| Notes |
- Adams was a twin to William Penn.
1860 Federal Census of Batavia, Branch County, Michigan (1860)
Adams Bassett 34 M New York Farmer 2200 400
Adelia 27 F New York
Ida A. 4 F Michigan
1870 Federal Census of Batavia, Branch County, Michigan (3 Aug 1870)
Adams Bassett 46 M New York Farmer 6000 875
Mary A. 38 F New York Keeping House
Iola A. 14 F Michigan At home
Elmer J. 3 M Michigan
Watson Davis 15 M Michigan Farm laborer
1880 Federal Census of Batavia, Branch County, Michigan
Adams Bassett 56 M NY NY NY Head Farmer
Mary A. 49 F NY NY NY Wife Keeping House
Elmer 13 M MI NY NY Son At School
Warren Sisson 26 M MI NY NY Other Laborer
Portrait and Biographical Album of Branch County, Michigan, 1888, Page 191
Chicago: Chapman Brothers.
ADAM BASSETT, formerly a substantial and prosperous farmer of this
county, to which he came when Michigan was yet a Territory in 1835, became one
of the leading men of the community, and when his death occurred, March 30,
1887, it was felt by all who knew him that a good man was called to his rest.
He was situated on section 34, Batavia Township, and met with very good
success in the pursuit of his chosen calling.
Adam Bassett was born in Andes, Delaware Co., N.Y. March 1, 1823, and
was the son of John Bassett who was a native of Martha's Vineyard, Mass., where
he was born on the 20th of March 1793. He married Cynthia Benjamin, who was a
native of same Island, and was born Sept. 24, 1793. After the marriage
ceremony, which also took place on that Island, John Bassett and his young
wife removed to Andes, N.Y., and remained there until eight of their family of
ten children were born. They then, accompanied by their family, started
overland to Michigan, and arriving in this county located on Government land,
on section 33, Batavia Township. They were the very first settlers in this
township, and it is needless to state that with their large family they
experienced all the vicissitudes that fell to the lot of the pioneer. But they
persevered, until finally they saw grow up around them a beautiful section of
country, redeemed from the sway of nature by indefatigable and persiste
toil. The father died in March, about 1873 or 1874, after attaining the age of
eighty-four years, while his wife had passed away many years previously, in
1860, when sixty-two years of age. John Bassett was a soldier in the War of
1812, and was a good, honest and industrious man, and he and his wife were
active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While improving his tract of
160 acres of wild land in Batavia Township, Mr. Bassett had found ti
engage in teaching, and conducted one of the first schools taught in the
township. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, and w
influential man in the early history of the township.
The parental family of our subject was increased after the arrival of
the parents in Michigan to ten children, seven sons and three daughters, of
whom Adam was the third in order of birth, and they are recorded as follows:
Amelia, Arnold S., Adam, Emily, Edward H., John C., Francis, Marcus T., Sophia
L. and George H. Adam was reared and educated chiefly in Batavia Township and
was there united in marriage, Nov. 24, 1850, with Miss Adeline Roberts, who
was born in Mendon Township, Monroe Co., N.Y., April 2, 1824, and is the
second child of Lyman and Sally M. (Stimpson) Roberts, natives of New York
State. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Roberts settled in Mendon, and
there resided until the death of the wife, which occurred in 1826, when she
was less than thirty years old, being called away by that dread disease
consumption, and leaving three children, the youngest of whom was six months
old. After the death of his wife Lyman Roberts removed to Lockport, Niagara
County, and for some time acted in the capacity of Sheriff of that county. He
subsequently went West and started a good grocery store in Chicago, which he
conducted for some years, and finally came to Michigan and lived with h
eldest daughter, Mrs. Marshall Miller, of Batavia Township, until his death,
which occurred in 1868, when he was sixty-eight years of age. In politics he
was a Republican, and was an active and practical business man most of his
life.
According to an arrangement made by her mother just before her death,
Mrs. Bassett was regularly adopted by the former's sister, Carolina Leet, and
was reared by her aunt, with whom she lived until her marriage. At six years
of age she accompanied the family to Ohio, and in 1848 they came to Michigan
and made a settlement in Batavia Township, where Mrs. Leet and her noble
husband, John L. Leet, both passed away, ripe in years and honors. A brother
of Mrs. Adelina Bassett, Mortimer D. Roberts, was but six months old when his
mother died, and he was afterward given by his father to a man by the name of
Eals, who was to care for him for some years but was not to adopt him. The
foster father, however, abducted the child and took him to Philadelphia, where
father time lost all trace of both. They subsequently removed to Minnesota,
where Mortimer grew to manhood, and after serving through the late Rebellion,
married and settled down to farm life, all the while supposing that he was the
son of Mr. Eals. But the anxious father never gave up hope, and at length,
learning through a friend the address of the Eals family, instituted a search,
and finally found his long-lost son. There was great rejoicing over this
reunion, and he was rewarded for his efforts by having his son return with him
to Batavia Township, where ... still resides.
Our subject and his wife at once engaged in farming in Batavia
Township, where Mr. B. secured a tract of 120 acres of land, which is still
owned by Mrs. Bassett, and there spent the remainder of his life. They became
the parents of two children: Ida, the wife of Thomas Reading, residing on a
farm in Bethel Township, and Elmer J., who took to wife Edna Sheldon, of
Matteson Township, and is now operating a homestead. In addition to general
farming he makes the breeding of horses a specialty, and owns "Minnesota
Jack," a Clydesdale horse and a very valuable animal. He owns another well-bred
animal, "Adicure", of trotting stock, which is stout and active, and gives
promise of developing into a fast horse.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1823 - Abt 1887 (64 years)
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