Notes |
- Theodore Sheldon Bassett
Bassett, Theodore Sheldon, manufacturer, vice-president of the Birmingham Iron Foundry of Derby, president of the United States Rubber Reclaiming Works, and formerly treasurer of the Bassett Corset Company of Derby, was born in Birmingham, now Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut, April 26th, 1839. His parents were Sheldon and Harriet Hull Bassett. His father was a manufacturer who held the important position of president of the Birmingham Iron Foundry and was also judge of probate of the town of Derby. His mother was one of those splendid New England mothers whose influence was strongly for good in every particular.
As he was brought up in a small country town Theodore Bassett had plenty of leisure for reading and study and he enjoyed both. He kept in touch with current events by intelligent and systematic reading of the newspapers and did a great deal of broad, general reading among many lines of learning. His actual schooling was confined to that offered by the local public schools and a few terms at boarding school.
When he reached the age of sixteen, that is in 1855, Theodore S. Bassett went to New York to work as a clerk. Since reaching his mature manhood he has been engaged in the manufacturing business and the success he has earned as a manufacturer is proved by the influential position he holds in the concern with which he is so closely identified. He is vice-president of the Birmingham Iron Foundry of Derby, president of the United States Rubber Reclaiming Works, and was for some time treasurer of the Bassett Corset Company of Derby.
In public affairs Mr. Bassett has also been active and prominent. From 1888 to 1892 he was postmaster of Derby. He was at one time treasurer of the town of Derby and of the borough of Derby, and is a member of the local board of trade.
Mr. Bassett is a thirty-second degree Mason, member of the Algonquin and Calumet Clugs of Bridgeport and of the Republican Club of New York. For recreation he enjoys driving and automobiling. His home is Fort Trumbull Beach, Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut. On April 26th, 1860, Mr. Bassett married Miss Caroline Wells, of New York City, who died at their Milford home in January, 1907. Of their three children, Caroline W., Harmon S., and Theodore Jr., but one, the last named, is living.
1880 Federal Census of Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut
Theodore Bassett - 41 - M - CT-CT-CT - Head - Prop. Iron Foundry
Carrie - 40 - F - NY-NY-NY - Wife - Keeping House
Herman - 13 - M - CT-CT-NY - Son - School
Theodore - 10 - M - CT-CT-NY - Son - School
Sheldon - 13 - M - CT-CT-NY - Other - School
Margaret Gennelly - 33 - F - IR-IR-IR - Other - Servant
Kate Donavan - 47 - F - IR-IR-IR - Other - Servant
Lizzie Cullan - 20 - F - CT-IR-IR - Other - Servant
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