6 Jun 1870)
John W. Bassett - 23 - M - Ohio - Farmer 1500 500
Martha M. - 27 - F - Ohio - Keeping house
William C. - 1 - M - Ohio
Living next door
1870 Federal Census of Richfield Township, Summit County, Ohio (6 Jun 1870)
James Underhill - 48- M - New Hampshire - Farmer 6000 1400
Ann - 49 - F - England - Keeping house
George - 18 - M - New Hampshire - At home
Elisabeth - 10 - F - Ohio
Mary J. Bassett - 20 - F - Ohio - Housekeeping
Alfred Bearey - 64 - M - England - Farm Laborer
1880 Federal Census of Richfield, Summit County, Ohio
John W. Bassett - 32 - M - OH-EN-EN - Head - Farmer
Martha A. - 37 - F - OH-OH-OH - Wife - Keeping House
Willie C. - 11- M - OH-OH-OH - Son
Lillie M. - 8 - F - OH-OH-OH - Daughter
John W. - 3 - M - OH-OH-OH - Son
1920 Federal Census of Undilla, South Russell, Otoe County, Nebraska (28 Jan 1920)
Oscar Sasseen - 41 - M - KS-IA-IA - Head - Farmer
Mary E. - 39 - F - OH-OH-OH - Wife
Lillie M. - 12 - F - NE-KS-OH - Daughter
Morris M. - 9 - M - NE-KS-OH - Son
John W. Bassett Sr. (Wd) - 72 - M - OH-EN-EN - FatherL - Farmer
1930 Federal Census of South Russell, Otoe County, Nebraska (9 Apr 1930)
Oscar Saseen - 51 - M - KS-TN-IA - Head - Farmer - Own Farm
Mary E. - 49 - F - OH-OH-OH - Wife
Maria - 23 - F - NE-KS-OH - Daughter - Teacher Public School
Morris - 19 - M - NE-KS-OH - Son - Farm Laborer
John W. Bassett (Wd) - 82 - M - OH-EN-EN - FatherL
The Nebraska Farmer, February 25, 1939
Daily Diary Since 1865 (Included Picture of J.W. Bassett)
He has seen 19 summers come and go. Although his hair is white and his step is a bit unsteady, a person comes to realize that there is only one thing really old about the man. That is his diary.
For more than 70 years, Unadilla's John W. Bassett has been a chronicler of history. Daily he records the events which occur along the main stem of his home town as well as those of state, national and world importance.
Starting his diary in 1865, Mr. Bassett used small leather-bound books, one each year. Later, it became apparent that one large book covering the writings of several years would be of greater utility. So about the turn of the century, Mr. Bassett started this system. He now writes in a 15-year diary which was started in 1926. Pile book on book, his personalized history stands considerably more than a foot in height.
Opening a faded little book with the gold numbers "1865" impressed upon the front cover and turning to the entry of Friday, April 14, one may read these words, "Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was shot in a theater at 10 o'clock p.m.". Farther down the page under the date Saturday, April 15, "Abraham Lincoln died from the effects of a wound from a revolver in the hands of J.W. Boothe."
At the time of Lincoln's assassination there was no telephone or radio, and the dissemination of news was far behind the speed of today's press. In those days, recalls Mr. Bassett, one gleaned all his news from newspapers and magazine. The front-page makeup was much different then. Screaming headlines and sensational make-up were unknown. News was of two types in 1865. It was classified either under current events or general news. The death of President Lincoln came under the former.
Mr. Bassett was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1847. After spending his youth and early married life in Ohio, he emigrated with his family to Nebraska in 1882 and has lived near Unadilla for 57 years. After retiring from his farm 18 years ago, he moved to town and has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Mary Ethel Saseen. He walks downtown daily for the mail.
"I have never tasted tobacco for one thing," declared Mr. Bassett when asked about his habits of living. "Hard work and I were always great friends. In those days I was a fairly hearty eater, but I didn't overindulge. A man needs just enough fuel to keep him going."
Here are excerpts from various entries in the Bassett volumes:
Jan. 3, 1865 - Literary (debate) tonight. Question - "Resolved that the Negro has more reason to complain than does the Indian."
Feb. 19, 1865 - Hired out to father for 8 months at $20 per month. Literary tonight.. Question - "Resolved that married men enjoy life more than do single men."
Oct. 25, 1865 - made several purchases today; one vest, $3; one pair pants, $5; one coat, $2.50; one coat $10; one hat, $4; two pair boots, $12.
Nearly every Sunday throughout the diary, there is an entry of, "Went to Services twice today." Very religious, Mr. Bassett is a Methodist. He was married and had five children. Two are living. He has 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren
Who's Who in Nebraska, 1940, Otoe County
BASSETT, JOHN WILLIAM SR..: Retired; b. Cleveland, Ohio Dec 10, 1847; son of John Bassett-Ann Beaney; ed Bedford Ohio HS 1865; m Martha Ann Silver Jan 17, 1867, Rochester Penn; sons William C., John W Jr.; daughters Lillie Mae (dec), Mary Ethel (Mrs. O M. Sasseen), Nannie Bell (dec); 1860-67 worked on various Ohio farms; 1867-82 farmed in Ohio; 1882-1903, farmed near Unnadilla; 1903-ret; past member sch & village bds; Meth Ch, past SS supt, secy, treas; hobby, has kept diary since day Abraham Lincoln was assassinated; res Unadilla.
Undated newspaper from Otoe County, Nebraska
JOHN W. BASSETT, SR., 91, UNADILLA, IS DEAD
Funeral services for Long-Time Resident will be Saturday.
UNADILLA - Special to The News Press - John W. Bassett, Sr., 91, retired farmer and resident of the Unadilla vicinity for 57 years, died Wednesday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Oscar Sasseen, in Unadilla. He had been ill the past three weeks and death was caused by a paralytic stroke.
Funeral services will be Saturday at the Methodist church in Unadilla, internment in Unadilla cemetery, Rev. C.A. Norman of Beatrice Methodist church, a former Unadilla preacher, will officiate.
Mr. Bassett was born Dec. 10, 1847, in Cleveland, Ohio, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bassett. His father died when John was two years old and Mrs. Bassett and her son moved to her parents home at Northfield, Ohio. She married again when he was seven years old and the family moved to Bedford, Ohio. Here Mr. Bassett finished his education at the Bedford High School.
He married Martha Silver at Bedford in 1866 and the couple moved to a farm at Richfield, where they lived for 12 years. They moved to Nebraska with their four children in 1882 to farm three-quarters of a mile east of Unadilla. After 21 years on the place, they moved to town to the G.B. White place. Mrs. Bassett died April 21, 1915, in Unadilla.
Mr. Bassett was a charter member of the Methodist church here, which he helped found in 1883. He took an active part in community affairs and was an ambitious temperance worker. He helped to organize and served as secretary of the Farmers Elevator for 15 years before it was sold to Farmers Co-Operative.
He is survived by a son, John Jr., and a daughter, Mrs. Oscar Sasseen, both of Unadilla, and 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Deceased children are Nannie Dill, who died at the age of 5, Lillie May, 34, and William C., 43.
Mr. Bassett kept a diary for the past 70 years, running through Lincoln's assassination, his early manhood in Ohio, the immigration to the West before Unadilla was incorporated and including the latest history of the town and world events. He remained in fine health until his recent illness and until his health broke slightly three years ago, took daily walks of two or three miles. He still made his daily trips to town for the mail, however, and visited his farm, now occupied by his grandson, J. Ivan, regularly.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1847 - 1939 (91 years)