| Notes |
- From family papers, "Ida Bassett was born at 'Hampton', near Brenham, Texas, on April 21st, 1869. She was the daughter of Thos. Jefferson Bassett and Martha Josephine Roberson. When she was 11 yrs. old she went to Virginia to attend the Montgomery Female College for three years. On April 18, 1888 she married John Junius Harris ('June') and they had one child, Emily. June died in 1892. On Dec. 29th, 1907 she married Calvin G. Botts - He died November 9th, 1932. She spent most of her life in Brenham, moving to Houston in 1922. The last five years of her life were spent with her daughter in Dallas, Texas."
Dallas Morning News
April 18, 1958
Texas Poet, Mrs. Botts, Dies at 88
(Picture included)
Funeral services for Mrs. Ida Bassett Botts, 88, a Texas poet, musician and song writer will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Geo. A. Brewer Funeral Chapel, 3603 Ross, with Dr. W.A. Welsh officiating. Burial will be in Brenham, Washington County. Mrs. Botts died Wednesday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward F. Maddox, 7317 Tokalon, with whom she had made her home for the last six years.
Mrs. Botts, a native of Brenham, was a member of a pioneer Washington County family. Prior to her marriage to the late Calvin G. Botts she was head of the music department at Blinn Memorial College, Brenham. Her poems have been published in a book, "Across the Years," and her song, "Legend of the Bluebonnets," was an official song of the Texas Centennial in 1936. She was listed in "Notable Women of the Southwest" and "Who's Who in the South and Southwest". Mrs. Botts was a member of the East Dallas Christian Church; a charter and honorary life member of Composers, Authors, and Artists of America; Artists, Composers and Authors of Houston; Houston Pen Women; Poetry Society of Texas and Avalon World Arts Academy, and an honorary member of the International Mark Twain Society.
Mrs. Botts daughter, Mrs. Maddox, is her only immediate survivor.
Pallbearers will be Dr. George E. Hurt, George Hanson, Ed Phillip, Lewis Eubank, J.G. Rollins and R.H. Clinger.
Dallas Times-Herald
April 17, 1958
Mrs. Ida Botts, 88, Song Writer Dies
Final tribute to Mrs. Ida Bassett Botts, 88, a Texas song writer, musician and poet, will be paid at 10 a.m. Friday in the Geo. A. Brewer Funeral Chapel, 3603 Ross. Dr. W.A. Welsh, pastor of the East Dallas Christian Church, will officiate. Graveside services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Brenham, Texas. Mrs. Botts died Wednesday night at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward F. Maddox, 7317 Tokalon, with whom she had been living for the past six years.
Born in Brenham, Texas, Mrs. Botts was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jefferson Bassett, pioneer settlers in Washington County. She taught private classes in piano at Brenham and was head of the music department at Blinn Memorial College before her marriage to the late Calvin G. Botts of Houston. Probably the best known of her songs is "Legend of the Bluebonnets," which was one of the official songs of the Texas Centennial in 1936. Her poems have appeared in many anthologies. She was included in "Notable Women of the Southwest", and "Who's Who in the South and Southwest". She was a member of the East Dallas Christian Church, Artists, Composers and Authors of Houston, Houston Pen Women, Poetry Society of Texas, Avalon World Arts Academy and an honorary member of the International Mark Twain Society.
Survivors in addition to Mrs. Maddox are three nieces and one nephew.
1870 Federal Census of Washington County, Texas
Jefferson Bassett - 37 - M - Virginia - Lawyr and Banker
---------- - 22 - F - Texas
Ida - 1 - F - Texas
1880 Federal Census of Brenham, Washington County, Texas (29 Jun 1880)
Jeff Bassett - 41 - M - LA-VA-NY- Head - Banker
Josephine - 32 - F - AL-AL--- - Wife - Keeping House
Ida - 11 - F - TX-LA-AL - Daughter
Virginia - 9 - F - TX-LA-AL - Daughter
Emma G. - 5 - F - TX-LA-AL - Daughter
Elenor - 3 - F - TX-LA-AL - Daughter
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Bassett Family Association Database
1869 - 1958 (88 years)