| Notes |
- Excerpt from HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF YATES COUNTY, NEW YORK by Stafford C. Cleveland published in 1872 in Penn Yan, New York, pages 155-159 as well as additional excerpts from the other pages indicated in brackets.
Allen Bassett married for his second wife, Jimima C. Mann, of Truxton, New York, and they have eight adult children, Ansem L., Druzilla J., Erasmus E., George W., Helen C., A. Carlton, Charles M. and Frances A.
Ansem L. is a fur merchant at Cleveland, Ohio, where he married Angia Cook. He has no children. Druzilla J. lives at home single.
Erasmus E. was unmarried, and was a volunteer in Company B, 126th Regiment, and fell at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, at the age of twenty-seven, while bearing the colors of the regiment, which he had taken from the hands of a fallen comrade a few moments before, while making a charge to recover a piece of artillery. He was Sergeant while his brother was acting Captain in this battle. He was buried in the cemetery of the Methodist Church in Barrington, near his brother George who fell at Antietam.
George W. enlisted at the opening of the war in the 33rd Regiment. He was Sergeant Major, and followed all the fortunes of the Army of the Potomac till he was killed at Antietam, September 18, 1862, by a fragment of a bursting shell, while making a charge. He died at the age of twenty-four, and was a young man of much promise, having nearly completed his law studies in the office of Judge Henry Welles, when he responded to the call of his country.
Helen C. Bassett, born in 1842, is a Preceptress in Starkey Seminary, and Charles M. and Frances A. are students in that institution. Archibald C. resides with his parents. The father at the age of seventy-three, is still a man of vigorous habit, and one of the most useful and respected citizens of his town. It remains to speak of his mother's children by her second marriage.
Clorinda Boyce married James Longcor, and settled in Barrington. They had two children, Beulah Ann and Harriet A. Beulah Ann married Cyrus Sunderlin, and died in Pennsylvania. Harriet married Clinton Walling of Starkey. They moved to Rockford, Illinois, where she was left a widow with three children, Emma, Sarah and Clinton. She is the matron of the Female Seminary at Rockford.
Harriet Boyce married Asa Wortman of Barrington. They have seven children, Emily, William, Ezra, Chauncey, Andrew, Charlotte and John A. Of these, Emily married James Baskin of Starkey, and resides in Tyrone. William married Susan Huson of Starkey, and lives in Barrington. Ezra married Mary Horton of Barrington, and died leaving three children, Samuel, Herbert and Ezra. Chauncey married Anna Cole and lives in Barrington.
Helen Clarinda Bassett
It is with considerable embarassment that I take to write anything of this noble woman that will adequately convey my estimate of her character or show the loss sustained by the community and her family by the sudden termination of so useful a career. Language is too weak and time too short. I set myself to the task with this feeling uppermost, that what is written shall come from a full and appreciative heart.
Helen Clarinda Bassett was born in Barrington, New York, June 28, 1842. She was the sixth of a family of nine. (There were two mothers in the Bassett family. By the first wife Allen Bassett had six children and by the second wife nine. Helen was a member of the second group.) Miss Bassett, after spending her childhood in a well disciplined Christian home, began her life work as teacher at the age of fifteen.
The preparation for the work of her life was received at Starkey Seminary, at which institution she graduated July 6, 1864. As an evidence of her work in the school room, the Department of Public Instruction of the State of New York granted her a certificate to teach in any district school in the State. She was chosen as the lady principal of Starkey Seminary and began her work there the fall term of 1867, and continued in that capacity with unusual power for seven years. At Cook Academy she was the lady principal for the year 1878.
In the fall of 1879 she joined Professor John Kline, her brother-in-law, in the work of establishing the Dundee Preparatory School. Here, for twelve years, Helen C. Bassett put into practice princples of instruction that gave inspiration and help to all who came in touch with her character and felt the power of her influence. The healthful influence of this school stands as a rock of hope in a weary land, and here the crowning work of her life was accomplished. The influence of this institution, to the time passed from the hands of its founders, was truly marvelous in shaping the lives and characters of many of the young people of Western New York. She taught in all seventy-four terms of school - a remarkable record.
In the fall term of 1895 she accepted the position of lady principal at Keuka College. This work was begun with the highest hope on her part. She thought after two years it would be well established, and could then go on indefinitely for great good. Her prophesy, so far, has been more than fulfilled. A very satisfactory foundation has been laid, and, no doubt, the ultimate hope of the prosperity of this goodly institution on the shore of the Lake Beautiful will be realized.
Miss Bassett's early training and environment fitted her for her peculiar work. The strong Christian character of her ancestry was the soil from which was developed this sturdy character. The gentle, kind father, the firm, staunch-hearted mother, whose inflexible will and purpose stamped characters indelibly upon the children, gave her excellent qualities which were afterward tried and found true in her teaching experience. Happy is the child who is born of good, true stock.
Some idea of the mothering Helen received may be taken from a letter written to her upon her birthday. I will give you an extract: "Helen, we thought of you so much on your birthday. Could look back and see you all through babyhood, childhood, girlhood days, and up to womanhood, and when I think of the tiny baby, the feeble child, the anxious girl, the woman of influence and decision, I thank God and take courage. I am more than proud; I feel a better spirit than pride, Etc."
What a cheer such a child brings to the heart of a faithful mother. Oh that we could have more such children and more such mothers.
Letters since her death pour in from all directions. I will quote from one to show yours (this to Mrs. Kline)...
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Bassett Family Association Database
1842 - 