Bassett Family Association Database

James Smith Bassett

Male 1832 - 1919  (87 years)


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  • Name James Smith Bassett 
    Born 2 Mar 1832  Delaware County, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 29 Aug 1919  Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Rose Hill Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Chicago Tribune, September 1, 1919
      Death Notices

      BASSETT ? James S. Bassett. Funeral Wednesday, Sept. 3, 1919, at chapel, 63d and Harvard, under auspices of Apollo Commandery No. 1, K.T. Members of commandery are requested to assemble at asylum, 29 W. Monroe-st. at 1:30 p.m. sharp. William C. Boorn, Elton C. Armitage, Commander, Recorder.


      1880 Federal Census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
      James S. Bassett 45 M NY NY NY Head Plumber & Gas Fitting
      Jane E. 33 F IL EN DE Wife Keeping House
      James E. 12 M IL NY IL Son At School
      Cornelius G. 19 M IL NY IL Son Clerk in Store
      Jane Beaver 52 F EN EN EN Mother-in-law


      HISTORY OF CHICAGO by A.T. ANDREAS (1885)

      James Smith Bassett (deceased) was born in Delaware County, N.Y., on
      March 2, 1834. His father, Cornelius Bassett, was a son of one of the original
      settlers upon Massachusetts soil, the family having located at what is now
      known as Martha's Vineyard. In 1849, when only fifteen years of age, James
      came to Chicago, as a plumber's apprentice in the employ of Thomas George,
      with whom he remained for seven years. At the end of that time, he set up in
      business with a Mrs. Rose, and was, with the exception when absent for a time
      in California, actively identified in that line of business until his death in
      1885. Mr. Bassett was an active mason, and was a member of Apollo Commandery,
      No. 1, KtT., of this city. He married, in 1866, Miss Jennie Beaver, daughter
      of Mrs. Jane A. Beaver, of Aurora, Ill. They had two children, James Eugene
      and George. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett were counted among the valuable members of
      the Wabash Avenue M.E. Church, he having been one of its officers for many
      years and until his death.

      Bassett & Beaver - The business of this firm of dealers in artistic
      gas fixtures and plumbers' supplies was established in 1858, by J.S. Bassett,
      on North Clark Street, opposite the old Revere House. A year later, Mr.
      Bassett sold out and went to California, where he remained until 1861, when
      he returned to this city, and formed a partnership with Simon Livingsto
      under the firm name of Livingston & Bassett, who opened a store at No. 134
      Clark Street. This firm continued until in 1865, when it was dissolved, Mr.
      Livingston being succeeded by J.L. Pattison. The new firm removed the place of
      business to No. 81 Monroe Street, where it remained until in 1870, when it was
      dissolved and the firm of Bassett & Beaver was formed, J.E. Beaver havi
      purchased Mr. Pattison's interest. The location was also changed, at the same
      time, to No. 78 Monroe Street. At this location they were burned out, a
      after the fire the lease was considered so valueless that H.H. Honore
      purchased it for $10,000. The firm then rented a store in the First M.E.
      Church Block, No. 113 Clark Street, where, after a successful business career
      of two years, they erected a four-story building, seventy-five feet square, in
      the rear of their rented store, and exclusively occupied its floors. By the
      panic of 1873 they lost $100,000, mainly in failing to collect from hea
      firms or companies, and were thus so crippled that it became necessa
      compromise with their creditors. After making a settlement they started again
      at Nos. 229-31 State Street, remaining there one year, when they sold their
      lease to the Wakefield Rattan Company for $1,000, and moved to Nos. 37-
      Adams Street, where they remained one and a half years. They then moved to
      their present location, No. 215 State Street. Here they occupy the basement
      and the first floor of the building, the first floor being divided into three
      show-rooms. They employ from forty to fifty men, and transact an annual
      business of about $100,000. They have the exclusive agency for the J. Buck,
      Son & Co, manufacturers, of Philadelphia, and of the Travers & Murray
      Manufacturing Company, of New York City. They are doing a very large plumbing
      business, which is in charge of Mr. Bassett and Hendrick Hughes, the gas-
      fixture business being in charge of Mr. Beaver. On January 1, 1885, Mr.
      Bassett closed out his interest to the Beaver, Hughes & Wetmore Company (who
      continued the old business at the same site), and went into the plumbing
      business by himself, at No. 235 Dearborn Street. This company has been
      regularly incorporated, and has a capital stock of $25,000. Its officers are
      as follows: James E. Beaver, president; Hendrick Hughes, superintendent; and
      John W. Wetmore, secretary and treasurer.
    Person ID I06675  1A William Bassett of Plymouth
    Last Modified 28 Apr 2017 

    Father Cornelius Bassett,   b. 10 Apr 1788,   d. 1864, Per record from son George T. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Cushing,   b. 3 Dec 1798,   d. 1837  (Age 38 years) 
    Family ID F01488  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Jennie Beaver,   b. 10 Nov 1845,   d. 10 Apr 1927  (Age 81 years) 
    Children 
     1. Cornelius G. Bassett,   b. Abt 1861, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
     2. James Eugene Bassett,   b. Abt 1868, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
    +3. George Samuel Bassett,   b. 26 Mar 1881, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Sep 1952, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years)
    Family ID F02961  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart