Bassett Family Association Database

Richard Bassett[1]

Male 1843 - 1905  (~ 61 years)


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  • Name Richard Bassett 
    Born Mar 1843  North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 21 Feb 1905  Howard County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Elkhart Daily Review, Indiana, Wednesday, February 22, 1905
      Only Negro Ever Elected to Office in the County Dying of Consumption
      Once Was Enough

      Kokomo, Ind., Feb. 22 ? Richard Bassett, the only negro ever elected to office in Howard county, is dying of consumption. He represented Howard county in the legislature of 1893, winning the Republican nomination over S.E. Nicholson, author of the famous measure known by his name. He was the only negro serving in that general assembly, and he attracted attention because of his color.
      His legislative experience was not altogether pleasant, and he did not seek renomination, but devoted himself to ministerial work in the colored Baptist church, of this city. His son, Epraim Bassett, was the first Howard county solider to lose his life in the Spanish-American war, dying of yellow fever in Santiago.

      Kokomo Tribune, Indiana, February 22, 1930
      Twenty Five Years Ago

      The Rev. Richard Bassett, age sixty-two years, the only colored man ever elected to public office in Howard county, died Feb. 21 at his home in North Smith street of consumption. He served as representative of Howard county in the legislature of 1893.

      Muncie Evening Press, Indiana, May 6, 1905
      Monumet For Richard Bassett
      Movement on Foot To Honor the Memory of Clergyman
      Who Was Leader of Colored Race

      A petition is being circulated for the purpose of raising a fund for the erection at Kokomo, Ind., a monument over the gr4ave of the late Rev. Richard Bassett, colored.
      During his life Rev. Mr. Bassett was the acknowledged leader of his race in the west, and probably did more during his life for the colored peopled than any other one man.
      Rev. Mr. Bassett was beloved by his people, in whose interests he labored so faithfully. But it was not alone among the colored folks that his true worth was realized.
      The people of Howard county at once time elected him to the state legislature as the representative of that county, and he was always highly esteemed by his neighbors.
      His reputation as a preacher, leader and philanthropist had spread over the states of Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, where he had pastorates at different times during his life, and the effort to raise a suitable monument over his last residing place will be carried to the neighboring states.
      It is the intention of those who have the movement in hand to have the monument completed so that it may be unveiled on the 22ed day of next September, the occasion being the forty-second anniversary of the issuing of Abraham Lincoln?s proclamation of emancipation.




      Indiana Baptist History, 1798-1908

      The Bassetts were also men of ability and culture; their white
      brethren often listened with both pleasure and edification to their sermons;
      they were the Revs. R. Bassett, Sr., R. Bassett, Jr., and Miles Bassett.

      1880 Federal Census of 1st Ward, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana
      Richard Bassett B 32 M NC NC NC Head Minister
      Nancy B 26 F KY KY KY Wife Keeping House
      Essie B 15 F IN NC KY Daughter
      Glenn B 10 M IN NC KY Son
      Effie B 8 F IN NC KY Daughter
      George B 6 M IN NC KY Son
      Minnie B 1 F IN NC KY Daughter

      1900 Federal Census of Center Township, Howard County, Indiana (19 Jun 1900)
      Richard Bassett B 54 M Mar 1846 NC NC NC Head Minister
      Lovenia B 46 F 1854 KY KY KY Wife
      Minnie B 21 F Aug 1878 IN NC KY Daughter Laborer Housewo
      Richard B 19 M Oct 1880 IN NC KY Son
      Leslie H. B 17 M Apr 1882 IN NC KY Son
      Ralph H. B 14 M Jun 1885 IN NC KY Son
      Married 9 years, 3 children, 1 living)

      Our Baptist Ministers (includes picture)
      Rev. Richard Bassett, Shelbyville, Ind.

      Rev. Richard Bassett, a younger brother of Rev. Miles Bassett, was
      born in Greene County, N.C. in 1846. He, as his brother, was carried to
      Indiana along with his parents in 1848 when they settled in Park County, Ind.
      He, too, attended the Quaker school and obtained a common school training. In
      1856 they moved to Howard County. Young Bassett was converted and joined the
      Free Union Baptist Church November, 1864.
      He was ordained at New Albany, August, 1867. Now a life that was
      already useful began to shine more brilliantly and to bear abundant fruit.
      He was called to Shiloh Church of Rising Sun and secured for his
      congregation a spacious brick building. He has since served successively and
      successfully the Second Church of New Albany, and the Corinthian Baptist
      Church of Indianapolis. The former he pastored eight years, the latter five.
      In 1888 he was appointed by the Executive Board of the Sunday-school
      Convention, state Sunday-school missionary.
      In this field he rendered great service to Sunday schools and t
      cause of Christ in the state, and was greatly respected and beloved by all
      with whom he came in contact. Rev. R. Bassett is now serving the Free Union
      Church and the Second Church of Kokomo. He is a natural pulpit orator and is
      one of the leading ministers in his state.

      This Far By Faith: Black Hossier Heritage
      Richard Bassett of Howard County, elected in 1892 to the Indiana House
      of Representatives.

      8 May 1899

      E.J. Bassett, son of Rev. Richard Bassett joins colored regiment and goes to
      Cuba; dies later of yellow fever.
    Person ID I17  295B Britton Bassett of Indiana
    Last Modified 1 Apr 2020 

    Father Zachariah Bassett,   b. Abt 1810, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Feb 1860, Howard County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 50 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth,   b. Abt 1810, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Jun 1865  (Age ~ 55 years) 
    Family ID F2  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Nancy Hamilton,   d. Deceased 
    Children 
     1. Minnie Bassett,   b. Abt 1879, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased
     2. Richard Bassett,   b. 10 Oct 1880, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Oct 1969, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years)
     3. Leslie H. Bassett,   b. Apr 1882, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jun 1904, Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 22 years)
     4. Ralph H. Bassett,   b. Jun 1885, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased
    Family ID F9  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Lovenia,   d. Deceased 
    Family ID F10  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Ann Hawkins,   d. Deceased 
    Married 10 Nov 1864  Howard County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Essie Bassett,   b. Abt 1865, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased
     2. Glenn Bassett,   b. Abt 1870, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Deceased
     3. Effie Bassett,   b. Abt 1872, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1900  (Age ~ 28 years)
    +4. George Bassett,   b. Abt 1874, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1900  (Age ~ 25 years)
    Family ID F8  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S1] GEDCOM file imported on 29 August 2009.