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- History of the State of California and Biographical Record of Coast Counties
By prof. J.M. Guinn, A.M. (1904)
David Bassett
For the past thirty-four years David Bassett had been a resident of the United States, during all of which time he has lived in the northern part of California, and has seen the deserts made to blossom and bear fruit under the unwearying labor of the men who came here to found homes for themselves and families. In this great work he has taken no small share, owning at different times a number of ranches which he cultivated and disposed of as he saw opportunities of bettering his financial condition. He has reside on his present place since September, 1895, and has one of the fine farms in Marin county. Mr. Bassett is of Welsh extraction, having been born in Wales on February 9, 1846. Until twenty-three years of age he remained at home, working at farming, becoming in that time eminently fitted to carry on a similar industry in the new country toward which he finally turned his footsteps in 1870. He made the trip to California without pause, locating first in Marin county, where he worked on a ranch six years, carefully laying aside his earnings. His first venture as a land owner was a dairy ranch which he first rented and then bought, selling it in 1879 at the time of his marriage, and renting a farm belonging to his brother, which he continued to operate until 1888. After that he rented the ranch which he now owns for about five years, going from it to the Bailey ranch on which he lived another five years. He spent four years in Petaluma, and finally in 1885 came back to his present place, which consists of one hundred and sixty-two acres, and which has continued to be his home since. Here he conducts a small dairy of thirty-five cows, has about six hundred chickens, and devoted a portion of his land to raising potatoes.
In 1879 Mr. Bassett was married to Alice J. Bailey, the second daughter of Robert Bailey, one of the California pioneers, a history of whose life will be found in the sketch of his son, Louis C., and another part of this work. Mrs. Bassett died December 19, 1898, at the age of forty-two years, seven months and twenty-seven days. The present Mrs. Bassett was before her marriage Miss Daisy Dye. The Bassett home is about a mile and a half from the town of Tomales, where both Mr. and Mrs. Bassett are very well known and liked. Politically Mr. Bassett is a believer in the principles of the Republican party, but has never at any time been an office seeker, his private interests requiring his whole attention. He command the respect and confidence of his business associates as an honest, straightforward gentleman, and good neighbor.
He was naturalized on 20 Aug 1875 in San Francisco, California. See a copy of his will below where he names dozens of relatives.
1870 Federal Census of Tomales Township, Marin County, CA (27 Jul 1870)
David Bassett 24 M Wales Farm laborer
Living with David Burbank and wife, a Dairy Farmer
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF DAVID BASSETT
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That I, DAVID BASSETT, a resident of the County of Los Angeles, State of California, over the age of seventy-eight years, of sound an disposing mind and memory, and not acting under duress, menace, fraud, nor undue influence of any person whomsoever, do hereby make, publish, and declare this as and for my Last Will and Testament.
FIRST: I declare that all my estate of every kind and character is my sole and separte estate, the same having been acquired by me prior to my marriage with my wife, Daisy D. Bassett.
SECOND: I hereby five, bequeath, and devise to my said wife DAISY D. BASSETT, absolutely and forever, the ranch I own consisting of about one hundred sixty-two and one-half acres near the Town of Tamles, County of Marin, State of California, together with all the personal property thereon.
THRID: The foregoing provision, and all other provisions in this Will to my said wife, are made in full satisfaction to her and shall be so received by her in lieu and in full satisfaction of all claims which she may have against my estate, as well as all rights which she may have as such surviving widow, including homestead, rights by succession, and every other right. In case she dot not abide and accept the terms of this will, then I leave her no portion of my estate.
FOURTH: all sums heretofore advanced to my wife, aggregating Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), I make no charge against her and waive all claim thereto on behalf of myself and my estate.
FIFTH: I hereby direct my executrix hereinfater named to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my demise as can be lawfully and conveniently done.
SIXTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to each of my nieces and nephews hereinafter named the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) each, to wit: Two nieces in Pennsylvania whose Last name before they married was Davis, but whose present names I do not know; LIZZIE DAY, MAGGIE THOMAS, KITTIE DAVIS, CASSIE DIAMOND, LIZZIE PRICE, WM. JOHN BASSETT, MOSES BASSETT, HATTIE WINN SALES, ELIZABETH BRENT, HENRY BASSETT, RALPH BASSETT, WINNIE SEEBE, FRANCIS BASSETT, and WM. THEODORE BASSETT.
SEVENTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my nephew HAROLD ROWAN, the sume of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.oo).
EIGHTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my niece, MARY I. LLEWELLYN, the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000).
NINTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my nephew, JOHN LLWEWLYYN, the sume of One Thousdand Dollars ($1,000.00).
TENTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my niece, KETHY LLEWELYYN, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
ELEVENTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my grand-nephew, WILLIE LLEWELYYN, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
TWELFTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my grand-niece, DAISY LLEWELLYN, the sum of One Thousand Dollars.
THIRTEENTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to R.H. BAILEY, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00).
FOURTEENTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the Trustees or Directors of the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TOMALES, Marin County, California, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) to be used by them for the benefit of said church.
FIFTEENTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my property, both real and personal, of whatever kind or character and wherever situated of which I may die possessed, to my wife, DAISY D. BASSETT, and to my nephew, HAROLD ROWAN, share and share alike.
SIXTEENTH: I hereby nominate and appoint my wife, DAISY D. BASSETT, as Executrix of this, my Last Will and Testament, to act as such without being required to give bond, and I hereby expressly authorize and empower my said exectrix, if she shall so elect, to continue and operate, during the probate administration of my estate, any business operation or enterprise in which I am interested at the time of my demise, all profits and losses therefrom belonging to and falling upon my estate and not upon my said exectrix personally, and also that she may sell, lease, or mortgage the whole or any portion of my estate, exept as hereine otherwise specifically devised, at either public or private sale, with or without notice, without securing any previous order of court therefor, and upon such terms and conditions as to her may seem best, but subject, however, to confirmation by court as provided by law.
LASTLY: I hereby revoke any and all other wills and codicls to wills made by me.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seatl this 2 day of January, 1929, at Long Beach, California.
DAVID BASSETT
The foregoing instrument, consisting of three pages, including this page signed by the testator, was at the date thereof by the said DAVID BASSETT signed, sealed, published, and declared to us to be his LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT in the presence of us, who, at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our named hereto as subscribing witnesses.
Ruth E. Allen, 501 E. 17th St., Long Beach, Calif.
Kennth Atkins, 514 F&M Bank Building, Long Beach, Calif.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1846 - 1930 (84 years)