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- 1880 Federal Census of District 1, Spokane County, Washington
Wilber Bassette - 50 - M - CT-CT-CT - Head - Farmer
Adelia - 28 - F - CT-CT-CT - Wife - House Keeper
Herman S. - 10 - M - VA-CT-CT - Son - At Home
Wesley - 6 - M - WT-CT-CT - Son - At Home
Jennie J. - 4 - F - WT-CT-CT - Daughter - At Home
Ida M. - 1 - F - WT-CT-CT - Daughter - At Home
(WT - Washington Territory)
Wilbur Fisk Bassett
1829 - 1901
The subject of this sketch, father of H.S. Bassett, was born in Washington, Connecticut, October 24, 1829; died at the home of his son at Wilbur, Washington, February 4th, 1901, in his 72nd year. He and two sisters were left orphans when he reached the age of 13 years. He received a good common school education and then learned the carpenter and joiners' trade, after which he served an apprenticeship of three years at ship carpentering. Being possessed of the natural American instinct for pioneering, he turned his face to the Pacific early in life, having traversed the continent twice by water, around Cape Horn and three times via Isthmus of Panama by boat and by rail. Much of his life in the west was devoted to mining and he ammassed a total, at different times, of $10,000 to $12,000, but it was all dissipated in a continued search for the hidden treasure. After several years of western life he determined to settle down to the quiet life of the older states, and in pursuance of that resolve, returned to Washington City, where an uncle, then in Congress, promised to obtain for him, a goverment situation. On December 31st, 1867, he married Adelia Lenora Lewis, bought a farm eight miles from Washington City in Fairfax county, Virginia and there he sojourned one year, but the appointment failing him, he once more became restless with the western fever, and came to Portland, Oregon, where he worked at his trade during the summer. He then returned to his Virginia home, sold his farm and brought his family to the Pacific coast. He soon drifted north to Spokane, which was then little more than an Indian village. There, in the employ of Downing and Scranton, he "framed" the timbers for the first sawmill built at the Falls. Early in the spring of 1871 he located a claim on land midway between Medical Lake and Cheney in what was then known as the "Four Lakes" country. To three of these lakes, Mr. Bassett gave the names of Granite, Silver and Clear Lakes.
In those pioneer days, all who lived within fifteen miles were near neighbors, and Walla Walla, over 100 miles away, was the base of supplies. There he lived until 1887, and during the time of his residence on the farm, the Northern Pacific Railway was built, passing only four and one-half miles away, and he saw settlements spring up as if by magic.
After the death of his wife in 1887, he sold his farm and taking his daughter, Bertha, then a little girl, he went to Grangeville, Idaho, and from that time on, the greater part of his life was spent in the mountains of Idaho, where he lived the life of a prospector, though his relatives believe that during his latter years he sojourned among the mountains more to be nearer the heart of nature than for any hope of uncovering Earth's riches. This love of nature's dwelling places is set forth in the following verses, selected from many which he penned during the days of his solitary life:
Many are the interesting and thrilling tales he could relate, of his experiences in the wilds of Montana and Idaho. Early in the winter he began a series of articles in a reminiscent strain, which grew more interesting from week to week, but which were cut short by the old prospector's illness.
Mr. Bassett led an industrious, blameless life, and a host of old friends in western Spokane county will be filled with sorrow by news of his death. Mother Earth has been his closest friend and she, at last, affords him his first and only perfect rest.
Surviving him are one son and two daughters, Herman S. Bassett and Bertha R. Bassett, Wilbur, Washington; and Mrs. James O. Taylor (Jennie Josephine), Tacoma, Washington.
Reprint from the Wilbur Register of an early February date in 1901.
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Bassett Family Association Database
Abt 1879 - 