| Notes |
- They settled on Taylor's Mill Road near Fort Valley shortly after the close of the War Between the States. He was pastor of the Fort Valley Congregational Church for 12 years.
1860 Federal Census of 5th District, Houston County, Georgia (27 Jul 1860)
Stephen E. Basset 27 M Georgia Farmer 1000 2500
Frances 24 F Georgia
William 4 M Georgia
Walter 2 M Georgia
Stephen 5/12 M Georgia
Francis Waite 18 F Georgia
1860 Federal Census of 5th District, Houston County, Georgia (30 Jul 1860)
John W. Bassett 42 M Florida? Farmer 1500 2880
Martha 42 F Florida?
Mary 21 F Georgia
George 19 M Georgia
Wm 17 M Georgia
James 15 M Georgia
John F. 13 M Georgia
Nancy C. 11 F Georgia
Naomi 10 F Georgia
Virginia 8 F Georgia
Benjamin 5 M Georgia
Julia 3 F Georgia
1870 Federal Census of Fort Valley, Houston County, Georgia (28 Jun 1870)
Stephen E. Bassett 37 M Georgia Minister 5000 1000
Frances E. 34 F Georgia Keeping house
William A. 14 M Georgia At home
Walter L. 12 M Georgia At school
Stephen H. 10 M Georgia At school
Elijah G. 8 M Georgia
Francis A. 2 M Georgia
1880 Federal Census of Fort Valley, Houston County, Georgia
Stephen E. Bassett 46 M GA NC SC Head Farmer
Frances E. 44 F GA GA GA Wife Keeping House
Walter L. 22 M GA GA GA Son Farmer
Stephen H. 20 M GA GA GA Son Attending School
Elisha G. 17 M GA GA GA Son Attending School
Charles D. 9 M GA GA GA Son
Sidney G. 8 M GA GA GA Son
Martha 3 F GA GA GA Daughter
Ada Johnson 19 F GA GA GA Other At Home
C.A. Cook 26 M GA GA GA Other Farm Laborer
Susan Eal B 60 F MI MI MI Other Cook
Milas Walker B 22 M GA GA GA Other Farm Hand
Obituary (Paper unknown)
Rev. Stephen Elisha Bassett was born June 17, 1833, embraced religion and joined the M.E. Church South in 1850, and although he was then only seventeen years old, he at once took up active Christian duties. In 1863 he was licensed to preach, and from then until his death on July 20th, 1897, he was a faithful minister of Jesus Christ.
While he remained in the M.E. Church South he was ordained to both Deacon and Elder’s orders and maintained a local standing, although at different times as a supply he was in the regular itinerant work by appointment and as such served different fields of labor quite acceptably.
In 1880 he united wit the Congregational Methodist church, having become dissatisfied with the government of the M.E. Church South, and in 1888 when a majority of the Congregational Methodist churches in Georgia (including the local church of which he was a member) affiliated with the Congregational churches he became a Congregationalist and died in the harness as a Congregational minister.
Brother Bassett was in an eminent degree a helpful man. Possessing financial ability far beyond the average preacher, he was able to help the cause he loved so well, with his money as well as with the personal efforts.
He furnished the ground on which the neat and comfortable church house at Fort Valley stands and had the house built and furnished almost entirely out of his own private means. And in many other ways used his money for God’s glory and the good of his cause.
As a Christian he was always “ready to give a reason for the hope that was in him.” As a church worker, he was zealous and persevering, always ready for duty and seldom becoming discouraged at difficulties. As a preacher, he was earnest, spiritual and effective. When he preached men listened and learned, and went away with a desire to listen again and learn more. He began to “cast his bread upon the Waters” nearly fifty years ago, and much of it he found after many days. While the fruit of his doing will ripen for many years yet to come.
Brother Bassett was often honored by his brethren with positions of trust and confidence, which positions he always filled with credit and satisfaction. In all the various gatherings where men of prudence, piety and decision were needed, from the simplest church council to the National council, he was found at his post. Since he has been connected with the Congregational churches he has been a delegate to every National council and has attended every session. As a member of various conferences, conventions and councils he has ever been present and useful. Sometimes on the floor assisting in the regular conduct of business, sometimes in the committee room aiding to solve some difficult or delicate problem, and sometimes as the presiding officer of the body, watching all interests and guiding the deliberations.
For the last six years he has been the Superintendent of Home Missions for the state of Alabama, and his faithful service in that position has been attested by his success in that laborious and difficult field, and the confidence and devotion of his brethren under his supervision.
Death came to him not unexpectedly although suddenly. God kindly permitted him to be able to work almost to the last day of his life. On Sunday, July 18th, he preached twice at this home church in Fort Valley, having preached the day before at the district conference at Meansville. On Monday he was taken very ill at an early hour with acute indigestion and lingered in much suffering until noon on Tuesday when he fell asleep in Jesus.
His last words were addressed to his dear wife and were, “I am believing, hoping, trusting.”
He was twice married, first to Frances E. Hicks, of Crawford county, Georgia, in the year 1844, who died in 1880, leaving six children. Second to Elizabeth T. Young, of Lee county, Ala, in 1890. He has left a devoted wife and six loving children to mourn their lo9sss while he has gone to find that “to die is gain.”
The Congregational cause in Georgia has lost one of its pillars, and Christianity has seen one of its most valiant soldiers fall in the battle. Mature in years, rich in Christian experience, ripe in Christian labors and ready for the reaper he has fallen in the good fight and laid all his trophies at the foot of the cross.
May the God on consolation comfort his sorrowing loved ones and give them grace to endure this great trial, and to meet him in heaven. S.C. McDaniel.
Oaklawn Cemetery, Peach County, Georgia
Rev. Stephen Elisha Bassett
17 June 1833 20 July 1897
Tommie Young Bassett, wife of Rev. S.E. Bassett
22 April 1843 24 Sep 1927
Frances E. Bassett, wife of Rev. S.E. Bassett
4 September 1835 30 October 1889
Martha Frances Bassett, daughter of S.E. & F.E. Bassett
13 Jul 1876 15 Dec 1931
Stephen Elisha Bassett
Sketched Photo
Family History Letter
Stephen Elisha Bassett was born near Byron, GA. in 1833 and grew up as the
second from the youngest child of Stephen and Jane Bassett. According to the
old Bassett Bible pages, he joined the church as a young man of 18, and was a
practicing Christian for the rest of his life, devoting much of it to spreading
God's word.
He married Frances Hicks (daughter of Elijah H. Hicks and Martha Fudge), on
Feb. 18, 1855 in her father's home in Crawford County. (3) He was 22. She was
20. Early in their marriage, the couple settled near Fort Valley on the
Hardison Place, north of town on Taylor's Mill Road. In 1865, he purchased the
property and built the "Bassett homeplace" (also on Taylor's Mill Road), known
for many years now as Pineola. Here they raised their family and spent many
years. The Bassett homeplace remained in the family for over 100 years,
occupied by sons and grandsons and their families.
Stephen Elisha and Frances were married for nearly 35 years and were the
parents of 9 children, 7 of whom lived to adulthood, Gus, Walter, Stephen, Elisha
"Lish", Charlie, Sidney and Fannie. His pet name for her was "Puss" (1)
In his early years, the Rev. S. E. Bassett (as Stephen Elisha was listed in
later records) was a Methodist minister and Circuit Rider, traveling and
preaching, performing marriages and burying the departed, around the surrounding
counties. These ministers were known as "Saddlebag Saints" for their efforts at
carrying the Word on horseback. (2) Stephen Elisha also farmed and was a
highly successful businessman. He ginned the cotton of his neighbors, sold cotton
gins, and acquired extensive property in both Georgia and Alabama. He was
also one of the incorporators of the Dow Land Bank of Fort Valley as well as
one of the founders of the Fort Valley College, the first college for blacks in
the state.
In a disagreement with the Methodist church in 1882, he was granted a letter
of removal (a form of resignation). He thereafter donated the land for and
built and established his own church, the Congregational Methodist Church on
Persons Street in Fort Valley. He preached there for 12 years.(2) He also
organized the Crawford County Wesleyan Congregational Church. At the time of his
death in 1897, he was superintendent of the Congregational churches of
Alabama for the Congregational Home Missionary Society.
In 1884, the Bassett homeplace was being managed by a Mr. Lonie Taylor (3),
which sounds as if Stephen Elisha and Frances may have moved to town when he
built the new church. This is also the year that his son, Stephen Hicks
Bassett, purchased the homeplace from his father and his own family moved there.
He would seem to have been a many faceted man; a farmer with very large
holdings, a successful businessman, and a man dedicated to his religious calling
for all of his adult life, paradoxical, but much admired.
Following the death of Frances in 1889, he married "Miss Tommie" Young, who
had been the governess for his daughter Fannie.
When he died, in 1897, his funeral service was preached by the Rev. S.E.
McDaniel on the words;
"I have fought a good fight,
I have kept the faith,
I have finished the course.
Servant of God well done,
Rest in thy loved employ." (4)
Stephen Elisha is buried in Oaklawn Cemetery, Ft. Valley, with a wife on
either side.
Source notes;
(1)Diary/ledger of S.E, Bassett 1868 and 1872 (found at Pinelola-2000)
(2) Information from "Methodist Church 1847-1905". Thomas Public Library,
Fort Valley
(3) "Near-by Orchards, farms and farmers. Business Directory of Fort Valley
and Many Other Items", page 17, printed in 1884, speaks of the farm's
"splendid orchards".
(Found in the Fort Valley Library, reported by Paul and Delise Knight)
(4) Bassett Bible (Pineola)
TRIBUTE TO REV STEPHEN E BASSETT
Stephen Elisha Bassett
Stephen Elisha Bassett
By Superintendent SC Daniels of Georgia Rev Stephen Elisha Bassett was born June 17 1833 embraced religion and joined the ME Church South in 1850 and although he was then only seventeen years old at once took up active Christian duties In 1863 he was licensed to preach and from that time until his death on July 20 1897 he was a faithful minister of Jesus Christ While he remained in the ME Church South he was ordained to both Deacon's and Elder's orders and maintained a local standing although at different times he was in the regular itinerant work by appointment and as such acceptably served different fields of labor In 1880 he united with the Congregational Methodist Church having become dissatisfied with the government of the ME Church South and in 1888 when a majority of the Congregational Methodist churches in Georgia including the local church of which he was a member affiliated with the Congregational churches he became a Congregationalist and died in the harness as a Congregational minister Mr Bassett was in an eminent degree a helpful man Possessing financial ability far beyond the average preacher he was able to help the cause he loved so well with his money as well as with his personal efforts He furnished the ground on which the neat and comfortable church house at Fort Valley stands and had the house built and furnished almost entirely out of his own private means In many other ways he used his money for God's glory and the good of his cause As a Christian he was always ready to give a reason for the hope that was in him As a church worker he was zealous and persevering always ready for duty and seldom becoming discouraged at difficulties As a preacher he was earnest spiritual and effective When he preached men listened learned and went away with a desire to listen again and learn more He began to cast his bread upon the waters nearly fifty years ago and much of it he found after many days while the fruit of his doing will ripen for many days to come Mr Bassett was often honored by his brethren with positions of trust and confidence which positions he always filled with credit and satisfaction In all the various gatherings where men of prudence piety and decision were needed from the simplest church council to the National Council he was found at his post Since he has been connected with the Congregational churches he has been a delegate to every National Council and has attended every session As a member of various conferences conventions and councils he has ever been present and useful sometimes on the floor assisting in the regular conduct of business sometimes times in the committee room aiding to solve some difficult or delicate problem and sometimes as the presiding officer of the body watching all interests and guiding the deliberations For the last six years he has been the Superintendent of Home Missions for the State of Alabama and his faithful service in that position has been attested by his success in that laborious and difficult field and the confidence and devotion of his brethren under his supervision Death came to him not unexpectedly although suddenly God kindly permitted him to be able to work almost to the last day of his life On Sunday July 18th he preached twice at his home church in Fort Valley having preached the day before at the district conference in Meansville. On Monday he was taken very ill at an early hour with acute indigestion and lingered in much suffering until noon on Tuesday when he fell asleep in Jesus His last words were addressed to his dear wife and were I am believing hoping trusting He was twice married first in 1855 to Frances E Hicks of Crawford County Ga She died in 1889 leaving six children Second to Elizabeth T Young of Lee County Ala in 1890 He has left a devoted wife and six loving children to mourn their loss while he has gone to find that to die is gain The Congregational cause in Georgia has lost one of its pillars and Christianity has seen one of its most valiant soldiers fall in the battle Mature in years rich in Christian experience ripe in Christian labors and ready for the reaper he has fallen in the good fight and laid all his trophies at the foot of the cross May the God of consolation comfort his sorrowing loved ones and give them grace to endure this great trial and to meet him in heaven.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1833 - 1897 (64 years)