Bassett Family Association Database

George Washington Bassett

Male 1845 - 1927  (81 years)


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  • Name George Washington Bassett 
    Born 31 Dec 1845  Wrights Grove, Clinton County, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 7 Jun 1927  Washtucna, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 1880 Federal Census of 58th District, Whitman County, Washington
      George Bassett 35 M IA IA IA Head Farmer
      Alice 26 F IA IA IA Wife
      Gertrude 5 F WT WT WT Daughter
      George 3 M WT WT WT Son
      Len 10/12 M WT WT WT Son
      Ah Fong 27 M CH CH CH Other Servant
      (CH - China, WT - Washington Territory)

      1900 Federal Census of Fletcher, Adams County, Washington (28 Jun 1900)
      George W. Bassett 54 M Dec 1845 IA VT CN Head Farmer
      Alice 49 F Jun 1850 OH EN EN Wife
      Linn 24 M Jul 1875 WA IA OH Son Farm Laborer
      Charles S. 20 M Sep 1879 WA IA OH Son Farm Laborer
      Carrie 15 F Jun 1885 WA IA OH Daughter At School
      Esther 13 F Dec 1886 WA IA OH Daughter
      Alice G. 9 F Oct 1890 WA IA OH Daughter
      (Married 28 years, 8 children, 5 living)

      1920 Federal Census of Washtucna, Adams County, Washington (3 Jan 1920)
      George W. Bassett 74 M IA VT CF Head Retired Farmer
      Alice C. 69 F OH PA EN Wife
      Georgina A. 24 F WA IA OH Daughter Nurse


      An Illustrated History of the Big Bend Country Embracing Lincoln, Douglas,
      Adams and Franklin Counties, State of Washington (190

      Hon. George W. Bassett, a leading business man of Washtucna, than whom
      few men now living have been more closely identified with the early history of
      the Northwest, is a native of Clinton county, Iowa, born December 31, 1845. He
      is the son of G.B.O. and Mary (Smith) Bassett, the father a native of Vermont
      and the mother of Canada. After their marriage the parents settled in Iowa,
      remained there until 1854, then removed to Filmore county, Minnesota, where
      they lived until 1866. With the Captain J.L. Fish expedition, they then
      removed to Helena, Montana, and in 1872 came to Walla Walla, Washington. They
      returned to Minnesota in 1878, where the father died during the same year. In
      1889 the mother returned to Walla Walla, and now, at the age of eighty-seven,
      she is living with her son of whom we write. Our subject is of English, Welsh
      and Irish blood, his father having been of English-Welsh and his mother of
      Irish extraction. He is a member of a family of ten children, four of whom now
      live. Two brothers, Judge H.S. Bassett and G.B.O. Bassett, live at Preston,
      Minnesota, and another S.S. Bassett, is an attorney of Spokan
      Mr. Bassett received a grammar school education in Iowa, which was
      supplemented by a course in the Cedar Valley seminary at Osage, Iowa. In 1866,
      in company with his parents, he came to Montana, where he prospected and mined
      until he came to Walla Walla in 1869. During that same years he went on a tour
      to Salem, Oregon, and Olympia, Washington, then returned to Walla Walla and
      taught a term of school. The spring following he engaged in the business of
      buying horses in the territory of Washington and selling them in Montan
      making his last trip in that business in 1872, when his father and moth
      returned with him to Walla Walla. Returning to Montana he engaged in mining
      until 1874. On August 24 of that year, he was married at Virginia City,
      Montana, to Alice C. Lancaster. Then he came again to Walla Walla and engaged
      in the freighting business, traversing Washington, Oregon and Idaho, until
      1877, when he took a position as clerk in a store. Two years later he came to
      Washtucna, took land and in July, 1893, platted the town site of Washtucna. In
      1879 he brought his family to the place where he has since live
      Upon coming to the present site of the town, he engaged in the stock
      business and has followed it, in connection with his other enterprises, to
      date. As Washtucna was a convenient stopping place for travellers going south
      to Walla Walla, Mr. Bassett opened an inn, about the time he had his ho
      there, which inn became one of the most popular hostelries in eastern
      Washington. Mr. Bassett has acquired three thousand acres of land in the
      immediate vicinity of his town, and annually harvests an enormous quantity of
      grain and hay. His residence, which is in Washtucna, is the finest in t
      town.
      Since the raising of wheat became an established industry of the
      country, our subject has been engaged more or less in speculating in th
      commodity. In 1901 he engaged in the hardware and farm implement business, but
      also continues to manage his farming operations.
      Mr. Bassett's wife is the daughter of David and Mary (Pool) Lancaster,
      both of English birth. Early in life they came to the United States and
      settled in Michigan, where Mrs. Bassett was born. Besides Mrs. Bassett, they
      reared two other children, Gertrude A., and James W., both of Los Angeles,
      where the brother is an employee of the Wells Fargo Express Compan
      The subject of our sketch has been active in politics ever since
      attaining his majority. He is a life-long Republican, and in 1885 he was
      elected to the office of county commissioner of Adams county, which office he
      held two consecutive terms. In 1882 he was appointed the first postmaster in
      Adams county, and retained that office until 1894. In 1903 he was elected a
      member of the State House of Representatives. He is a Mason and a member of
      the Presbyterian church.
      Mr. and Mrs. Bassett have been parents of eight children, only four of
      whom are now living. They are L.L., married and living in Washtucna; Charles
      S., Esther and Georgia, who live with their parents.

      CELEBRATE GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY (1924)

      On Sunday, July 27, Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Bassett, pioneer settlers and
      founders of the town of Washtucna 46 years ago, celebrated their 50th wedding
      anniversary in the lovely Bassett grove which was a part of their timber
      culture. About 200 relatives, friends and neighbors, many who came from towns
      miles away to commemorate the occasion, brought basket dinners which we
      spread on the long table provided and beautifully decorated for the occasion
      with golden glow and yellow gladioli, the point of interest being a huge white
      wedding cake in the center of the table, trimmed with a small white wedding
      bell on the top. Dinner was served at one, preceded by a community sing of old
      fashioned songs. After dinner an unusually nice program of musical numbers was
      given. The family tree, on which was arranged pictures of various members of
      the family taken many years ago, was much enjoyed as was the poster story of
      the life of Mr. and Mrs. Bassett. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett were the recipients of
      many gifts in gold, most of these being in gold coins. These alone amounted to
      ninety-one dollars. Mr. Bassett crossed the plains by ox team in 186


      FUNERAL SERVICE IMPRESSIVE, JUNE 1927

      Life long pioneer friends, sons and daughters of pioneer families of
      eastern Washington, journeyed long distances to join with relatives and friends
      of our little community in paying the last respects to the founder of the town
      of Washtucna, that grand old man, Mr. G.W. Bassett. Funeral services we
      conducted by Rev. M.E. Dunn of Portland, who for the past 25 years, has been a
      close friend of Mr. Bassett. A mixed quartette composed of Mrs. Fred Theil,
      Mrs. John A. Gray, Mr. J.M. Sitton and Mr. Osterhout with Miss Emma Erma
      Moesle accompanist, rendered "Sweet Hour of Prayer", "Is a Light in the
      Window", and "Abide With Me". The duet, "So Will I Comfort You" was sung by
      Mrs. Fred Thiel and Mr. Osterhout accompanied by Miss Moesle. The beautiful
      floral tributes filled all the available spaces in the room wherein the body
      reposed, the walls being solid masses of flowers. Fully 500 people attended
      the last rites and the spacious Bassett home was filled to overflowing, the
      large porch crowded and several hundred stood on the porch steps and lawn. The
      series were very impressive, the Rev. Dunn eulogized Washtucna's first citizen
      in glowing terms and paid tribute to the great love Mr. Bassett held for his
      home, the love he held for his country, the great love for his church, and a
      deep love for his fellowman, strongly admonishing his hearers to mold their
      lives in much the same channel. The services begun at 9 am, Thursday, June 9,
      and at 11 am the funeral cortege formed and proceeded to Walla Walla, W
      where internment was made in Mountain View cemetery at 3 pm. The Masonic order
      conducting the services at the grave.


    Person ID I07342  1A William Bassett of Plymouth
    Last Modified 23 Sep 2011 

    Father Gilbert Bingham Oscar Bassett,   b. 19 Feb 1817, Middlebury, Addison County, Vermont Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Jun 1878, Carimona, Fillmore County, Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 61 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother Mary Smith,   b. 1 Aug 1816, Lancaster County, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Jul 1910, Washtucna, Adams County, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 93 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Married 23 Aug 1835  Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F01643  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Alice Carey Lancaster,   b. 1851,   d. 26 Mar 1934, Washtucna, Adams County, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years) 
    Married 24 Aug 1874  Virginia City, Montana Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Linn Lancaster Bassett,   b. 14 Jul 1875, Walla Walla, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Aug 1954, Washtucna, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)  [Natural]
     2. Gertrude Mary Bassett,   b. 1 Oct 1876, Walla Walla, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Apr 1893, Washtucna, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 16 years)  [Natural]
    +3. Charles Smith Bassett,   b. 20 Sep 1879, Walla Walla, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Oct 1964  (Age 85 years)  [Natural]
     4. Unknown Bassett,   b. 22 Sep 1882, Walla Walla, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Sep 1882, Walla Walla, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)  [Natural]
     5. Alice Carrie Bassett,   b. 10 Jan 1885, Washtucna, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Jan 1885, Washtucna, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)  [Natural]
     6. Caroline Bassett,   b. 10 Jan 1885, Washtucna, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Oct 1903, Walla Walla, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 18 years)  [Natural]
    +7. Esther Edna Bassett,   b. 15 Dec 1886, Washtucna, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jul 1950, Seattle, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years)  [Natural]
     8. Alice Georgia Bassett,   b. 23 Oct 1890, Washtucna, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
    Family ID F03224  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart