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- History of Alabama And Her People
Volume III
John G. Bass
In John G. Bass, postmaster at Birmingham, Jefferson County, has a capable, honest public official and a citizen of sterling worth. He comes of fine old stock, a descendant of pioneer families that developed and improved the land in Alabama over a hundred years ago, settling in Jefferson and St. Clair counties, and their industry, courage and enterprise are apparent in their descendants of today.
John G. Bass was born on a farm in Jefferson County,, Alabama, December 31, 1870, son of Jonathan W. and Ruteria (Watson) Bass, and a grandson of Andrew J. Bass, a native of North Carolina, who settled in Jefferson County, in 1820, and of John T. Watson, who came from Georgia to St. Clair County, in 1816.
Jonathan W. Bass was born in Jefferson County, grew up on a pioneer farm with but meager schooling, but before his death in 1897, was accounted one of Birmingham?s leading business men, a Civil war veteran, and a politician of strength in the county. He served as a school trustee for many years, was generous in his support of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was well known in all forward movements in the county. He was land agent for the T.C.I., and was also associate4d with the Sloss-Sheffield Company. During the administration of President Harrison, he was United States timber agent in Florida. He held numerous political offices and at one time was postmaster at Leeds, Alabama. He married Miss Ruteria Watson, who was born in St. Clair County eighty years ago. She survives, a highly esteemed resident of Birmingham. Of their family of ten children, seven are living.
John G. Bass was the third born in his parents? family. He had public school advantages at Leeds and after leaving the high school in 1887, went to work in the post office at Leeds, and on July 1, 1890, became mailing clerk in the post office at Birmingham; from 1897 until 1902 he was officially identified with the internal revenue service, after this, until 1906, was engaged in the grocery business at Birmingham. During these years of business activity he became well and favorably known, and in 1907, when he embarked in contracting and mine operation, the Bass, McDonough Ore and Mining Company found his honorable business name an asset. This company operated near Lake View until 1911, when Mr. Bass turned his main attention to dealing in real estate, in which, he continued to be interested until March, 1922, when he returned to official life as chief field deputy in the income tax division of the revenue department, in which position he conti8nued until August 21, 1924, when he was appointed postmaster at Birmingham.
Mr. Bass was married February 8, 1899, to Miss Belle Alston, who was born and educated in marengo County, Alabama. Her father, James Alson, was a farmer and a merchant at McKinley, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Bass have seven children: Ethel, Dorothy, John G., James N., Margaret, Eloise and Martha Jo. The two sons, who are twins, are attending Howard College. The family belongs to East Lake Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which Mr. Bass has been a steward for a number of years. In political life he has always been a supporter of the principles of the republican party and has a wide acquaintance and many personal friends among its leader in the state. He is a Knight Templar Mason and Belongs to the Grotto at Birmingham, and for many years has been a member of such other representative fraternal organizations as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1870 - 1958 (87 years)