| Notes |
- WILLIAM BASSETT
(Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana)
A descendant of one of the early pioneer families of Shelby county and
one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of the township in which he
resides. William Bassett is well entitled to notice among the representative
citizens of the county, and it is with much satisfaction that the following
brief outline of his life is accorded a place in these pages. William Bassett
is a native of Shelby county and was born July 19, 1852, on the farm in Marion
township which his grandfather purchased from the government and which has
been in possession of the family from the pioneer period to the present time.
His father was Sylvester Bassett, whose birth occurred on a boat while his
parents were en route from New York to Ohio, and he spent the first six years
of his life in the latter state. At the expiration of that time the family
moved to Shelby county, Indiana, and located in Marion township where t
father of Sylvester entered land and improved a farm, being among the first
permanent settlers of this part of the country.
Sylvester grew to manhood in what is now Marion township, and in due
time became a successful farmer and public-spirited citizen. He was one of the
leading Whig politicians in his part of the country. Later he became an ardent
and influential Republican and for a number of years took an active part in
public affairs and encouraged all enterprises for the material progress of his
township and the welfare of the people. He was born March 24, 1814, and
departed this life on the family homestead in Marion township in the ye
1902.
Susan Monroney, wife of Sylvester Bassett, was born April 15, 1818, in
Dearborn county, Indiana, and was sixteen years old when her parents settled
in Shelby county. She grew to womanhood in Marion township, and December 23,
1837, was united in marriage with Mr. Bassett, the union resulting in t
birth of nine children, eight of whom are still living. Mrs. Bassett's people
originally lived in Virginia, but migrated to Kentucky in a very early day and
from the latter state to Indiana about the year 1824, being among the first
white families to penetrate the forests of what is now Marion township for the
purpose of making improvements. The father came in advance, and after
selecting a location and erecting a cabin, returned to Kentucky for his wife
and children, who accompanied him to the new home in the wilderness the
following year. Mr. Monroney was a true type of the pioneer of the early day,
strong, active, fond of the woods and found his greatest pleasure in hunting
the wild animals with which the country then abounded. He entered la
Marion township now known as the Billman farm and made a number of
improvements and in time became a well-to-do agriculturist and excellent
citizen.
The early life of William Bassett was closely identified with t
closing years of the pioneer period, and while still a youth he experienced
his share of the hard work necessary to the clearing of land and fitting it
for tillage. He attended school for some time, having been a pupil in t
school taught in an old frame house.
Mr. Bassett assisted in the cultivation of the home farm until about
twenty-three years of age, when he left the parental roof and began life for
himself on a part of the same place, choosing for his partner in the
undertaking an excellent young lady by the name of Sarah F. Kaster, who
parents, John and Rebecca (Cook) Kaster, were also early settlers and well
known residents of Marion township. Her grandfather, one of the first white
settlers in the township, was rugged pioneer and fond of hunting. After a few
years on the homestead, Mr. Bassett moved to his present farm, a short
distance south of the former place, where he has since lived and prospered,
making all the improvements on the farm and bringing it to a high state of
cultivation. In connection with agriculture he has devoted considerable
attention to live stock, which has proven quite profitable, and he is now in
independent circumstances, his beautiful and well improved place in section
17, about three miles from Shelbyville, on the Marion township turnpike, being
one of the finest farms and most attractive country homes in Shelby county.
Mrs. Bassett is a native of Shelby county and was born January 15,
1855, and not far from her present place of residence. She has heartily
assisted her husband in all his labors, presided over the home with the
ability characteristic of the true wife and helpmeet, and to her watchful care
and self-denying efforts is due no small part of the success which has
attended the family. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett have three children: Arthur, who was
born October 3, 1876, died September 21, 1897. Chandis, born October 21, 1878,
married Rosa May Crosby, and is farmer of Shelby county and the father of one
child, Francis F. Ora, whose birth occurred March 29, 1882, departed this life
on the 19th day of December following.
Mr. Bassett is a Republican but not an active politician; nevertheless
he manifests a lively interest in public matters and is ever ready to
encourage all legitimate enterprises for the common good. In religion he is a
Baptist and, with his wife, belongs to the First church of that denomination
in Shelbyville.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1850 - 1926 (76 years)