My original article on Russell Bassett can be seen in the following newsletter.
http://www.bassettbranches.org/newsletters/2007/20071118/20071118.shtml
I have finally identified Russell Bassett. He was actually Eugene Soggs from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I do not yet know why he took the stage name of Bassett.
Russell Bassett Photograph currently for sale on ebay.
Themis, Sunday Morning, April 7, 1889
Russell Bassett is a member of “Little Lord Fauntleroy” Company, in the role of Grover Hobbs. He is a good actor and hard worker now. We remember our old boyhood friend when he was the fattest and laziest mortal one would meet in a clay’s travel. At college he never pretended to do any hard work that could possibly be avoided. About the only thing Eugene Soggs – that is his true name – would ever try to do well, was something in the dramatic line. He always was inclined to the stage. The students were always picking upon him, and he was too infernally lazy to resent their abuse. But when he became aroused, we call to mind the fact, that he was a lion in bravery as well as action. We are glad he is now approaching the topmost round of an actor’s ambition.
Sun and New York Press, New York, Thursday, May 9, 1918
Russell Bassett
Russell Bassett, 73, for fifty years an actor and one time manager of Lawrence Barrett, died from a hemorrhage of the brain yesterday morning in his home, 101 West Eighty-ninth street. He had been ill since last Saturday.
Mr. Bassett played more than a hundred roles during his career, and appeared with many prominent actors and actresses, including Booth, Modjeska, Charlotte Cushman and Clara Morris. He had been with the Famous Players in the moving pictures for the last six years.
The actor is survived by a widow and one son, Albert Anthony Bassett. Funeral services will be held next Sunday in the Campbell studio, Boradway and Sixty-sixth street.
Arizona Republican, Jan. 3, 1899
San Francisco Chronicle, April 16, 1915