Bassett Family Association Database

Clement Newton Bassett

Male 1842 - 1914  (72 years)


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  • Name Clement Newton Bassett 
    Born 7 Jan 1842  Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 9 Oct 1914  Richmond, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 1860 Federal Census of Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas (18 Jul 1860)
      Clements Bassett 18 M Texas
      Living with George H. Chambers (Stock Raiser)

      1870 Federal Census of Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas (22 Jul 1870)
      Clemuel Bassett 28 M Texas Merchant 750 350


      A HISTORY OF TEXAS AND TEXANS by FRANK W. JOHNSON
      VOLUME III (1914)

      Captain Clement Bassett. Among Texas veterans of the Confederacy there
      is not one whose name shows more enthusiasm and fine affection for his
      character than Captain Clem Bassett of Richmond. He made a splendid record
      during the war and in the years of quiet Citizenship which have ensued since
      that great struggle, his part has not been less faithful in performance and
      strong in achievement. There is a history of the Civil war published by the
      United States government, in a great many large volumes, and believed to be
      the largest individual work on one subject ever published. In all the
      thousands of pages which recount the operations of the contending army during
      the four years of war in the south, it is said that the name of only one
      private soldier is mentioned for special distinction, and that name is Clement
      Bassett.
      Fort Bend county feels especial interest and proprietorship in Captain
      Bassett since he was the first white male child born in the old town of
      Richmond, and is now the oldest native citizen. He was born at Richmond
      January 7, 1842. He is the son of Clement N. and Julia (Beale) Bassett. His
      father and mother came from Virginia shortly after the battle of San Jacinto,
      and were married in Harris county this state. Captain Bassett's maternal
      grandmother was a member of the famous Lee family of Virginia, and a cousin of
      General Robert E. Lee. She was an F.F.V. Bob Beale, a brother of Capta
      Bassett's mother took part in the Mier expedition, which has a chapt
      itself in every Texas history, and in the battle of Mier he was shot and left
      for dead in the street. But that night he started on his way home on foot,
      arriving barefooted and ragged.
      The father of Captain Bassett was for a number of years a lawyer in
      Richmond, and is the sole survivor of five children. The others of the family
      were Winifred, wife of George Chambers; Robert Edwin, and Russell. He remained
      home during the period of his boyhood, and on September 7, 1861, at the age of
      nineteen, joined the Eighth Texas Cavalry, which was a part of Terry's Texas
      Rangers. The regiment first went to Kentucky, was sent to Corinth,
      Mississippi, took part in the battle of Shiloh, next went to Murfreesborough,
      and Captain Bassett was a participant in practically every battle of the
      western army and fought in fully a thousand skirmishes. His battle reco
      includes the engagements at Perryville, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge,
      Atlanta, Lookout Mountain, Savannah and others. His first wound came at
      Eagleville, Tennessee, and at Aiken, South Carolina, he was shot in the back
      of the head by a minie ball. He was wearing a fine broad-brimmed Spanish hat.
      The bullet went through a silver ornament, a thick cord and the hat and, after
      shattering the skull, imbedded itself in the outer covering of the brain. The
      bullet was removed by the field surgeon, and the captain then spent six weeks
      in the hospital. He continued to suffer from this wound for twenty years after
      it had been inflicted. The war ended while Captain Bassett was off duty as the
      result of this wound.
      Among the old soldiers of the south, there was never one who was
      associated with Captain Bassett who did not give him the highest tribute as to
      his gallantry and courage and individual efficiency. The occasion of his
      being mentioned in the voluminous work pertaining to the Civil war, as related
      above, was the capture of a battery at Murfreesborough, an exploit in which he
      was chiefly responsible, and for which he was voted a medal by the Confederate
      Congress. Owing to the outcome of the war, this medal was never struck nor
      bestowed. Captain Bassett was a warm personal friend of the late Joe Wheeler,
      and a deep mutual admiration subsisted between the two, though differing
      widely in official rank. It is related that on one occasion General Wheeler
      openly applauded this gallant Confederate soldier. This occurred at
      Sandersville, Georgia, when Bassett led a brave charge against the enemy, and
      his dashing courage caused General Wheeler to toss his hat in the air a
      shout "Three cheers for Clem Bassett."
      After the war, and on his return to Richmond, Captain Bassett began
      his career as a farmer and stock raiser, and for twenty years was in the
      mercantile business at the old town of Richmond. He finally retired two years
      ago on account of ill-health, and now enjoys a quiet prosperity and liv
      among his friends and associates of many years. He has been prospero
      business, has acquired considerable property, and in April, 1913, finished a
      very elegant and beautiful residence in Richmond.
      In October, 1869, Captain Bassett married Miss Lida Moore, a sister of
      the present Congressman from this district in Texas, and a daughter of Dr.
      Matt Moore of Alabama. Mrs. Bassett died with her first child, and she and her
      baby were buried on her first wedding anniversary. Fifteen years later Captain
      Bassett married Miss Libbie Mitchell of Fort Bend county, and a daughter of
      Captain John C. Mitchell, who was an eminent lawyer and pioneer citizen of
      this part of the state. Six children were born to this marriage and four are
      now living. One son, Clement Bassett Jr., died one year ago at the a
      twenty-one, and his death was a severe blow to his devoted father. A daughter,
      Winnie, died at the age of two years. The living children are: Eleanor, wife
      of H.L. Williams, a resident of St. Louis; Robert, who is studying l
      Austin; Winston and Gerald who are in school. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett are members
      of the Baptist church, in which he is a deacon. He is life commander of
      Bassett's Camp of the United Confederate Veterans at Richmond, this camp being
      named for him and in itself being the finest tribute that could be paid by
      veterans to one of their living comrades. Captain Bassett still has as a most
      prized xxx the Spanish hat which is perforated by the ball which so nearly put
      an end to his career. Captain Bassett has had many honors offered him, some of
      which he xx declined and others accepted, so far as private circumstances and
      opportunity allowed him to serve his community. In 1890 the county placed him
      on the ballet for sheriff by acclamation, and he subsequently served fo
      years as tax collector.
    Person ID I06881  1A William Bassett of Plymouth
    Last Modified 23 Sep 2011 

    Father Clement Newton Bassett,   b. Rushville, New York Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1848, Houston, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother Julia Lee Beale,   d. May 1888, Richmond, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Natural 
    Married 5 Jan 1838  Harris, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F01518  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Lida Moore,   b. 1850,   d. Deceased 
    Married 1870  Richmond, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Unknown Bassett,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
    Family ID F03056  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Libbie Mitchell,   b. 15 Feb 1861, Richmond, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Oct 
    Married 8 Apr 1885  Richmond, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Eleanor Lee Bassett,   b. 11 May 1886,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
     2. Winnifred Bassett,   b. 11 Apr 1888,   d. 3 May 1889  (Age 1 years)  [Natural]
     3. Clement Newton Bassett,   b. 23 Apr 1890,   d. Jan 1912  (Age 21 years)  [Natural]
     4. Robert Adair Bassett,   b. 31 Aug 1892,   d. 29 Jul 1985, Richmond, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 92 years)  [Natural]
     5. Sidney Winston Bassett,   b. 15 Sep 1897,   d. 29 Jul 1985, Richmond, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years)  [Natural]
    +6. Gerald Wheeler Bassett,   b. Dec 1899, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
    Family ID F03057  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart