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- 3B32321142. Merton Webster Bassett - born 26 Dec 1871 in Bristol, died 25 Jan 1950, Connecticut, married Lillian Cornelia Johnson on 10 Feb 1897.
1900 Federal Census of 3rd ward, Hartford, Hartford County, CT (4 Jun 1900)
Merton W. Bassett 29 M Dec 1870 CT CT CT Head Watch repairman
Lillian J. 28 F Jun 1871 CT CT CT Wife
(Married 3 years, no children)
1920 Federal Census of Stoneham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Merton W. Bassett 47 M CT CT CT Head Merchant Jewelry
(Living at the New England Sanitarium)
Merton W. Bassett, Business Executive
Men of New England, The American Historical Company, Inc.
(include picture)
In the development of commercial and realty enterprises in central Connecticut, Merton W. Bassett played a significant part. For a quarter of a century he headed his own retail jewelry firm in Hartford under the name of M.W. Bassett Company. Later in life he was active in real estate
development in the town of Niantic.
Mr. Bassett, whose home during his later years was Wethersfield, was born in Bristol, Connecticut on December 26, 1871, son of Alonso and Mary S. (Webster) Bassett. He attended Bristol public schools and early showed an interest in the watchmaking and jewelry industry, graduating from Waltham Horological School where he learned thoroughly the trade of watchmaking. After graduation he spent a short time in the employee of a jewelry store in Bristol, after which he was for thirteen years associated with the firm of E. Gundlach and Company of Hartford. With ample experience and confidence in his abilities, he then established his own
retail jewelry firm under the name of M.W. Bassett Company, with headquarters at 1003-1005 Main Street in Hartford, and this business he conducted with notable success for over twenty-five years. His efforts resulted in the continuous expansion of the enterprise, and in its volume of trade.
In 1931, Mr. Bassett disposed of this prosperous business with the idea of devoting himself to the development of a considerable property he had acquired at Oswagatchie Hills in the Town of Niantic, Connecticut. There he built and sold a considerable number of summer cottages. Having spent many summers there himself and becoming very fond of the location, he put his best efforts into making this a pleasant, restricted residential community, and he had seen it grow to fair size before the limitations in building operations during World War II hampered his program. Although Mr. Bassett had long called building his hobby, it proved to be a rewarding and profitable full-time occupation.
Mr. Bassett was a member of the post of the Spanish-American War Veterans, having served in Company K, First Connecticut Volunteer Regiment, in the Cuban conflict. He was affiliated with the Free and Accepted Mason, had advanced to its higher bodies, and held the Thirty-second degree, being a member and past potentate of his temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In his political views he was a Republican.
On February 10, 1897, Merton W. Bassett married Lillian C. Johnson, daughter of Asahel M. and Nancy Johnson of Terryville, Connecticut. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Bassett made their home in Hartford, but after his retirement from the jewelry business, they removed to Wethersfield, which was their home for nearly a score of years. There the commercial leader and realtor died on January 25, 1950.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1871 - 1950 (78 years)