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- 3B3656B. Cyrus N. Bassett, son of David and Lucinda (Coggswell) Bassett, was born 5 Feb 1832 in Allegany County, New York. He died around 19 Apr 1907. He married (1) Elizabeth Phelps, daughter of Thomas Phelps, in 1856 in Danville, New York. She was born in Allegany County, New York. He married (2) Margaret L. Kerr, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Snyder) Kerr, on 31 Dec 1874 in Johnson County, Nebraska. She was born 7 Jan 1839 in Richland County, Ohio. Cyrus and Margaret are both buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Douglas, Nebraska.
Cyrus was Justice of the Peace in Otoe County, Nebraska and a farmer. Margaret was a teacher.
1880 Federal Census of South Branch, Otoe County, Nebraska
Cyrus M. Bassett 48 M NY MA NY Head Farmer
Margarett L. 38 F OH -- -- Wife Keeps House
Lois 3 F NE NY OH Daughter
Raleigh 6/12 M NE NY OH Son
L. Howland 18 F IL -- OH Daughter-in-law School Teacher
Myrite Howland 15 F IL -- OH Daughter-in-law
CYRUS BASSETT
(From Portrait and Biographical Album of Otoe and Cass Counties, Nebraska)
1889
Nebraska remained a Territory for a period of nine years after the subject of this sketch settled upon the land which he now owns and occupies in South Branch Precinct. He was thus one of the earliest pioneers of this county, and, considering the record which he has made for himself, has proved one of its most enterprising and useful men. Upon crossing the Mississippi it has been his intention to visit Pike's Peak, which was then the object of great excitement, and to which hundreds were hastening in the hopes of accumulating a fortune without the necessity of labor.
Our subject, in pursuance of this idea, started out from Lockport, Ill., overland with a team and accompanied by A.J. Reynolds. When one week's drive west of the Missouri River his brother-in-law was taken quite ill, and they were obliged to turn about in order to obtain medical aid
from Nebraska City. In the meantime Mr. Bassett, becoming further discouraged over his expedition to Pike's Peak, decided to locate nearer the bounds of civilization, and accordingly laid claim to 160 acres of land in this county, upon a warrant which his father had received for services in the War of 1812. He considers that this was a most fortunate move for him, when he looks around upon his comfortable homestead, his well-tilled acres, the modern improvements and all the appliances of rural life, with plenty for the present and a prospect of a competency for his old age. He took up his residence here in the spring of 1859, and during his thirty years' residence in Southern Nebraska has witnessed many more changes than can be mentioned in the course of a brief biography.
The important events in the life of our subject are mainly as follows: He was born in Allegany County, N.Y., Feb. 5, 1832, and is the son of David and Lucinda (Coggswell) Bassett, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Connecticut. In early life they became residents of New York State, where their marriage took place. Of the paternal grandfather little is known beyond the fact that he was a native of England, and emigrated to the United States, settling in Massachusetts.
He died when his son David was but a boy, and the latter was thrown among strangers. Probably about the time of reaching his majority he left New England for the Empire State, and located among the early pioneers of Livingston County. Here he engaged in farming very successfully, but
finally lost his property. His death took place in Portage, on the Genesee River, when he was sixty-seven years of age.
After the death of her husband the mother of our subject moved to Illinois with her children, and died in Will County in 1861, at the age of fifty-eight years. David Bassett had served as a private in the War of 1812. The parental household included the following children: Sabina, the
wife of Lodelia Speer, of Michigan; Elvira R., Mrs. Reeves; Joseph W.; Helena M., Mrs. Reynolds, and Cyrus of our sketch. All of these are yet living. Cyrus, in common with his brothers and sisters, received a common-school education, and was taught those habits of industry which have been the basis of his success in life. He was fifteen years of age at the time of his father's death, and remained with his mother until twenty-four, working on the home farm. Then starting out for himself he farmed on rented land one year, and at the expiration of this time left the Empire State and took up his residence in Will County, Ill. Two and one-half years later we find him journeying toward Pike's Peak.
When Mr. Bassett came to Nebraska, it is hardly necessary to say Nebraska City was a hamlet of but a few houses. He worked his land until the outbreak of the Civil War, and then in the summer of 1862 responded to a call for troops from the Governor of Nebraska, reporting for enrollment at Syracuse. Later, finding the need of men at home, the Governor's call was rescinded, and Mr. Bassett remained at home with others in case of being called upon to protect their own State against the ravages of the Indians. These in the fall of 1864 came with threatening aspect, having on their war paint, as far as Little Blue, causing the people to leave their homes and hasten to a place of refuge. They finally went back across the Missouri River, but in the meantime the settlers in that region, one Sunday at church, appointed a committee to send out scouts and investigate as to the truth of the reports of danger which were coming to their ears day by day. Mr. Bassett was one of three men appointed to reconnoiter, and with the two others started out one Sunday night on horseback, reaching Beatrice the night following. They found the people of Little Blue suffering from the various outrages committed by the redskins, who had stolen their stock and committed various other depredations. They had, however, apparently done all they had dared to do and were now on the retreat, so the scouting party returned home.
Mr. Bassett now began farming in earnest upon his land, tilling the soil, setting out fruit and shade trees, putting up buildings, and effecting the other improvements naturally suggested to the enterpriseing and progressive agriculturist. He has now a fine orchard of 200 bearing apple trees, a commodious farmhouse, with barns, sheds and machinery, live stock, and all the other appliances of the complete rural home. His land is finely watered by running streams, and he has plenty of timber. A stone quarry furnishes all this material desired for use on the farm, and many loads annually are supplied to the people generally of this locality.
Mr. Bassett was married first in Danville, N.Y., in 1856 to Miss Elizabeth Phelps, who was born in Allegany County, that State, and is the daughter of Thomas Phelps. His present wife was Miss Margaretta L. Kerr, to whom he was married Dec. 31, 1872 in Johnson County, Neb. This lady was
born in 1938, in Richland County, Ohio, and is the daughter of David and Elizabeth Snyder. Her parents were natives respectively of Beaver and Carlisle Counties, Pa., and the father a farmer by occupation. Miss Snyder was first married to Clark Howland, in Ohio. Mr. H. was born in New York
State in 1837, and died in Sterling, Johnson Co., Neb., in the winter of 1870. Mrs. Bassett received a good education and taught school several terms when a young woman. Of her union with our subject there are two children, Lois and Cyrus Rolla, who continue at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. B. are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rockford, in which our subject has officiated as Class-Leader and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Politically, he is a Republican with prohibition tendencies. He was at one time a member of Rockford Grange, P. of H. He has served as Justice of the Peace in South Branch Precinct for a period of ten or twelve years, and has almost continuously been a member of the School Board.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1832 - 