George Ackerman Bassett is a son of Hester Ann Ackerman and an unknown Bassett.
February 21, 1933
Judge Bassett Wed 50 Years
Jurist and Wife Observe Golden Anniversary Tuesday
(Picture of Judge and Mrs. George Bassett included in article)
Judge and Mrs. George A. Bassett Tuesday celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in their home, 318 Islington street, with several members of their immediate family and friends present.
Married in 1883 to Elizabeth J. Brinkerhoff of Tiffin, the judge recalled with a chuckle that the famous flood of ’83 here threatened to postpone his wedding, scheduled for the farm residence of his bride. Finally, with his future brother-in-law, Robert Brinkerhoff, father of the famed cartoonist, he was taken across the raging Maume in a tug late at night, the flood having torn two spans form the old Cherry street bridge.
Judge Bassett was born in Perrysburg, where he worked on the old Journal. Coming to Toledo in 1880, he was with the old Morning Commercial, now the Times, for two years. He studied shorthand and became a court reporter. He began a study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1895 and served in the state legislature from 1903 to 1908.
Then he was appointed a judge of the common pleas court here by the late Governor Harris and served two years. He still practices law and has offices at 918 Board of Trade building.
Judge and Mrs. Bassett have three children, Mrs. Ada Hoffmeister of Fall River, Mass.; Mrs. Herman Ereausquin of Toledo, and George of Los Angeles, All except one of five grandchildren are here for the anniversary.
George Ackerman Bassett
Elizabeth J. Brinkerhoff Bassett
Letter written from Elizabeth J. Bassett to Arthur H. Bassett
106 Rosalind Place, Toledo, Ohio, 3 Jan 1942
Mr. Arthur H. Bassett
429 Provident Bldg.
Tacoma, Washington
Dear Sir:
Your letter of inquiry concerning the genealogy of our branch of the Bassett family came to us while visiting our daughter Mrs. Wm. F. Hoffmeister, 1161 President Ave., Fall River, Mass. and our being away from records with our papers in Toledo is the very good excuse for not writing you sooner. Also there is a very good alibi. We arrived home the first of Nov. and have taken and apartment at the number and street mentioned and have been very busy getting to housekeeping. I will say right here, confidentially, that my husband Geo. A. Bassett has little use for relatives of that name hence my answering your queries, and also that he does not know of a single relative on his Father’s side.
He was born in Brooklyn, Fulton St., N.Y. I guess that should be N.J. though never knew his Father as he and George’s mother were divorced when George was too young to even remember anything of his Father. George came to Ohio and lived for some time with the family of his mother’s brother, and when fourteen years old began to learn the printers trade and became an expert typesetter on one of the old Toledo papers. Later he learned shorthand and was a Court Reporter for several years. Thrown with lawyers and courtwork he became a lawyer fifty two years ago. Was a Common Pleas Judge, Member of the State Legislature and now at 83 years of age is a prominent retired citizen of Toledo. Please do not refer to this as it is to be regarded as confidential because there is never any mention made of this early experience in his life. Strange as Things happen just a few days after your letter reached us we were driving out on Cape Cod and noticed a little cottage with a name Bassett House, in Sandwich (a small town), and as I remember 1679 the date. We were curious about its history and called to ask. The place is now owned by a Mrs. Andrew whose husband was an Engineer on the Canal (Cape Cod) but now dead. They Mrs. A. and her sister, Mrs. Minnert have quite a history of the early Bassett’s and I am sure they would copy the information and send you if you told them you were working on your genealogy. Mrs. Meinert is hostess at the Sandwich Glass Museum. I think every one in the village knows them. I will fill out the blanks as fully as I can. Respectfully, Elizabeth J. Bassett.