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- Volunteer Enlistment, State of Pennsylvania, Town of Frankford
I, Charles E. Bassett, born in Massachusetts, aged eighteen years, and by occupation a clerk, Do hereby acknowledge to have volunteered this Fourteenth day of February, 1865, to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of one year, unless sooner discharged by proper authority; Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers, And I, Charles E. Bassett, do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or possoers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
Sworn and subscribed to at Frankford, Pa. this 14 day of February, 1865.
Charles E. Bassett
Mustered into service of the United States, for one year or during the war, from date of enlistment, in Company I, 213 Regiment of Penn. Volunteers, on the 14 day of February, 1865 at Frankford, Pa.
Complexion - light, height 5 ft. 4 in.
Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography by Dan L. Thrapp (1991)
Bassett, Charles E. (Senator), lawman (c. 1847-Jan. 5, 1896). Born at New Bedford, Massachusetts, he enlisted and served throughout the Civil War, being mustered out at Fort Sill, Indian Territory. Chosen sheriff of Ford County, Kansas, June 5, 1873, he was re-elected twice, serving until 1878. In September 1877, he, with under-sheriff Bat Masterson and others chased Sam Bass following a Union Pacific holdup at Big Springs, Nebraska, but without result. When Masterson succeeded him as sheriff (because law prohibited Bassett from running for a third successive term), Masterson appointed him under-sheriff. Bassett was named Dodge City marshal after Ed Masterson was killed in April 1878. Bassett was on hand for the finale of the Loving-Richardson gun fight in the Long Branch Saloon at Dodge, April 5, 1879. He resigned as city marshal in November 1879, went to Colorado in 1880 and later to Texas, returning to Dodge City in September 1881. He then apparently made his headquarters at Kansas City, returning to Dodge from time to time, including one occasion to take part with Luke Short in his dispute with city authorities in June 1883. He owned and worked at various Kansas City saloons until his death, at Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The Kansas City Star, January 7, 1896, page 1, col. 7
"Senator" Bassett Dead
The passing of a Frontier Character Well Known Here
A Quiet, Modest Man Who, With "Bat" Masterson, Rid Dodge City of Despeeradoes
When It Was a Wild Cowboy Town
Charles C. Bassett, known to the sporting fraternity all over the country, a prominent figure in the frontier days of Kansas, is dead. News of his death at Hot Springs Sunday was received in this city to-day. Inflammatory rheumatism, from which he had been a sufferer for several years, is supposed to have been the immediate cause.
The life history of Charlie Bassett, "Senator", as he was known to his friends and acquaintances, is closely entwined with that of "Bat" Masterston, Luke Short, W.H. Harris and other noted characters who were before the public eye in the '70's. Bassett was born in New Bedford, Mass., about 49 years ago. He came west after the war and, after drifting about the mining camps and frontier towns for a time, took up his abode in Dodge City, Kansas. The town was overrun with a lawless element. Desperadoes were as numerous as flies in summer time and murders were of nightly occurrence. It was a wide open town with all that the name implies. Peace loving citizens were alarmed at the condition of affairs. Marshals who had attempted to quell the desperadoes had either been killed or driven from the town. Finally "Bat" Masterson was made marshal. He chose Bassett as his right hand man and chief deputy. Bassett was of peaceable disposition, but had nerves of steel, unquestioned courage and was a dead shot.
Masterson and Bassett soon established a record as fearless and desperate officials. Several of the desperadoes were killed and the remainder driven from the town. Afterward, in recognition of his services, Bassett was made sheriff of the county.
About fifteen years ago Bassett came to Kansas City as manager of Webster & Hughes's "Marble Hall" saloon on main street, between Fifth street and Missouri avenue. Subsequently he opened the "Senate" saloon on West Ninth street and there he obtained the soubriquet of "Senator". The venture was a failure and Bassett went to work as bartender for Frank Jones and Hannon & Dixon. A year ago he went to Europe with Emil Werk, the millionaire, now of Cincinnati, but formerly of this city. On his return from Europe, Bassett went to Hot Springs, Ark., in the hope that the water would benefit his health.
It is said that like "Bat" Masterson, Bassett had several notches on his revolver, each of which stood for a human life. Concerning this he never spoke, even to his most intimate friends, and he rarely referred to the exciting times when he was sheriff and deputy marshal in Dodge City. While living in this city he was a member of the gun clubs and took a prominent part in all sporting matters. When a mere boy Bassett enlisted in the Union army at Philadelphia. He served through the war of the rebellion and was mustered out at Fort Sill, Indian Territory.
In a famous picture taken in Dodge City, Kansas, known as the Dodge City Peace Commissioners, the following appear:
Front row: Charlie E. Bassett, Wyatt Earp, M.F. McLain, Neal Brown
Back row: William H. Harris, Luke Short, Bat Masterson, W.F. Petillon
Excerpt from "Why The West Was Wild"
On November 4, 1879, the Globe reported that "Ex-Sheriff Charles E. Bassett returned last week from New Mexico, where he has been for the past ten days in the interest of the Adams Express Company". The day the Globe came out the city council met and appointed James Masterson city marshal to replace Bassett who had by then resigned.
On December 23 Bassett was reported to be in St. Louis, Mo., but by January 6, 1880, when the January term of the Ford county district court convened, he was back in Dodge for duty as deputy sheriff. His name appeared in the newspapers a few times in minor items which stated that he took prisoners to the penitentiary, but apparently he was involved in nothing of note for the remainder of his stay in Dodge City. On April 27, 1880, the Ford County Globe noted his exit from town: "Ex-Sheriff Chas. E. Bassett, accompanied by Mysteious Dave (Mather) and two other prospectors, started out last week in search of 'greener fields and pastures new.' They went in a two-horse wagon, after the style in the days of '49." The Times, May 1, stated that he was headed for the Gunnison country.
The newspapers of Dodge City did not mention Bassett again for more than 16 months. On September 13, 1881, the Globe noticed his return in this article: "Charles E. Bassett, ex-sheriff of Ford county, and formerly city marshal of Dodge City - one of the old timers - arrived the city last Tuesday after an absence of a year and a half. Charley looks as natural as life, wears good clothes, and says Texas is suffering from dry weather." On September 8, two days after his return, he was mentioned as a possible candidate for sheriff, but two weeks later he was in Kansas City and apparently planning to stay, judging from this item in the Times, September 22, 1881: "Hon. C.E. Bassett, a well known cattle man of Kansas and Texas, returned to the city yesterday after a brief stay at Dodge City. He will remain here for some time. Kansas City Journal. Jim Kelley has charge of Mr. Bassett's herds during his absence."
Another 18 months passed before the name of Charles E. Bassett again appeared in the Dodge City newspapers. The Ford County Globe of March 20, 1883, reported that he had been in Dodge City from Kansas City "the first of last week and spent a day or two in our city visiting old-time friends."
Bassett was again in Dodge City in June, 1883, with several other prominent Western gun fighters, to aid Luke Short in his quarrel with the city authorities.
Twice more, on January 1, 1884, and April 7, 1885, Bassett was mentioned as being in Dodge City. No further contemporary information has been found on the Dodge City career of Charles E. Bassett.
1850 Federal Census of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts (24 Sep 1850)
Benjm Bassett - 36 - M - Massachusetts - Sailmaker
Julia H. - 25 - F - Rhode Island
Eugene K. - 8 - M - Massachusetts
Sarah C. - 6 - F - Massachusetts
Sophia C. - 4 - F - Massachusetts
Charles E. - 2 - M - Massachusetts
Benjm F. - 7/12 - M - Massachusetts
1860 Federal Census of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts (7 Sep 1860)
Benjamin Bassett - 45 - M - Massachusetts - Sail Maker --- 200
Julia H. - 34 - F - Rhode Island
Benjamin E. - 18 - M - Massachusetts - Mariner
Sarah C. - 16 - F - Massachusetts
Sophia C. - 14 - F - Massachusetts
Charles E. - 13 - M - Massachusetts
1870 Federal Census of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts (11 Jun 1870)
Benjamin Bassett - 55 - M - Massachusetts - Sail Maker --- 500
Julia H. - 43 - Rhode Island - Keeps House
Eugene K. - 26 - M - Massachusetts - At Sea
Sarah C. - 25 - F - Massachusetts - In Picture Factory
Sophia C. - 23 - F - Massachusetts - Tailoress
Charles D. - 21 - M - Massachusetts - In U.S. Service
Hattie E. - 16 - F - Massachusetts - Milliner
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Bassett Family Association Database
1847 - 1896 (48 years)
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