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- MRS. LUCINA BASSETT DEAD IN NORMAL
END CAME SHORTLY AFTER NOON
Oct. 30, 1909
Mrs. Lucina J. Bassett, one of the most prominent of the older women of Normal, died at her home at the corner of Fell avenue and First street, yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock. The deceased had been in failing health all the summer and fall, until about three weeks ago, when she rallied and seemed to be gaining her old time strength again. Her daughter, Mrs. Colvin, who came from her home in California the latter part of the summer, when her mother was very low, returned three weeks ago to her home, the prospects being at that time that the mother would hold her strength. The other children were at the bedside when she passed away.
Lucina J. Mead was born in Delaware, O., October 15th, 1831. At an early age she moved with her parents to Greensburgh, Ind. There she resided until her marriage to Brazilla Bassett, March 30th, 1854. Until the time of her marriage, she was a member of the Presbyterian church, the noted J.H. Monfort being for years her pastor. After her marriage, she went with her husband to the Methodist church. She was a faithful member of the latter church to the day of her death, devoted, to all of its best interests. Mrs. Bassett's was a character remarkable for its completeness, it's strength and tenderness. Hers was a nature, spiritual, devoted, loving. She was steadfast in her allegiance to her God, to her family, to her friends. She cherished the ideals of her youth while she grew and ripened with years and had a strong interest in all that passed in the world. She was truly patriotic, wishing for all good to come to her country, her state and to her immediate community. She was broad-minded, yet conservative, having a wonderful fund of information regarding the world's history as it has been made during her life time. She was first of all a home maker, but her tastes were strongly literary. She read widely and with unusual mental grasp, from her early childhood to the close of her life. She was a charter member of the Normal History Club, one of the prominent literary organizations of the city. She bore the distinction of being the oldest member of the club and was one of the foremost and most valued workers, who will be sadly missed. No one could associate with her without gaining an inspiration,
and one left her presence feeling it well worth while to live and to live well, for the sake of the good and the beautiful in life. She was a strong believer in temperance and along with her other work she found time to take an active part for years in the local W.C.T.O.
Soon after her marriage to Mr. Bassett they came west to LaSalle county near Tonica, where they resided on a farm for years and where all of their children were born. The old home farm still remains in the family and is operated by the oldest son, but the family moved to Normal in 1868 to give the younger one the benefit of the schools. During their first year or two here they resided on North School street, until Mr. Bassett erected the present home on South Fell avenue, where they resided ever since. Mr. Bassett passed away August 29th, 1907. One daughter Frances Barzilla, died in infancy and Arthur, the well known musician, passed away January 3rd of the present year. The children who are living are Mrs. Ada E. Colvin, of Pomona, Cal., Ira M. Bassett, who resides on the home farm near Tonica, Ill.; Ellen Irene Bassett, supervisor of music in the Bloomington schools who reside at home, and Prof. Herbert Bassett, head of the department of geography in the state Normal school at Macomb., Ill. A short service will be held at the home this afternoon, a notice of the same appearing in another column. The body will be taken on the Illinois Central train Saturday morning at 6:12 for burial.
DEATH OF MRS. MEAD
At the home of Mr. Bassett, 508 South Fell avenue on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 occurred the death of Mrs. Lydia Mead. Her death was not unexpected by the family, as she has been confined to her bed for nearly three weeks, and though not suffering from any disease there was a breaking down of the entire system, owing to her extreme old age. Her maiden name was Lydia Root. She was born in Delaware, O. August 16, 1813, and was married in the same place to Mr. D.R. Mead in December, 1830. Her childhood and early married life were passed in Ohio. For a time she lived in Indianapolis and sat under the preaching of Henry Ward Beecher. For fifteen or twenty years she resided at Greensburg, Ind., From there she moved to Dubuque, Ia., but came to Normal about ten years ago, and since that time has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Bassett. Since early life she had been a member of the Presbyterian church and at the time of her death was connected with the Presbyterian church in Normal. In her active years she was greatly interested in church work, and especially in the work of the Sunday schools. She was the mother of eleven children, give of whom are still living They are Mrs. Elias Metcalf, of Jacksonville, Ill.; Mrs. Belle Blackstone, of Berwyn, I. T.; Mr. Frank J. Mead, of Minnehaha, Minn.; Mrs. Lydia Mead Collins, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Mrs. Bassett, of this city. The funeral occurred at the home of Mr. Bassett Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock, conducted by Rev. W.D. Smith and Rev. Richard Crewes. The remains will be taken this morning to Greensburg, Ind., where they will be buried in South Park cemetery by the side of her husband, who died nearly forty years ago.
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We have received a marked copy of the Bloomington Pantagraph which records the death of Mrs. Lydia Mead at the advanced age of nearly 89 years. Deceased was the mother of Mrs. Barzilla Bassett, at whose home in Normal she died last Saturday. The remains were taken to Greensburg, Indiana, for burial beside those of her husband.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1831 - 1908 (77 years)