| Notes |
- History of Woodbury and Plymouth Counties
A. Warner & Co. Publishers, 1890-1
Rev. Caroline A. Bassett was born in Cattaragus county, N.Y., in the
year 1841. At the early age of fifteen years, she commenced her labors as a
teacher, and by careful economy and industry, saved enough to enable her to
attend the State Normal school of Albany, where she graduated with honors in
1862.
In 1868 she resigned her position as principal of the Gowanda Union
school and came to Correctionville, Iowa. Shortly after reaching the state,
she was engaged as principal of the Onawa school, which position she held for
one year. At the close of the spring term she was appointed by the state
superintendent to conduct the Monona County Institute, it being the fir
teachers' institute ever conducted by a lady, and so successful was she that
her services were sought in many of the counties of the state, and in Dakota,
conducting their Territorial institute in December, 1873.
In 1870 she was appointed principal of the grammar department of the
public schools of Sioux City. In the fall of 1870, she was elected by t
people of Woodbury county, to the office of county superintendent of schools,
which office she held for two years, retaining her place, however, in school,
until the close of 1873, when she resigned to devote herself more fully to the
duties of the office, and institute conductor. Under her superintendenc
educational conventions were held at Correctionville, Smithland and Sio
City. These consisted of lectures, discussions, papers and illustrated
lessons. Besides these conventions, two institutes were held in Sioux City -
the first commenced October 7, 1872, and continued one week, conduct
Prof. James Johonnot, of the Warrensburg Normal school, Mo., and Miss Helen
Potter, of New York. A normal institute was held, commencing November 1
1873, and continued two weeks, in charge of Miss Bassett, assisted by Mrs.
Randall Diehl, of New York, and the teachers of the count
In 1871, at a celebration in Correctionville, she won the honor of
being the first lady to deliver a fourth of July oration. Miss Bassett was
prominently connected with all the educational interests of the stat
August, 1872, she presented a paper at the State Teachers' association at Iowa
City, upon "Normal Training in the High School." She presented "Reading and
Elocution" at the first State Normal held in Des Moines, and a paper before
the same institute at Clear Lake. She also established an educational bureau
at Des Moines.
In January, 1874, Miss Bassett entered the University at Evanston,
Ill., for a theological course, but receiving an injury from a fall, she was
unable to complete the course. In 1878 she assisted in a normal institute at
Sioux City. Miss Bassett is at present pastor of the Free Baptist church of
Lisbon, Mich., having been ordained by that denomination in June, 1881. She is
also state superintendent of Sunday-school work in the Women's Christian
Temperance Union.
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Bassett Family Association Database
Abt 1842 - Deceased