Col. Erskine Birch Bassett descends from #8B John Bassett of New Jersey as follows:
John Bassett
Amos Bassett (b. 1760) and wife Susan Stout
Jeremiah Vardaman Bassett (b. 1769) and wife Tryphenia Wellesley Birch
James Hervey Bassett (b. 1829) and wife Georgia Houston
Col. Erskine Birch Bassett and wife Hallie Elizabeth Brown
Bassett & Co. Building (red brick on right) in Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville Kentuckian, November 7, 1914
Men In Mind In Hopkinsville
People of Prominence In The Pearl City of The Pennyroyal
Biographical Sketch No. 60
A Merchant-Soldier Who Has Been Prominent In Business for 27 Years
In 1887 three young men from Louisville came to Hopkinsville and entered into the dry goods business under the firm name of Bassett & Co. They came unknown and unheralded, but met with instantaneous success. Being liberal advertisers along the new line of quoting prices of goods, their methods were new to the city and it was not long before their store was the center of activity in the dry goods business. The resident partner, E. Bassett, who in a few years bought out his partners and for 27 years has continued in business under the original firm name.
Erskine Birch Bassett is descended from patriotic stock. His revolutionary ancestor was Rev. Thomas Erskine Birch, a minister of the church of England, who doffed his ministerial robes to become an ensign and was with Paul Jones in the battle of BonHomme Richard and the Scrapis, and also in other exploits.
The present merchant and soldier was born at Stephensport, Ky., June 23, 1867, and at the age of nine left the farm upon which he was born and went to Louisville, with his father, Jas. H. Bassett. His education was acquired in the schools of Louisville and as early as 14 years of age he developed a martial spirit and enlisted in Co. A of the First Regiment of Kentucky State Guards. While still a mere boy, he was sent with his company to take part in the stirring scenes at Ashland, Ky., where there was a fight with a mob in which three men were killed in a battle on the Ohio river, growing out of an attempt of the job to take some prisoners from the troops.
When only 20 years of age he came to Hopkinsville and embarked in business on Main street, next to the City Bank. One or two changes were made to secure larger quarters until 1909, when the firm occupied the present stand on the west side of Main street, near the corner of Ninth.
In the meantime Mr. Bassett had not forgotten his military training. Before coming to Hopkinsville he had risen to second lieutenant and he lost no time in getting into Company D, of which Capt. E Grey Lewis was at that time commander. Col. Jouett Henry was then the first lieutenant. In 1897 Mr. Bassett was made first lieutenant of the reorganized Company D, and in 1900 was appointed major of the Third Regiment by Gov. Beckham. He saw frequent service, in putting down strikes at Madisonville, in the Fletcher mob at Russellville and in protecting a negro prisoner at Mayfield. At the latter place a mob of 5,000 was clamoring for a negro charged with an unmentionable crime and the soldiers had to literally cut their way through to reach a train that carried him out of their reach. Another time when he was called out was at Greenville for a similar duty. On all of these occasions he demonstrated his fearless spirit, military ardor and vigor of action. His most conspicuous services were in 1908, when following the night rider troubles, Gov. Willson assigned to him the duty of breaking up night riders and put him in command of several hundred men. His forces remained in the field, scouting over several counties, until the bands were practically put out of business. During this campaign, Maj. Bassett was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, a position he still holds. For six months during Gov. Willson’s administration he was acting Adjutant General of Kentucky. During Gov. Brown’s administration he served a term as Commissioner of the Western Asylum and was one of the committee in charge of the installation of a system of waterworks in the institution. He made a record as a most efficient public officer.
Col. Bassett was married to Miss Hallie E. Brown the year he came to Hopkinsville and their family consists of one son and two daughters. The son, J. Stanley Bassett, is a young attorney who recently moved West.
The Bassetts are an English family dating back to Normandy in 1084. The court of arms, still treasured by the family bears the motto “better Death than Shame.” The American ancestor came over in 1620, landing at Plymouth from the ship “Fortune”.
During the many years that Col. Bassett has been a business man of Hopkinsville, he has been prominent in civic affairs and a leader in progressive movements. His store had been a trading center of the city for more than a quarter of a century and its genial proprietor is still entitled to rank among the young men of the city.
Hopkinsville Kentuckian, 17 Sep 1897
Hopkinsville Kentuckian, 28 Sep 1897