| Notes |
- History of New Haven County, Connecticut, John L. Rockey, 1918
Robert N. Bassett, manufacturer, Birmingham, Conn., was born in the town of Derby August 8th, 1821, and is the son of David Bassett, who is remembered with honor by his townsmen. He was a distinguished citizen, who carried out the golden rule as closely as illustrations are found in human life. His son, Robert N., has inherited in large measure the qualities of his father, and is held in the community in like esteem. He succeeded to the business of his father, that of auger making, but the demands of trade brought about changes, and now he manufactures corset clasps, bone wire and skirt wire. His manufacturing plant is located on the bank of the Housatonic river, and covers a plot of ground 85 by 368 feet. A large force of workmen is constantly employed turning out the products of the factory. Some of the workmen have been in Mr. Bassett's employ more than a quarter of a century. So unusually kind and confiding is the relation of all the employees to the employer that no workman has anything but love and esteem to express toward the generous employer. Mr. Bassett is very generous in his treatment of all, very considerate of their well-being, and seems never to forget what he would like if he were in their place. Hence there is no danger of a strike in Mr. Bassett's factory. This mutual trust and consideration has created a very pleasant feeling throughout the factory, especially between the employer and those who have been longest in his employ; so that the situation in this respect is as nearly ideally perfect as either the labor agitator or Christianity can hope to create. The manner of life which has made Mr. Bassett so much a favorite in his factory has made him a favorite in the town where he lives. A little incident illustrates the general feeling. One of the sick whom he visited was a little boy. When the lad was recovering Mr. Bassett took him to ride in his carriage. In after years he was heard to say, "he wished he had a million; he would give half of it to Mr. Bassett." Mr. Bassett's wealth, family history and social position give him prominence where they should, but the poor, as the rich, speak of him in terms of neighborly love and honor. He is affable to all, he is generous to every good object, subscribing a leading sum often, and clean of character as he is honest of purpose. A large business has brought him into contact with many prominent business men, while his hearty, generous nature has made him foremost in many of the best enterprises of his generation. The soldiers found him to be their friend in need, and when Governor Buckingham called a conference upon military matters of Connecticut representative men during the dark days of the rebellion, Mr. Bassett was invited from Derby. It is proper
to say just here that the material for this sketch, as the material for so
many others, came from the neighbors of the subject. A character becomes measured quite accurately by life-long neighbors, and in the community where he has lived.
Of business positions besides his own manufactory, Mr. Bassett has
been president of the Derby Savings Bank, director of the Birmingham
National Bank, president of the Derby Rubber Company, director of
the Ousatonic Water Company for several years and president of the
Derby Comb Company.
He has steadily and quite persistently refused political honor, but
in 1863 allowed his townsmen to elect him to the legislature, and some
local responsibilities have been thrust upon him which he could not
turn aside. His religious faith is that of his family history, the Congregationalism and he has been an officeholder for the society for
many years.
He married October 5th, 1842, Miss Elizabeth S. Downs, of Derby,
and his family includes two daughters, Miss Mary E. Bassett and Mrs.
Jennie B. Sawyer, of Derby.
Robert N. Bassett and Elizabeth A. Downs were married on 5 Oct 1842 by the Reverend H. Read.
New Haven Register, Monday, Decembver 5, 1892
Well Known People Dead
Robert N. Bassett of Derby died yesterday, aged 72 years. He was taken sick last Wednesday with peritonitis. He was a manufacturer of corset steels and had a factory in Birmingham. He was an attendant of the First Congregational church in Derby. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett celebrated their golden wedding October 5 last. A widow and two daughters survive the deceased.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York
Thursday, August 15, 1935
Miss Mary Bassett
Miss Mary Elizabeth Bassett, 90, died yesterday at the home of her niece, Mrs. Frederick S. Martyn of 108 Lincoln Road, after an illness of several months. She had lived in Brooklyn since 1899. Miss Bassett was born in Derby, Connecticut, and was descended from the old Colonial stock. Her father, the late Robert N. Bassett, was a prominent manufacturer in Derby. No immediate relatives survive her. Services and interment will be in Derby tomorrow.
The History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut - 1642-1800
By Samuel Orcutt, Ambrose Beardsley
Further Sketches
David Bassett was born in Derby, 1789, was a blacksmith by trade, and one of the pioneer manufacturers of the town. He leased the privilege of building a dam on Beaver Brook in 1831, and afterwards built his auger factory at this place, now Ansonia. Prior to this, Walter French, at Humphreysville, a local Methodist preacher, made augers, and is believed to have been the first auger maker in Connecticut. In 1836 Mr. Bassett at Birmingham manufactured augers in connection with Eleazor Peck, which he carried on very successfully for many years, when he retired, leaving the business in the hands of his son, Robert N. Bassett. Mr. Bassett also established the coal trade in Derby, and many of our citizens will remember how faithfully he served the public with honest coal at $3 a ton. He was one of the substantial, influential, upright men of the town; was its Representative in the Legislature in 1844, deacon in his church (Congregational) for many years, and died full of honors, deeply lamented, at the advanced age of 83 years.
Robert N. Bassett, his son, has been one of our stirring, public spirited and liberal men, and was very active in pushing forward the Ousatonic dam, besides being largely interested in many popular movements and enterprises of the day. During the Rebellion no man in Derby was more active and patriotic in the right direction than Robert N. Bassett. In the glow of his financial prosperity, the poor will long remember his liberal donation to them in their necessities. He represented Derby in the Legislature in 1863, besides filling many offices of trust.
1850 Federal Census of Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut (16 Aug 1850)
Henry Downs - 54 - M - Connecticut - Merchant 2000
Sally J. - 46 - F - Connecticut
Robert N. Bassett - 29 - M - Connecticut
Elizabeth A. - 29 - F - Connecticut
Mary E. - 5 - F - Connecticut
Emma J. - 2 - F - Connecticut
1860 Federal Census of Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut (11 Jul 1860)
Sally Smith - 78 - F - Connecticut 300 ---
R.N. Bassett - 39- M - Connecticut - Hoop Skirts
Elizabeth - 39 - F - Connecticut
Mary - 15 - F - Connecticut
Jane - 12 - F - Connecticut
Catharine Hotchkiss - 22 - F - Connecticut
Merritt - 20 - M - Connecticut
Margaret Meens - 21 - F - Ireland
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1821 - 1892 (71 years)