Bassett Family Association Database

Thomas Erskine Birch

Male


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  • Name Thomas Erskine Birch 
    Born Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _UID FE2A629E441AEC40BDACE62ABAE9C035C3A8 
    Notes 
    • Christian County, Kentucky Biographies
      Frank Houston Bassett
      Frank Houston Bassett was born in Stephensport, Ky., November 1, 1873, and came to Hopkinsville as a boy when his brother, E.B. Bassett, came to open a store. He comes of Welsh stock. His parents were James H. and Georgia (Houston) Bassett. His paternal grandparents were Jeremiah V. Bassett and Tryphenia Wellesley (Birch) Bassett. His maternal grandparents were Dr. Robert R. Houston and Mary (Frank) Houston. Subject began his business career as a merchant and on February 23, 1898, was married to Miss Mamie Elizabeth Thompson, only child of Charles T. Thompson, a prominent hardware merchant. Some years after his marriage he took up the study of medicine and following his graduation at once took a prominent position in his profession. While still a practicing physician, he was elected a city commissioner in 1916, and served until his election as mayor of Hopkinsville in 1918. After four years in that office, he was elected county court clerk of Christian County in 1922, as a Democrat, and re-elected in 1926 and 1930 for terms of four years. One of his ancestors afterwards, Rev. Thomas Erskine Birch, an Episcopal minister, was an ensign on the Bon Homme Richard in the famous sea fight with the Serapis. He is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Dr. and Mrs. Bassett were the parents of three children. The oldest, Charles Thompson, died when a youth, Florence is the wife of John Jarrell, of Atlanta, Ga. and Frank H. Jr., who married Sara Bell McPherson, is in business in Hopkinsville.

      Col. Erskine Birch Bassett
      Col. Erskine Birch Bassett was born in Stephensport, Kentucky on June 23, 1867. He was the eighth of ten children born to James Hervey and Georgiana Houston Bassett. His paternal grandparents were Jeremiah Vardiman and Tryphena Birch Bassett and his maternal grandparents were Dr. Robert and Mary Frank Houston. He was named for his great-grandfather, Thomas Erskine Birch, who fought with John Paul Jones in the Revolutionary War and was an Anglican priest and later a teacher in Virginia and Kentucky. Col. Bassett's ancestors came to Kentucky shortly after the revolution and settled in Mason County. The Bassetts lived in what is now Bracken County and later moved to Harrison and then Breckinridge Counties. In 1877 Col. Bassett's family moved to Louisville and he was educated in the local public schools.
      In June, 1887, Bassett moved to Hopkinsville, and opened a dry goods store here. He was the first merchant to introduce modern advertising methods and Bassett & Co. was to become one of the leading retail stores in the city.
      The newly arrived merchant took an active part in public life in Hopkinsville. In April, 1888, he helped organize and was elected president of Hopkinsville's first business organization, the Commercial Club. He was one of the founders of the present Chamber of Commerce and wrote its constitution.
      As Commissioner of Western State Hospital he built the system of waterworks for the institution without cost to the state was responsible for the installation of the refrigerating plant there. He was a Regent of Western State Normal College, a leader in the Republican party and a member of the Methodist Church.
      In addition to his civic activities Col. Bassett also had a long and distinguished military career which began in Louisville in 1883 when he joined the famous Louisville Legion. After he moved to Hopkinsville he joined Co. D. of the Kentucky State Guard. After his Spanish War services he was appointed by Gov. Beckham to the rank of Major in the 3rd Kentucky Infantry and took an active part in quelling many of the civil disturbances that broke out in the state. He was largely instrumental in breaking up the activities of the "night riders" who brought a reign of terror to the western part of the state. For his services he received the thanks of Gov. Willson by public proclamation and was promoted to Lt. Col. On Nov. 10, 1910, he was named Acting Adjutant General of Kentucky and in that capacity he reorganized the 1st Regiment at Louisville and established an officer's training school for the National Guard.
      After serving in the Mexican border incident he was promoted to full colonel and sent overseas in World War I where he was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French and recommended for a full generalcy. After the war, Col. Bassett returned to civilian life and was elected the first Commander of the local American Legion Post.
      Col. Bassett died of a heart attack on March 10, 1945, and was buried with full military honors on March 19 at Riverside Cemetey.
      Col. Bassett was married to Hallie Elizabeth Brown from Louisville and they had five children: James Stanley, Walton Cross, Estelle (Mrs. Henry Edwin Morton), Margaret and Elizabeth Murray (Mrs. William Whitfield Radford). Descendants who are still living in Hopkinsville are Margaret Morton White (Mrs. Harvey O'Neal White), Jonathan Carter White and Judge Edwin Morton White and his children Nicholas Bassett and Amelia Carter White.
    Person ID I560  8B John Bassett of Hunterdon County, New Jersey
    Last Modified 4 Oct 2012 

    Family Mary Magdalene Miller 
    Children 
    +1. Tryphena Wellesley Birch,   b. 18 Jun 1810, Wytheville, Montgomery County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Jun 1895, Plattsburg, Missouri Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years)
    Family ID F196  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart