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- 1900 Federal Census of 481 Militia District, Bibb County, GA (8 Jun 1900)
John M. Bassett 29 M Jul 1870 GA GA SC Head Foreman Lumber Mill
Viola 35 F Nov 1864 GA GA GA Wife
George H. 9 M Aug 1890 GA GA GA Son
Elsie 2 F Aug 1897 GA GA GA Daughter
Hazel 3/12 F Mar 1900 GA GA GA Daughter
(Married 11 years, 5 children, 3 living)
1910 Federal Census of Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia (28 Apr 1910)
John M. Bassett 38 M GA GA GA Head Superintendent Planing Mill
Jennie L. 34 F GA GA GA Wife
Elsie 12 F GA GA GA Daughter
Hazel 9 F GA GA GA Daughter
Effie L. 7 F GA GA GA Daughter
Julius G. 5 M GA GA GA Son
Eveline 2 F GA GA GA Daughter
J.M. 8/12 M GA GA GA Son
(Married 9 years, 5 children, 4 living)
1920 Federal Census of Russellville, Spalding County, Georgia (16 Jan 1920)
John M. Bassett 49 M GA GA GA Head ????
Jennie L. 48 F GA GA GA Wife
Julius G. 15 M GA GA GA Son Farmer General Farm
Evelyn S. 12 F GA GA GA Daughter
J. M. Jr. 10 M GA GA GA Son
Jorn? N. 6 M GA GA GA Son
1930 Federal Census of Orrs, Spalding County, Georgia (22 Apr 1930)
John M. Bassett 59 M GA GA GA Head Foreman Lumber Company
Jennie 55 F GA GA GA Wife
Gresham 25 M GA GA GA Son Logger Lumber Company
John M. Jr. 20 M GA GA GA Son Planer Lumber Company
Lorn? 17 M GA GA GA Son Trucker Lumber Company
(Married at 36 & 24)
Columbus Daily Enquirer, George, January 18, 1911
Robbed home Griffin Near-Bear Dealer
Griffin, Ga., Jan 18. – At an early hour, during the absence of the family , burglars entered the home of J. M. Bassett and secured about $3. Nothing else was molested.
Mr. Bassett is a member of the firm that recently paid a tax of $5,000 for the privilege of operating a near-beer saloon in Griffin, and the thieves evidently dreamed of making a big haul.
No news has been obtained as to the identity of the burglar.
Macon Telegraph, April 8, 1912
Three Implicated in Killing in Spalding
Two Well-Known Men Jailed, Another Wounded
Widow Causes Arrests
Old Negro Killed in Fight, and His Son Slightly Wounded
One Man in Alleged Attacking Party Has Dangerous Gunshot Wound.
Griffin, April 7, - Following the mysterious killing of Charles Roberts, a negro farmer, residing two miles southwest of Griffin on the Columbus road, about 1 o’clock Wednesday night; John M. Bassett, former member of the city council; a prominent farmer and one of the proprietors of the Griffin near-beer saloon, and W.T. Jones, a prominent planter, were arrested yesterday on the charge of murdering Roberts. The warrants were sworn out by Susie Roberts, widow of the victim of the midnight attack. The men are in Spalding county jail.
Cicero Patton, a guard on the county chaingang against whom a warrant was issued, is said to be at the Griffin hospital, suffering with a serious gunshot wound in the abdomen.
The coroner’s jury empaneled by Coroner S. J. Futral Thursday morning after viewing the body as it lay in the doorway and the surroundings, adjourned until Saturday morning, at which time a further postponement until Monday morning was announced on account of the illness of one of the jurors. Several bullets holes were found in the door, and furniture inside the building was penetrated by bullets. The old man was killed and a son was slightly injured.
Statement of Negroes.
According to the statement of Susie Roberts, Bassett and Jones called at the Roberts home on the plantation of Judge Robert T. Daniel and H.P. Eady about 7:30 o’clock Wednesday night in search of Will Roberts, a son of the old man, who was under an unfilled contract to work for one of the men. It seems from the best information obtainable that trouble ensued between the white men and Roberts, in which the latter made them most effect argument in the way of personal violence. The two men then left the vicinity. According to the statement of the negro woman, somebody visited the Roberts’ house about 2 o’clock Wednesday night and called old man Roberts to the door. An exchange of shots ensued in which the old man was killed and a son slightly wounded.
When the investigation of the coroner was postponed Susie Roberts swore out warrants against John M. Bassett, W. T. Johns, and Cicero Patton, charing them with the murder of her husband, and they were immediately arrested and lodged in the county jail by Sheriff L.D. Hutson. The final session of the coroner’s court will be held Monday and it is believed that Bassett and Jones will be kept in jail. When questioned the defendants declined to make a statement for the press. The killing is the topic of much discussion on the streets.
The coroner’s court will be largely attended Monday morning and the verdict is awaited with interest. If it is unfavorable to the defendants, they will probably demand trial before a justice as superior court does not convene until August.
Columbus Daily Enquirer, January 18, 1911
Griffin Prohibitionists Lose Injunction Case
Griffin, Ga., Jan. 17, - Judge Robert T. Daniel dissolved the injunction case brought by Col. T.E. Patterson and other prohibitionists against the issuing of a near-beer license to J.M. Bassett & Co., on the ground that the license was illegal in that it was passed as an irregular meeting of the city council.
Columbus Daily Enquirer, January 2, 1912
Pays $8,000 To Sell Near Beer
Griffin City Council Placed High Tax to Rule Out Beverage
Dealers Wouldn’t Be Outdone Then
Prohibition Workers a Year Ago Forced Tax to $5,000.
Not Believed That Any Other Firm Will Pay.
Griffin, Ga., Jan. 2 – (Special) – One of the biggest taxes ever paid to sell near-beer in the United State was paid last evening by J. M. Bassett & Co., who turned $8,000 over to City Clerk Thomas Hall for a license to conduct a near-beer saloon in this city during the year 1912. In addition to this amount, the firm pays a state license of $300 and a revenue tax of $20 on the same business.
The question of the sale of near-beer in Griffin has been a most interesting question. Many people are opposed to the sale and just before the close of the year 1910 the city council at the request of leading prohibitionists placed a license of $5,000 on the sale of the beverage for the year 1911. This was supposed to be a prohibitory tax and no one suspected that anybody would attempt to take out a license at that high figure.
But Messrs. Bassett & Co. decided that they would pay the price and sell near-beer. They went to the home of Clerk Thomas Hall on the night of December 31 and at one minute after 12 o’clock on the morning of January 1, 1911, Clerk Hall signed his name to a license, which authorized them to sell near-beer during the year 1911. Simultaneously at the time the license was being issued, Judge T.E. Patterson was in the home of Judge Robert T. Daniel in another part of the city seeking an injunction against the opening of the near-beer saloon on the ground that the annual license ordinance was passed at a special meeting instead of a regular session of the city council.
But Bassett & Co. had succeeded in getting their license and proceeded to open a saloon and sell near-beer.
In the meantime the matter was appealed to the superior court and after some weeks Judge Daniel decided that the license was valid and that the beer dealers had a right to operate under it. This they did during they year 1911 and while they are reported to have lost some money in the business they were willing to pay a $5,000 license during the year 1912 and continue the operation of the saloon.
However, the city council at its meeting on December 26 raised the license for the sale of beer from $5,000 to $8,000, five members of council voting for the increase and four members voting for a $5,000 tax. This was considered a prohibitory tax.
Then it was that rumors got into circulation that a special meeting of council would be held on December 30 at which that part of the annual ordiance in reference to the sale of beer would be reconsidered and the action taken at the previous meeting rescinded and the license again voted at $5,000. Leading prohibitionists and those opposed to the sale of beer were present at the special meeting to fight the reduction in tax. A vote was taken in executive session, resulting in the high license being unchanged, all the alderman voting as they did at the regular meeting.
There was talk of contesting the high license and it was reported that several near-beer saloons would open this morning with the expectation of being arrested for conducting business without a license and then fighting the question out in the courts. But no saloons opened, except that of J.M. Bassett & Co., who paid the $8,000 tax and are doing business as the same old stand. It is not thought that any other dealers will operate a saloon at the figures, which are a little high.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1870 - 