| Notes |
- 1880 Federal Census of Austin, Cook County, Illinois
Nelson M. Bassett 38 M NY VT NY Head Chief Clerk
Helen A. 38 F VT VT VT Wife Keeping House
G. Dow 17 M IL NY VT Son Accountant
Cora M. 14 F IL NY VT Daughter At School
Nelly A. 12 F IL NY VT Daughter At School
Ada H. 9 F IL NY VT Daughter
Eloise 7 F IL NY VT Daughter
Norman M. 2 M IL NY VT Son
Mary E. Gibbons 22 F CN IR IR Other Servant
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Weston A. Goodspeed and D. Healy
Vol. I pub 1909.
Nelson M. Bassett, builder, Austin, Ill., was born in Dutchess County,
New York, June 4, 1838, a son of George and (Humiston) Bassett, of New England
ancestry in both lines of descent. In 1842, when he was 4 years old, he was
brought by his parents to Kane County, Illinois, where his father was a
contractor and bridge builder and later superintendent of bridges and
buildings for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway company. In 1848 the family
moved to Chicago and thence, in 1850, to Batavia, Ill. In Chicago they lived
near the site of the Rookery building and Nelson attended a school near the
site of McVicker's theater and later the Jones school on Clark stree
gained a practical knowledge of bridge building and at 18 was employed by the
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad company, on its old Galena & Chicago Union
line. Then, after a course in Sloan's Business college, he became bookkeeper
for John S. Reed. Later, til 1869, he was employed in the building department
of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. From that time until 1884 he was
general storekeeper for that road. Then with John M. Rice as a partner, he
began building contracting. In 1885 he built the post office building at Des
Moines, Ia., and in quick succession thereafter the post office buildings at
St. Joseph, Mo., Leavenworth and Fort Scott, Kan., and Lansing, Mich., besides
others. He also largely planned and did the contract work on two large
factory buildings for the Appleton Manufacturing company at Batavia, Ill.,
four buildings for the United States Wind Engine and Pump Company, two large
buildings for the Newton Wagon company, and boiler rooms for Key & Chapell,
and constructed, at Batavia, Ill., a concrete dam 230 feet long. Latterly he
has erected many fine residences at Glencoe and elsewhere.
Under the Cicero township organization Mr. Bassett held the office of
trustee for some years and town clerk for one year; also as school director
and trustee. He was an early taxpayer at Austin and was active in organizing
the village government. In 1866, when he settled here, Chicago extended
westward only to Western avenue. At what is now the intersection of Central
and Ohio streets, Austin (then called Austinville), he built in the summer of
that year the first residence in the vicinity. Then about the only notable
thing thereabout was the factory of the United States Clock company, of which
C.C.P. Holden was president, and W.A. Giles secretary. The building was
isolated on (now) Park avenue near Lake street. The nucleus of the present
suburb grew up on twenty-five acres of land west of Central avenue, given to
the clock company by H. W. Austin, for whom the place was named, and fifteen
acres east of Central avenue, given to the same concern by C.C. Merrick. When
Mr. Bassett located there he was building depots on the Galena division of the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad. He saw the rapid development of the suburb
and has aided practically and materially in all its advancemen
Mr. Bassett is a Mason and a member of the Blue lodge and Commandery
at Oak Park. He married, at Batavia, Ill., November 4, 1861, Miss Helen A.
Worthley, who was born in Vermont, January 9, 1842, one of the three children
of Thomas D. and Atilda (Hyde) Worthley. Thomas D. Worthley, son of Thomas
Worthley, was of Welsh stock. Thomas saw service in the War of 1812 and later
lived at Ware, H.H., which probably was his birthplace. There Thomas D. was
born May 16, 1814. He was by trade a carpenter and joiner. In 1854 he brought
his family to Illinois. He lived and worked at his trade in Batavia unt
1862, when he moved to Chicago and bought property on Elizabeth street. He
died in Chicago September 10, 1898. His two sons were named Edwin Hyde and
Charles B. Worthley. The former was a Union soldier in the Civil war. Atilda
Hyde, daughter of James and Eunice (Pennock) Hyde, was born at Stratford, Vt.,
April 23, 1815. Her father enlisted at 17 for service in the Revolutionary
war, served under Washington six years and ten months, rising to be an ensign,
and was honorably discharged at the end of the struggle. His wife bore him
seventeen children, all of whom lived to maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett have
had seven children: George Dow, Cora M., Nellie A., Adah H., Eloise, Norman M.
and James J. Mrs. Bassett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal churc
THE AUSTINITE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1911
GOLDEN WEDDING
Mr. and Mrs. N.M. Bassett, Austin Pioneers, Celebrate Their Fiftieth
Anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson M. Bassett celebrated their fiftieth wedding
anniversary Saturday evening, November 4, at their home, 706 North Pine
avenue. They were married at Batavia, Ill., November 4, 1861. After the
marriage they lived in Chicago for three years and one-half years, then moved
to Turner Junction, now West Chicago, where they resided one and a half years.
In the spring of 1866 Mr. Bassett purchased a lot in Austin at the
corner of Central avenue and Chestnut street (now Ohio street), where they
built their home in which they have lived for thirty-seven years. They have
resided in Austin continuously up to the present time, a period of more than
forty-five years. They claim a longer residence in the original boundary of
Austin than any other resident.
Mr. Bassett, speaking of the early days of Austin, said that Henry W.
Austin donated twenty-five acres of land and C.C. Merrick fifteen acres, to
the United States Clock & Brass company, which was platted and laid out in
lots, streets and parks, and was the original town of Austinvill
The clock company built factory houses for the men they had brought
from the east, and commenced operations. Clocks were manufactured quite
extensively for a short time, when part of the factory was burned and w
never re-built. This was in the early days of Austin.
The school house stood on Central avenue near where the telepho
exchange now stands; there was an average attendance of about five or s
pupils. The railway company built a station and later the agent was appointed
postmaster. For this service, which Dave Marshall rendered the government he
receive $12 per year.
Mr. Bassett was born in the state of New York June 4, 1838. He came
west with his parents in 1842. His father, George Bassett, pre-empted a
quarter-section of land in the township of Geneva, Ill., where they liv
until 1848, when they moved to Chicago by team. They lived two years about
where the Rookery building now stands. Mr. Bassett attended the Jones school
while his parents resided in Chicago. In 1850 they moved to Batavia, Ill.,
where Mr. Bassett lived up to the time of his marriag
He is a contractor, and for a number of years was engaged in building
government and other large buildings. During the last ten years he has built
many factory buildings at Batavia, Ill.
In the early days of Austin, Mr. Bassett was town trustee and school
director, and when the first Methodist church was built he was elected a
member of the board of trustees, tho not a member of the church. He is a
member of Oak Park lodge, A.F. & A.M., a charter member of Cicero chapt
R.A.M., Siloam commandery, and of the Royal league.
Mrs. Bassett, who was Miss Helen A. Worthley, was born in Vermont,
coming west with her parents in 1855. They settled in Batavia, where th
resided up to the time of her marriage to Mr. Bassett.
Mr. and Mrs. Bassett had seven children, six of whom are living. They
are George Dow Bassett, Mrs. S. J. Crafts, Mrs. William D. Andrew, Mrs. Dayton
B. Southern, Norman and James J. Bassett. The golden wedding anniversary was a
most enjoyable family affair. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett received many congratulations and
a profusion of lovely flowers sent in by old time friends, and were the recipients of many
valuable presents.
Added to the pleasure of the occasion was the fact that the twentieth
wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Andrew occurred on the same
date, and they celebrated jointly with Mrs. Andrews' parent
A delicious supper was served by the sons and daughters of Mr. and
Mrs. Bassett. Covers were laid for thirty-three. Chrysanthemums, carnations,
and other flowers of the season were abundantly used in decoratin
Among those attending were the six children of Mr. and Mrs. N.M.
Bassett with their husbands and wives, and fourteen of the eighteen
grandchildren. The out of town relatives present were Mr. and Mrs. E.G.
Hobler, Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Hobler, and Miss Hobler, all of Batavia; Miss Lucy
Bassett of Marengo, Miss Sharp, and Mr. Modine of Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Bassett have the respect and best wishes of this
community and a host of warm friends who wish them many added years of good
health and happiness.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1838 - 1917 (78 years)