| Notes |
- Joseph was a Protestant and Republican. (BFA1897)
1870 Federal Census of Ward 6, Worcester, Worcester County, MA (5 Jul 1870)
Joseph M. Bassett 36 M Vermont Machinist --- 500
Elizabeth 37 F Vermont Keeping House
George M. 5 M Massachusetts At Home
Arthur J. 2 M Massachusetts At Home
Elizabeth Cannon 68 F Massachusetts
1880 Federal Census of Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Joseph M. Bassett 48 M VT VT VT Head Wool Skt. Manuf.
Elizabeth R. 46 F VT VT MA Wife Keeps House
Geo. M. 15 M MA VT VT Son In School
Arthur J. 11 M MA VT VT Son In School
Geo. E. White 22 M VT VT VT Nephew Machinist
E.W. Kennan 78 F MA VT VT MotherL
MEN OF PROGRESS, NEW ENGLAND MAGAZINE, 1896
Bassett, Joseph Massa, of Worcester, manufacturer, is a nati
Vermont, born in the farming town of Eden, August 31, 1834, eldest s
George and Achsa A. (Adams) Bassett. His great-grandfather, Samuel Bassett
(born 1754), was a volunteer soldier of the Revolution, wounded by a musket-
shot in the battle of Bunker Hill. His grandfather, Massa Bassett, was a
native of Keene, N.H. (born January 24, 1783); and his paternal grandmother,
Catharine Bassett, daughter of Solomon and Ruth Kingsbury, was a native of
Walpole, Mass., (born October 20, 1783). They were among the earliest settlers
of Eden, where they lived afterward to the end of life. His maternal
grandparents were about the same age of Massa and Catharine Bassett, and, it
is believed, also emigrated to Vermont in the early settlement of the northern
part of that State. Joseph M. was reared on the farm, early taking his share
of the farm-work, attending the district school twelve weeks each winter. At
the age of sixteen he came to Worcester to make a start in business life. He
found employment in the manufactory then known as Court Mills; but after about
six months here he was obliged, by failing health, to return to the farm. A
few months later, having recovered his strength, he went to work in a country
store, where he spent two years full of experience; and in March, 1854, he
returned to Worcester to remain permanently. For a year he was employed in a
lumber-yard there. Then he became book-keeper and business assistant for the
firm of Willard, Williams, & Co., manufacturers of woollen machinery; a
after service with this firm and its successors, F. Willard & Co., and
Bickford & Lombard, for a period of eight years, he entered the firm of E.C.
Cleveland & Co., also engaged in the manufacture of woollen machinery, as a
partner. This association continued for four years, when he withdrew, a
forming a partnership with W.D. Hobbs, under the firm name of Bassett & Hobbs,
entered the wool business. A year later he returned to his old business,
forming a new partnership with Mr. Cleveland, under the name of Cleveland and
Bassett. The venture, however, was not prosperous, the firm meeting with
losses and difficulties; and in about two years it was dissolved through
failure. Subsequently, on the first of July, 1870, joining R.A.M. Johnson, who
had been for some time manufacturing hand spinning-machines called jacks, he
formed the firm of Johnson & Bassett for the development and manufacture of
automatic machinery for wool spinning, in which he has since been profitably
concerned. The firm first introduced self-operating heads for jacks, and a few
years later put on the market the self-operating woollen mule, adding from
time to time valuable improvements in the mechanism of both machines. Upon the
death of Mr. Johnson in March, 1880, Mr. Bassett purchased the interest of the
former from the administrators of his estate, and continued the business alone
until the first of January, 1892, when he admitted his son, George M. Bassett,
to partnership, retaining throughout the original firm name of Johns
Bassett, without change. The present building, occupying the corner of Foster
and Bridge Streets, was built expressly for the business in 1886, and w
first occupied in September that year. Mr. Bassett has been long a member of
the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, and of the Home Market Club
since its organization. He belongs also to the Commonwealth Club of Worcester.
In politics he is an earnest Republican for the reasons that the principles
and economic policy of that party have been more in accord with his own views
than those of any other party. He is in no sense a politician; and with the
exception of six years' service on the Worcester School Board, which he gave
in the interest of popular education, he has held no public place, devoting
his time and energies chiefly to his business. He has been an extensive
traveller, in his own country and abroad, visiting nearly all the leadi
American cities, journeying in Mexico and in the principal European countries.
Mr. Bassett was married April 16, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth Kennan, daughter of
Isaac and Elizabeth Kennan, born June 8, 1833 in Hyde Park, Vt. They have had
five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom only two are now living:
George M. (now associated with Mr. Bassett in business, born in Worcester,
November 3, 1864) and Arthur J. Bassett (musician, born in Worcester, June 29,
1868).
Joseph Massa Bassett
(History of Worcester County, Massachusetts 1889)
Mr. Bassett was born in Eden, Vt., on the 31st of August, 1834 and was
a son of George Bassett, a farmer of that place. His education was obtained in
the common school of that period, in which, if there were not such a variety
of studies pursued as is the case at this day, elementary instruction w
given with a thoroughness not now excelled.
From the time he was able to make his services of value, till the age
of sixteen, he led the life of a farmer-boy, and in that capacity secured the
benefits of one of the most healthful and freedom-inspiring of all
employments.
In April, 1851, when but sixteen years of age, he came to Worcester,
and found employment in the manufacturing establishment then known as Court
Mills for about six months, until compelled by failing health to return to his
country home. After a few months, his health having been restored, he entered
a country store, where, for two years, by dealing in all sorts of merchandise
and with all sorts of people, he gathered an experience that in after years,
as he entered upon a more extended and complicated business career, proved of
very great advantage. Few situations are better calculated to develop t
business capacity of a youth than a New England country store. The dilapidated
little shop in old Danvers where the celebrated London Banker, George Peabody,
began his business life was lately to be seen, if it is not still grimly
smiling there.
In March, 1854, Mr. Bassett again came to Worcester as an incipient
adventurer in trade, and from that time Worcester has been his home. His first
employment was in a lumber yard, where he remained for a year. After that, for
eight years, he was bookkeeper in a manufactory of woolen machinery. His next
step was to become a partner in the old firm of E.C. Cleveland & Co. At the
end of four years he disposed of his interest to Mr. Cleveland, and for a year
was in the wool business, with a partner, under the firm-name of Bassett &
Hobbs. He then returned to his old business of manufacturing woolen machinery,
and again formed a partnership with Mr. Cleveland, the style of the firm being
Cleveland & Bassett. The firm met with difficulties and losses to su
extent that in about two years a failure took place.
It was in July, 1870, that the firm of Johnson & Bassett was formed,
and pursued the manufacture of wool-spinning machinery. The partnership
continued till the death of Mr. Johnson, in March, 1880. Mr. Bassett th
purchased from the heirs of his late partner their interest, and has continued
the business to the present time. Under his sole management it has beco
extensive and profitable.
From this brief sketch of the business career of Mr. Bassett it will
be seen that he has had his share of ups and downs. But early hardships and
later reverses have not discouraged him, and at the present time he is
reckoned among the many prosperous and substantial men of whom Worcester has
reason to be so justly proud - men who, by their various industries are daily
adding to her wealth, and extending her credit and good name.
But Mr. Bassett has not been through life so absorbed in business as
to forego the advantages and deny himself the pleasures of travel. Not only
has he visited nearly all the important cities and places of special interest
in our own country and Mexico, but in the far north of Europe has witnessed
the wonderful spectacle of the midnight sun, and in the famous cities of other
quarters of that continent has seen the triumphs of art and the varied phases
of social life.
Mr. Bassett is not a politician, as the term is usually applied, but
has decided opinions, and is not backward in expressing them. He is a strong
Republican and accepts in full the doctrines they advocate. He has not been an
office-holder to any great extent, though for six years he served as a member
of the School Board, a position he cheerfully accepted for the opportunities
it afforded to do something for the advancement of education among all
classes; and his efforts in the office won the approbation of those who placed
him in the situation where so much good could be accomplishe
On the 16th of April, 1857, Mr. Bassett was united in marriage with
Elizabeth Kennan, of Vermont, and five children have been born to them-three
sons and two daughters-but of the children only two sons are now livin
Mr. Bassett is still in healthful and active life, and there is good
ground for hope that he may live for many years, by his ingenuity and
accumulating skill, by his vigor and enterprise, adding more and more to the
already famous industrial specialities of good old Worcester.
History of Worcester and Its People by Charles Nutt, Volume 3, Page 71
Joseph Massa Bassett
Of Johnson & Bassett, manufacturers of wool spinning machinery, was
born in Eden, Vermont, Aug. 31, 1834, and died in Paris, France, Sept.
10, 1906, son of George Bassett.
Joseph M. Bassett received his education in the district schools of
his native town, and when not in school worked with his father on the
farm. In April 1851, when he was 16 years old, he came to Worcester and
found employment in the Court Mills. Six moths later, on account of
illness, he returned to his home and remained there for 2 years, working
most of the time as clerk in a general store.
In March 1854, he returned to Worcester, where he spent the
remainder of his life. He was employed for a time in a lumber yard. For
8 years he was bookkeeper in a factory making woolen machinery. He
resigned to become a partner in the firm of E.C. Cleveland & Company,
but after 4 years he sold his interests to his partner.
During the following year he was a partner in the firm of Bassett &
Hobbs in the wool business, returning again to the manufacture of woolen
machinery in partnership with Mr. Cleveland, under the firm name of
Cleveland & Bassett. Two years later the firm was dissolved.
In July 1870, the firm of Johnson & Bassett was formed for the
manufacture of wool spinning machinery and continued until the death of
Mr. Johnson in March 1880. Mr. Bassett then purchased from the heirs of
his partner their interests and continued the business under the same
name until his death.
The business was located in a spacious factory on Foster Street and
the product of the factory found a way to the spinning mills in all par
of the country. Mr. Bassett became one of the leading manufacturers of
the city and highly prosperous.
Mr. Bassett was fond of travel and enjoyed the business trips that
took him to all parts of this country and Europe. He traveled much for
pleasure in later years. In politics he was a Republican and for 6 years
served on the school committee of this city.
Mr. Bassett married, April 16, 1857, to Elizabeth Alden Kennan, who
was born in Vermont, and they had 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughters,
but 2 of whom grew to maturity: George M. and Arthur J., a music teacher
of note, living in Worcester.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1834 - 1906 (72 years)
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