| Notes |
- Samuel Smith Bassett, son of Gilbert Bingham Oscar and Mary (Smith)
Bassett, was born 31 Jan 1853 in Delhi, Iowa. He married Katharina Hopp,
daughter of Michael Hopp, on 23 Jun 1883 in Preston, Minnesot
After attending the public schools of Minnesota and Washington, Samuel
continued his education in Northfield College in Minnesota. He had accompanied
his parents on their removal to the northwest, crossing the plains in 1866 to
Montana and in 1871 to the site of Spokane. Later they went to Walla Walla,
where Samuel went to school before going to Northfield. He completed his
studies at Northfield College in June 1878. During the succeeding winter he
engaged in teaching school in Iowa after which he accepted a position as clerk
of the probate court under his brother, H. S. Bassett, who was then probate
judge in Fillmore County, Minnesota. He continued in that position until 1883.
During his stay here, he bought 400 acres of land with his brother. He
disposed of his property in 1883 and went to South Dakota where with eight
others, he scripped forty acres and established the town of LaGrace, in what
is now Campbell County. This was a pioneer district in which the work of
development had scarcely begun and it was not until 1887 that the county was
organized, at which time Samuel became the first registrar of deeds. He was
also admitted to the bar, 25 Sep 1888, and was elected prosecuting attorney of
Campbell County in the same year. The duties of his position were discharged
so acceptably that at the end of the first term, he was re-elected in 1890, but
resigned in 1891 and again established his home in the west. Going to Moscow,
Idaho, he there practiced law until he came to Spokane in 1900. He was
admitted to practice before the bars of both Washington and Idaho in 1891, and
has since been successfully following his profession. He first formed a
partnership with George M. Nethercutt, with whom he was associated for a year,
and later entered into partnership relations with W. W. Saunders, with whom he
continued for a brief period. Since that time he practiced alone. He
represented several corporations, among them Lorenzo Mining and Mill Company
of Idaho; the Patent Holding Manufacturing Company; the Diamond Carriage
Company; the International Crayon Company and others, owning a large interest
in each. He had a wide knowledge of corporation law, yet he is well-versed in
all departments of the profession.
Samuel S. Bassett, Spokane and the Inland Empi
Of English descent the family was founded in New England at a period
ante-dating the Revolutionary war as he is a descendant of William Bassett who
came over on the ship Fortune in 1621. He traces his ancestry from him down
through Nathaniel Bassett I, Nathaniel Bassett II, Elnathan Bassett and
Gilbert Bingham Oscar Bassett, father of our subject. After attending t
public schools of Minnesota and Washington Samuel S. Bassett continued his
education in Northfield College, completing his studies there in June, 1878.
During the succeeding winter he engaged in teaching school in Iowa, aft
which he accepted a position as clerk of the probate court under his brother,
H.S. Bassett, who was then probate judge in Fillmore county, Minnesota. Samuel
S. Bassett continued in that position until 1883 and went to South Dako
where, with eight others, he scripped forty acres and established the town of
LaGrace, in what is now Campbell county. This was a pioneer district in which
the work of development had scarcely begun and it was not until 1887 that the
county was organized, at which time Mr. Bassett became the first registrar of
deeds. He was also admitted to the bar, September 25, 1888, and was elected
prosecuting attorney of Campbell county in this same year. The duties of his
position were discharged so acceptably that at the end of the first term he
was re-elected in 1890, but resigned in 1891 and again established his home in
the west. Going to Moscow, Idaho, he there practiced law until he ca
Spokane, in 1900. He was admitted to practice before the bars of both
Washington and Idaho in 1891 and has since been successfully following his
profession. He first formed a partnership with George M. Nethercutt, with whom
he was associated for a year, and later entered into partnership relations
with W.W. Saunders, with whom he continued for a brief period. Since that time
he has practiced alone and his ability is manifest in the large clienta
accorded him. He represents several corporations, among them the Lorenzo
Mining and Mill Company of Idaho; the Patent Holding Manufacturing Company;
the Diamond Carriage Company; the International Crayon Company and others,
owning a large interest in each. He has a wide knowledge of corporation law,
yet he is well-versed in all departments of the profession. With the countless
opportunities for profitable investment that are to be found in the northwest
it is unusual for a man to concentrate his energies upon a single line and Mr.
Bassett, in keeping with the tendance of the times, has extended his
activities into other fields and beyond the strict path of his profession. He
has interest in Oregon and is a trustee of several companies besides those
which he represents as an attorney. In his vocabulary "there is no such word
as fail." His plans are carefully formed and executed and bring to him the
measure of success which crowns unfaltering effort, intelligently directed.
Mr. Bassett's study of the political questions and issues of the day has led
him to give active and earnest support to the republican party. While residing
in La Grace, South Dakota, he represented his party on the central committee,
served as delegate to county conventions in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and
was also a delegate to both county and state conventions in La Grace, South
Dakota. He is in thorough sympathy with the beneficent and benevolent spirit
of the Masonic fraternity and is an exemplary member of the blue lodge. He
also has membership relations with the Independent Order of Foresters and with
the Royal Highlanders. During much of his life he has lived in frontier
districts and has taken an active part in the upbuilding of the sections in
which he has made his home. In all of his public work he has looked beyond the
exigencies of the moment to the opportunities and needs of the future and has
labored for later progress as well as for present prosperity. Spokane has no
more enthusiastic champion of her interests or one whose efforts in her behalf
are of a more practical and resultant character.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1853 - 1944 (91 years)