Bassett Family Association Database

Burton Birch Bassett

Male 1895 - 1961  (65 years)


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  • Name Burton Birch Bassett 
    Born 5 Aug 1895  Denver, Arapahoe County, Colorado Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _UID 579D95041C96154D83876980532B873AD31A 
    Died Jun 1961  Escondido, California Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Burton Birch Bassett was a mining engineer and worked in Mexico during the time of their Revolution. He later worked in China but left right before the Japanese invaded.

      San Francisco Call, Volume 113, Number 134, April 13, 1913
      Misses A Train, Delays Wedding
      Groom Kept Waiting at Church For Two and Half Hours, But Patience Rewarded
      (Special Dispatch to The Call)
      REDWOOD CITY, April 12 - Because his fiancee, Miss Clarence Brooks missed the noon train out of San Francisco by a fraction of a second today, Burton Bassett, a San Jose business man, was kept "waiting at the church" for two hours and a half this afternoon. Undaunted by the nonappearance of his bride to be, he remained faithfully at the appointed meeting place.
      Mr. Bassett's patience was rewarded with the arrival of the 3 o'clock train, which brought his belated sweetheart. They hurried to the county clerk's office, secured a license and were married by Rev. David M. Crabtree of St. Peter's Episcopal church.
      After the ceremony they boarded a train for San Francisco. Mrs. Bassett is young and pretty and comes from Denver.

      San Francisco Call, Volume 113, Number 138, April 17, 1913
      Honeymoon Ends; Bride Arrested
      Wife of Burton B. Bassett Is Charged With Kidnapping Husband
      (Special Dispatch to The Call)
      PALO ALTO, April 16 - The honeymoon of Mrs. Burton B. Bassett was suddenly terminated here yesterday when she was arrested on a charge of kidnapping her husband, a student of 17 years. The boy's family has employed counsel to bring annulment proceedings.
      Miss Clarence Brooks came out from Denver a few weeks ago with her mother to visit the Bassetts at their home in Channing avenue. The elder Bassett, now deceased, was formerly an attorney of the Colorado city and the Brooks were old friends.
      Young Bassett is attendng a preparatory school in this city for entry to Leland Stanford university. His brother, W.W. Bassett, is well known in track circles in the university and is a member of the team which will compete Saturday.
      The student fell in love with the fair visitor under his mother's roof and last Saturday appeared in Redwood City and asked County Clerk Joseph H. Nash for a marriage license. This was refused because of the absence of the bride. Bassett telephoned to Miss Brooks and at 3 o'clock she came. Bassett said he was 22 years old and Miss Brooks said she was 26.
      Rev. David M. Crabtree of the Episcopal church married the couple and they went to San Francisco on a honeymoon trip. Monday morning they returned to break the news to the family.
      Mrs. Bassett was horrified. She charged the bride with kidnapping her boy and in her anger summoned in the chief of police and had the young woman arrested.
      When released, the bride and her mother, Mrs. Brooks, left for San Francisco. Mrs. Bassett says that her son is but 17 and that Miss Brooks is 31.

      San Francisco Call, Volume 113, Number 140, April 19, 1913
      Young Groom Leaves Home To Join Bride
      Mother of 17 Year Old Burton Bassett to Bring Action Under Juvenile Laws
      PALO ALTO, April 18 - Burton B. Bassett,, the 17 year old who was married last Saturday in Redwood City to Miss Clarence Brooks, 14 years his senior, left his home today, and his mother,, Mrs. Gratia Bassett, believes that he has joined his bride and her mother, Mrs. Brooks, both of whom left for San Francisco when Bassett's family threatened to have the young woman sent to jail for kidnapping.
      W.W. Bassett, the elder brother, has sought counsel, and Mrs. Gratia Bassett today interested City Attorney Norman E. Malcolm in the case. Efforts will be made to thwart any attempt of the couple to leave the state.
      Mrs. Bassett stated this evening that she would have a warrant issued against the woman under the state juvenile law regarding the care and custody of a minor child. Annulment proceedings will also be brought.

      San Francisco Call, Volume 113, Number 141, April 20, 1913
      Student Bridegroom Returns To Mother
      Burton B. Bassett Bids Farewell to Bride in City and She Starts Eastward
      (Special Dispatch to The Call)
      PALO ALTO, April 19 - Burton B. Bassett, the 17 year old Palo Alto student who shocked his relatives by eloping last Saturday with Miss Clarence Brooks, 14 years his senior, returned to his mother's home here today after bidding a final farewell to his bride in San Francisco.
      According to Attorney N.E. Malcolm, who is representing Mrs. Gracia Bassett, tthe boy's mother, Burton has come home to stay and has signified his intention of being obedient to his family's wishes. The annulment suit filed by Mrs. Bassett is probably the last chapter in her son's romance.
      Mrs. Brooks and her daughter left their apartments at the Hotel Stratford in San Francisco today and it is understood here that they are returning to their home in Denver.

      Suit For Annulment Filed
      (Special Dispatch to The Call)
      SAN JOSE, April 18 - The tale of the shattered romance of a 17 year old bridegroom is told in a suit for annulment filed today by Mrs. Grace Bassett of Palo Alto in behalf of her son, Burton B. Bassett, against his wife, Mrs. Clarence Bassett, who was formerly Miss Clarence Brooks of Denver, Colo.

      San Diego Union, April 24, 1913
      Dream Of School Days Come True
      Burton Bassett, of Escondido, Aged 17, Married Bride Dozen Years His Senior
      Special to the Union
      ESCONDIDO, April 23 - When Burton B. Bassett, who at the age of 17, has incurred the displeasure of his mother, Mrs. Gracia Bassett, by marrying Miss Clarence Brooks, about a dozen years his senior, was a junior in the Escondido high school, he used to tell the boys and girls at the class parties that while he did not know the name of the girl whom he would make his wife, yet he had decided upon an early matrimonial alliance.
      At that time young Bassettm who was known as "Birch", was the assistant circulation manager of the Union and Tribume in Escondido. His mother, Mrs. Gracia Bassett,, is an artist of considerable ability, and at one time conducted a studio at San Diego. She is a widow, and "Birch" is the youngest of three boys.
      A few months ago the Bassett family removed to Palo Alto in order to take advantage of better educational facilities there. William is now a sophomore in the Stanford university and Thomas is a freshman. Very little has been heard concernng "Birch", other than he was "working".
      The news of his sudden marriage was a surprise to all the friends of the family hereabouts. The information came in a newspaper dispatch, dated at Palo Alto. The story said that when young Bassett learned that his mother had filed suit for the annulment of his marriage he "slipped quietly from home and joined his bride in San Francisco".

      San Francisco Call, Volume 114, Number 4, June 4, 1913
      Palo Alto Brevities
      (Special Dispatch to The Call)
      PALO ALTO, June 3 - Judge Richards of San Jose yesterday annulled the marriage of Burton B. Bassett, the 18 year old student, and Miss Clarence Brooks of Denver. The couple eloped to Redwood City two months ago when Miss Brooks was visiting the Bassetts in Palo Alto. Mrs. Gracia Bassett, the boy's mother, brought suit on the ground that her son was under age. She declared the bride is 29 years old.

      1900 Federal Census of Precinct 12, Denver, Arapahoe County, Colorado (6 Jun 1900)
      Thomas Bassett - 33 - M - Jan 1867 - MO-KY-NW - Head - Merchant - Coal
      Gracia M. - 30 - F - May 1870 - OH-VT-VT - Wife
      Evalyn - 12 - F - Oct 1887 - MO-MO-OH - Daughter - At School
      William W. - 10 - M - Aug 1889 - MO-MO-OH - Son - At School
      Thomas E. - 9 - M - Dec 1890 - MO-MO-OH - Son - At School
      Burton B. - 4 - M - Aug 1895 - CO-MO-OH - Son - At Kindergarten
      (Married 14 years, 4 children, 4 living)
      (2128 East 13th Ave.)

      1910 Federal Census of Escondido, San Diego County, California (15 Apr 1910)
      Gracia M. Bassett (Wd) - 40 - F - OH-VT-VT - Head
      William W. - 20 - M - MO-MO-OH - Son - Agent Newspaper
      Evalin D. - 21 - F - MO-MO-OH - Daughter - Teacher Kindergarten
      Thomas E. - 19 - M - MO-MO-OH - Son - Salesman Retail Drugs
      Burton B. - 14 - M - MO-MO-OH - Son - Newsboy Daily paper
      William W. Carpenter (Wd) - 75 - M - VT-EN-NH - Father
      (Living on Indiana Avenue)
      (Gracia had 5 children, 4 living)

      1920 Federal Census of Naco, Cochise County, Arizona (5 Jan 1920)
      Burton B. Bassett - 25 - M - CO-MO-VT - Lodger - Engineer Mining
      (Listed as married)
    Person ID I1294  8B John Bassett of Hunterdon County, New Jersey
    Last Modified 11 Jun 2012 

    Father Thomas Erskine Bassett, Jr.,   b. Jan 1867, Missouri Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Apr 1903, Denver, Colorado Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 36 years) 
    Mother Gracia Mae Carpenter,   b. 3 May 1867, Cincinnati, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Aug 1941, Palo Alto, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years) 
    Family ID F368  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Clarence Brooks 
    Married 12 Apr 1913  Redwood City, California Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F596  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Ella Edna Patterson,   d. 1981, Wharton County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 31 May 1917  Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Gracia Belle Bassett,   d. 26 Oct 1998, Wharton County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F446  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Louise Powers 
    Family ID F447  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart