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- A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio, Volume 2
Edited by George Frederick Wright
Henry Bassett
In his lifetime Henry Bassett was one of the best known and most highly respected farmers and citizens of Lorain County, having been a resident of Eaton Township continuously for nearly sixty years. He performed his share in the pioneer labors which transformed the wilderness into a country of homes, farms and institutions, and was a witness to almost every important change which occurred in Lorain County from the time of early settlement until well toward the close of the last century.
His birth occurred at Chili, Seneca County, New York, July 23, 1814, and when he died at home in Eaton Township of Lorain County, January 21, 1891, he had lived usefully and well for seventy-six years six months. His parents were Daniel and Phebe (Covert) Bassett, who were natives of the same county in New York State, were married there, and in 1834 started west with their family of children, finally arriving in Lorain County and making settlement in Eaton Township. Daniel Bassett died at LaPorte at the age of eighty-two.
Twenty years of age when the family emigrated to Lorain County, Henry Bassett had in the meantime profited by attendance at the schools of his native town. Arriving in Eaton Township, he applied himself to the heavy task of clearing away the woods and cultivating the land under the primitive conditions that then prevailed. Farming was his life occupation and from it he secured an ample competence for himself and family.
On November 5, 1835, a few months after his twenty-first birthday, he was married in Carlisle Township to Miss Betsey E. Slauter. She was born in 1818 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jared and Sarah (Curtis) Slauter. Her parents were born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, were married there, and soon afterward moved to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and in 1826 allied themselves with the new country of Lorain County, making settlement in Carlisle Township. They came west by wagons and teams, and at that time Mrs. Bassett was eight years of age, and walked the greater part of the distance from Pennsylvania alongside or following the wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Slauter spent the rest of their days in Lorain County, and he passed away about eight years after the death of his wife. There were ten children in the Slauter family: Ephraim, who went to Wisconsin, where he died; Lydia, now deceased, was the wife of Everett Stoddard, one of the early settlers of Eaton Township; Mary Ann, deceased; Sarah, who became the wife of Henry Warner and moved to Whitehall, Wisconsin; Betsey E., who married Henry Bassett; Henry, who died in Wisconsin; Jared, who died in Carlisle Township; Jane, wife of D.L. Gibbs of Carlisle Township; Olive, wife of R. Gibbs, of Carlisle Township; and Hiram, who spent his active career at LaPorte.
In the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bassett there were born thirteen children, all of whom grew to maturity, and most of them married and established homes of their own, and there were seventeen great-grandchildren when Mrs. Henry Bassett died. These children in order of age are mentioned as follows: Charlotte, now Mrs. Anson Lines of Grafton Township, Lorain County; Caroline, wife of John Hart of Elyria; Sarah, wife of Sylvester Tompkins; Charles, who died in 1879; Daniel, who lives at Defiance, Ohio; Ollie, who died in Lorain County as Mrs. Lemuel Barlow; Frankie, Mrs. Nathaniel Benedict of Michigan; Julia, wife of Marion Sutliff of Elyria; Edwin, of Eaton Township; George, of Eaton; Serepta, wife of Edwin Welton of Elyria; Clara M., wife of Charles L. Morse, of Elyria; Alice, wife of Frank Jackson, of Eaton Township.
At the beginning of his career Henry Bassett found himself aligned in political opinion with the Whig party, and afterwards became an energetic and ardent Republican. He enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens and filled a number of offices of trust in his home township. It should be recalled that Mrs. Bassett taught the second school held in Eaton Township. She was a woman of culture, and presided with dignity and charm not only over her own household, but stood high socially all over the township. It is difficult for the younger generation to realize the toil, privations and hardships which such old settlers as Henry Bassett and wife endured while establishing their home in Lorain County. When he erected his first home in Eaton Township the country was almost a dense forest, and it required not only persevering toil day after day, month after month and year after year, but also a high degree of courage, enthusiasm and sturdy ambition in order to convert the forest surroundings into a well cultivated farm. He succeeded in this and in his later years lived in a substantial house and had around him all the comforts and conveniences he required. About fifteen years before his death he gave up active farming and bought a house and lot on Butternut Ridge. There he by no means spent his time in leisure, but employed it in superintending the cemetery and was almost constant in his care of this attractive city of the dead. As a result of his administration the cemetery, in that locality surpassed in neatness and general upkeep any burying ground in the county. Thus these years of his retirement were devoted to a useful service for which he received the gratitude of a great many people. His entire life was upright and honorable and whether as a friend or neighbor or in his busines transactions he gained the lasting respect of all who knew him.
1850 Federal Census of Eaton Township, Lorain County, Ohio (31 Aug 1850)
Daniel (Henry?) Bassett - 36 - M - New York - Farmer 1000
Betsey - 32 - F - Pennsylvania
Charlotte G. - 14 - F - Ohio
Caroline O. - 12 - F - Ohio
Sarah J. - 10 - F - Ohio
Charles H. - 8 - M - Ohio
Olive L. - 6 - F - Ohio
Francis M. - 4 - F - Ohio
Daniel J. - 1 - M - Ohio
1860 Federal Census of Eaton, Lorain County, Ohio (1 Jun 1860)
Henry Bassett - 46 - M - New York - Farmer 2800 700
Betsey - 43 - F - Pennsylvania
Charlotte - 23 - F- Ohio
Caroline - 21 - F - Ohio
Charles - 17 - M - Ohio
Olive - 16 - F - Ohio
Frances - 14 - F - Ohio
Daniel - 10 - M - Ohio
Julia - 9 - F - Ohio
Edward - 7 - M - Ohio
George - 5 - M - Ohio
Serefita - 2 - F - Ohio
Charles - 8/12 - M - Ohio
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Bassett Family Association Database
1818 - 1895 (76 years)