| Notes |
- Buell graduated from West Point with a commission as 2nd Lieutenant, 5th United States Infantry. He resigned his commission to enter the cotton seed oil business at Velasco, Texas.
Long Career Ended, Buell B. Bassette (picture include
Buell B. Bassette of Emmons Pl. Dies
Graduate of West Point Was Executive in Local Industri
Buell Burdett Bassette, a graduate of the United States Military
academy at West Point, former executive in New Britain manufacturing concerns
and active in civic, temperance and church affairs for many years, died last
night at his home, 27 Emmons place, after being in ill health for some time.
He would have been 72 years old next February 7.
Born in New Orleans, La., he was the second son of the late Mr. and
Mrs. Frederick H. Bassette, who resided in New Britain for many years prior
to making their home in West Hartford.
Graduated from New Britain High school, he was appointed to the United
States Academy at West Point by the late Robert J. Vance, publisher of the New
Britain Herald, who then served as congressman.
At West Point, Mr. Bassette was a brilliant student and was graduated
with high honors in 1893 with a degree of bachelor of science and winni
distinction in the study of arts, sciences and literature.
Appointed a second lieutenant in the 5th Infantry on June 12, 1893, he
resigned his commission on September 27, of the same year to enter the cotton
seed oil business at Velasco, Texas. After devoting several years to fire
insurance in Houston, Texas, he returned to New Britain to accept the position
of office manager at Russell & Erwin Mfg. Co. where he remained until 1902.
He then served as organizing auditor of the American Hardware Corp.
from 1902 to 1905; general secretary of the International Reform Bureau from
1905 to 1907; treasurer of the Corbin Motor Vehicle Corp. from 1907 to 1909;
auditor of the Stanley Rule and Level Co., from 1909 to 1918, and treasurer
from 1918 to 1929 when Stanley Rule & Level was consolidated with the Stanley
Works.
In 1937, he retired as cashier of the Stanley Rule & Level after 28
years' service, and was presented with a purse by E.V. Higbee on behalf of
his office associates.
Mr. Bassette was appointed general secretary of the Internation
Reform Bureau with headquarters in Washington, D.C., on February 1, 1905. At
that time, the bureau owned property on Pennsylvania avenue, adjoining the
library of Congress. Up to 1904, the bureau inaugurated and secured 409
distinct reforms and had the greatest missionary effort of the times in
international work.
At the time of his appointment as general secretary, he was a member
of the executive committee and auditor of the Connecticut Y.P.S.C.E. Union,
vice president and chairman of the Good Citizenship committee of New Britain
Y.P.S.C.E Union, president of the Y.P.S.C.E of the South Congregational
church, and by virtue of this office a member of the standing committee of
that church, on the committees at Y.M.C.A., member of the executive committee,
City Mission, chairman of temperance societies of New Britain, Berlin a
Plainville, and secretary of the Home Protection league.
Prominently identified in activities of the temperance organization,
Mr. Bassette was nominated for governor of Connecticut on the prohibiti
ticket in 1912 and 1924, and served on the state central committee since 1912.
Compiler of the Bassette family genealogy, he was awarded a
certificate of merit in genealogy by the Council of the Institute of Genealogy
in recognition of original research and meritorious contributions to the
archives of American genealogy.
Another honor bestowed upon the New Britain resident was on November
2, 1937, when he received a certificate from the United States war department
conferring an honorary degree of bachelor of science, for his proficiency in
all branches of the arts and sciences and of literature taught at West Point.
He was an active member of the Connecticut Historical societ
Mr. Bassett had many executive positions to which he devoted much time
and energy. He was auditor of the International Reform Federation, incorporator
and auditor of the New Britain General hospital, secretary of the New Britain Civic
Safety league, a trustee of the Preston fund, secretary-treasurer of the Sunset
Rock association, chairman of the Missionary Committee Central association of
Hartford, director of the Connecticut Temperance Union, of which he served as
president in 1929; state committeeman of the Prohibition party, president and
secretary of the Commonwealth club, historian of the Bassette family and sub
teacher of the Men's class of the South church.
He was a member of the Connecticut Historical society, Connecticut
Temperance society, a life member of the Association of the Graduates of the
United States Military academy, and active member of the South Congregational
church for 56 years, being superintendent of the senior department of t
church Sunday school from 1907 to 1918, a life member of the Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago and a member of the National Conservation association.
Mr. and Mrs. Bassette observed their 48th wedding anniversary last
June 21. They were married by Bishop Aves at Christ Episcopal church in
Houston, Tex., the week after Mr. Bassett's graduation from West Point. Mrs.
Bassette, the former Lena Candee, made her home in Houston for many years
with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. George C. Felton.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Harold B. Bassette of this
city; two daughters, Mrs. Wilbur C. Gilbert of Beaumont, Tex., and Mrs. Ruth
Bassette Cobb of Short Hills, N.J.; two grandsons, Frederick H. Bassette and
Wilbur C. Gilbert Jr.; two granddaughters, Mrs. Laurence C. Wild of
Washington, D.C., and Miss Lorna Candee Bassette of this city; a brother, Roy
D. Bassette of Hartford and a sister, Mrs. George S. Sage of West Hartford.
Private funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at the home
with Rev. Dr. Wofford C. Timmons, pastor of the South Congregational church,
officiating. Interment will be in the family plot in Fairview cemeter
"Taps" will be sounded and a male quartet will sing.
The bearers will be Roy D. Bassette, Harold B. Bassett, Geor
Bassette, John A. Bassette, Henry E. Sage and Wilbur C. Gilbert.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1870 - Deceased