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- Centennial History of Columbus & Franklin County, Ohio (1909)
G. Ralph Bassett
G. Ralph Bassett, junior member of the architectural firm of Maetzel, Treselt & Bassett, of Columbus, is well known in business circles in this city. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1876, a son of James and Agnes Bassett. The father was also born in Pittsburgh, in 1838, and at one time was a prominent lumberman of that city. He served in the Civil War as lieutenant of Hampton's Battery, remaining at the front for three years. His father, George Bassett, was for many years captain of the steamboat Flora, making trips between Pittsburgh and New Orleans. James Bassett is now deceased, his death occurring August 19, 1902, when he was sixty-six years of age. The mother was a daughter of Thomas Stewart, of Pittsburgh, who was a mason contractor and built the first stone bridge across the Ohio river at Wheeling, West Virginia. She is also a direct descendant of Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States.
G. Ralph Bassett pursued his early education in the public and high schools of Pittsburgh and subsequently entered Pittsburgh Academy, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then pursued a course in architectural engineering and also studied in the Pittsburgh Art Students' League and in the studio of H.S. Stevenson of that city. Entering upon his chosen profession he was employed successively by Vrydach & Wolfe, Rutan & Russell, H.D. Gilchrist, and Samuel McLarren, while later he became connected with Thomas Rodd, architect and engineer of the noted Westinghouse Company. In this connection he had much to do with the plans for the British Westinghouse Electric Company at Manchester, England. He later entered the employ of James, Stewart & Company and subsequently McCullom & Dowly, of Pittsburgh, while in July, 1904 he came to Columbus and superintended the work on the New First National Bank building. In January, 1905, he became the junior member of the firm of Maetzel & Company. They made the plans and executed the contracts for the American Savings Bank, the Kinnear Manufacturing Company and the Home Brewing Company of this city and the Hoster building of New York city and there are also many other structures in this city which stand as monuments to their skill and enterprise.
Mr. Bassett was married November 28, 1907, to Miss Maud O. Roberts, a daughter of David Roberts, of Perry county, Ohio. He is one of the pioneer farmers of that section of the state. Mrs. Bassett graduated from the Lexington (Ohio) high school and is also a graduate nurse. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, interested in all religious and charitable work. Mr. Bassett is a member of the Columbus Society of Architects. The family home is at No. 534 South Ohio avenue. In his profession Mr. Bassett aims at a high standard and his broad and practical experience has won for him a prominent place among the leading architects of this city.
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Bassett Family Association Database
