![\"BassettHouse\"](\"http:\/\/www.bassettbranches.org\/newsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/BassettHouse.jpg\")
<\/a>The Bassett House, Derby, Connecticut\nColumbian Register, New Haven, Connecticut, Saturday, August 26, 1837<\/p>\n
History of New Haven County, Connecticut, John L. Rockey, 1918<\/p>\n
Royal M. Bassett, manufacturer, Birmingham, Conn., was born in Derby, Conn., October 22d, 1828. His ancestry is easily traced backward to John Bassett, of New Haven. The colonial records speak of him in 1647, and give his death as occurring in February, 1653. His son, Robert, located in Stratford, where he married his wife. The settlement of the Bassett family now showed a tendency to move up the Housatonic and Naugatuck rivers. Sergeant Robert, son of Robert Bassett, purchased land in Derby, and presented it to his second son, Samuel Bassett. Samuel came to Derby when he was only 17 years of age. The land given him by his father embraced several parcels, and one of them was at the foot of Great hill, known now as the “Old Bassett Place “; and others were on Great hill. There lived Ebenezer, son of Samuel; and James, son of Ebenezer, the greatgrandfather of Royal M. But William, son of James and grandfather of Royal M., was not born for farming so much as for trading. He acquired an early discipline in a country store up the Housatonic river. A thrifty nature made him saving of his earnings and ambitious to enlarge upon them. In time he was able to open a country store for himself, and chose Derby as the location. Derby had been a town of considerable commercial importance both because of its West India and coastwise shipping, and it was still showing the evidences of its fortune in having a large trade. Bridgeport by the turnpike northward into western Connecticut had sapped considerable of the business life of Derby, for Bridgeport was an open port all the year round, while the Housatonic river was closed to shipping a part of the year; still Derby was the port for a considerable trade. Mr. Bassett grasped “the skirts of happy chance.”<\/p>\n
One child was born to him and his wife, Lucy Smith \u2014 Sheldon Bassett. He was carefully trained under the loving eye of a judicious mother. But manners and morals were given strict attention to, for Mrs. Bassett was a model of propriety and grace, and strictly religious in all her habits. Having such a mother, Sheldon could not fail to be the admirable character he was. His father spared no pains to give the lad all the advantages of schooling and social life within reach of the home. Gradually Sheldon Bassett was introduced to the mysteries of successful trading, and became the partner of his father in the store. And when the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, Sheldon Bassett opened a store in Birmingham. As a reason for the removal it may be said that the commercial status of Derby Center was now changing. Business was shifting its greater volume to the new location. Because of its superior opportunities for manufacturing, Birmingham, though contiguous to Derby Center, was outstripping her neighbor. As manufacturing was coming into the town, the thoughts of the more ambitious young men were widening with the expanding business life. The Colburns, of Westville, had established their foundry in Derby in 1836, and Sheldon Bassett perceiving a business opportunity of much promise, became a partner in the new
\nconcern.<\/p>\n
His prominence in town matters was evidenced before this date,
\nfor he had already been town clerk and justice of the peace, and had
\nestablished a reputation for public and administrative virtue. And
\nthe evidence of his business career only widened his influence in the
\ntown.<\/p>\n
In 1850 the foundry was made a joint stock corporation under the
\nname of “The Birmingham Iron Foundry,” and Sheldon Bassett be-
\ncame more and more a controlling factor, until the management
\npassed into his hands.<\/p>\n
But Mr. Bassett held other business relations in town. He was one of the original incorporators of the Derby Savings Bank, and touched the business life of the town at many points. He was a good counsellor, and his opinion was often sought for as valuable on the questions affecting the welfare of his neighbors and his town. He married Miss Harriett Hull, daughter of Lieutenant Samuel Hull, one of the officers of the revolutionary army. She was a woman of fine spirit, of earnest purpose and pure religious character \u2014 the well-suited counterpart of her husband. Her children have called her “blessed” since they were able to appreciate the value of the example she gave them.<\/p>\n
To Sheldon Bassett and his wife, Harriet Hull, were born six children: William H., Royal M., Mrs. Ellen S. Norton, Mrs. Lavinia De Forrest, Mrs. Lucy P. Colt and Theodore S. Of this family of children only two are living: Royal M., whose portrait appears in this history, and Theodore S., one of the business men of Birmingham. Upon the death of Sheldon Bassett, in 1864, his son. Royal M., succeeded to the presidency of the Birmingham Iron Foundry, and his other son, Theodore S., was chosen secretary and treasurer. The capital stock of the company, which was originally $32,000, has since been increased to $100,000; and under the management of these two brothers, the business has been very prosperous.<\/p>\n
Royal M. Bassett obtained his education in the common schools of his native town, and in academies in New Haven and in Haddam. The fortune he inherited was only slender, and, like many of his social peers, he must make his own business career. He was endowed with executive ability of the first order, and his gift of administration was presided over by high moral purpose and social qualities, which won confidence and often love. Hence he became the companion of honorable men, among whom he maintained the distinction of wise foresight and virtue in all his transactions. If his business judgment
\nsometimes failed, it is only fair to say that oftener it led him aright,
\nand his accumulations of wealth are visible to all observers. Mr. Bassett was one of the principal promoters of the Ousatonic Water Company, which has made the great mills of Shelton a reality, giving to the enterprise the strength of his influence, and investing capital in its stock. He was also one of the incorporators of the Derby Gas Company. Besides, his interest in popular education has made him an ardent friend of the public schools, and the splendid school building in the Sixth district of Birmingham is largely a monument of his wise persistent efforts.<\/p>\n
But Derby and its affairs were not large enough to compass the
\nbreadth of his spirit. He is seen outside of his state, along the line of
\nthe Pacific railroad, building an expensive rolling mill, and preparing
\nthe iron rails for the rolling stock of the trans-continental highway. He is also seen in Utah as president of the Northern railroad, and again as trustee of the Utah Western railroad, and later, when that railroad was reorganized under the name of the Utah Nevada, he was appointed president. He is also vice-president and secretary of the Rubber Reclaiming Company, having an office in New York but embracing five factories in different manufacturing centers. And though his investments are held at many points, they are so appointed and controlled that he has abundant leisure for what recreation or travel he may care to enter upon.<\/p>\n
On November 9th, 1858, he married Miss Frances J. Stratton, of Bridgeport, Conn., a lady of kindred tastes, shown both within and without their home; but she died February 14th, 1876. Three children were born to them; Lucy L. Bassett, who died at the age of 19 years, February 4th, 1879; Royal E. Bassett, about 4 years of age, who died January 9th, 1865,\u00a0 and Sheldon H. Bassett, born April 11th, 1867, now of New York.<\/p>\n
Sheldon Bassett descends from #1B John Bassett of Connecticut as follows: John Bassett and wife Margery Robert Bassett and wife Mary Robert Bassett (b.1640) and wife Elizabeth Riggs Samuel Bassett (b. 1692) and wife Deborah Bennett Ebenezer Bassett (b. 1731) … Continue reading <\/a>Postcard of the Bassett House, Derby, Connecticut<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"