| Notes |
- William's father died when he was little more than a year old. He then went to live with his grandfather, Peter Powers, with whom he remained during the greater part of his boyhood and youth. He went to Martin County, Minnesota in 1863. He was in the Battle of Shiloh, F Company, 16th Wisconsin Infantry, in the Civil War. He was wounded in the arm. His regiment lost 47 killed outright, 147 wounded, many of whom later died of their injuries, and 27 missing.
1850 Federal Census of Port Washington, Washington Co., Wisconsin (30 Sep 1850)
Wm. O. Bassett 35 M New York Farmer
Maria 32 F New York
Ashley 9 M New York
Mary 5 F New York
Jerome 4 M Wisconsin
1870 Federal Census of Tenhassen, Martin County, Minnesota (22 Jun 187
William Bassett 53 M New York Farmer 1500 341
Bertie M. 49 F New York
(Sons Ashley Marsh and Jerome are living on either side of him)
How This County Came to be - Martin County
Bassett
William Orlando Bassett was numbered among the early settlers of
Martin County, arriving in Tenhassen Township in 1863 where he began the
development of a farm, living in true pioneer style.
They had four children, one of which was Ashley M. Bassett, born July
1, 1840, and married Mary Garner. They had five children; William J. married
Katie Personius; Nellie, married George Champine; Ila, married Chester
Personius; Daisy, married Lever Champine, and Solomon C. who married May
Palmer.
I don't know much more of this family's older history and there is no
one left to ask. Written by Robert Champine.
OBITUARY OF WM. O. BASSETT
William Orland Bassett was born in Tompkins County, New York in 1815.
His father died when he was a little more than a year old and he then went to
live with his grandfather, Peter Powers, with whom he remained during h
boyhood and youth. The common schools of the neighborhood afforded him
educational privilege, and he made his first start in life at farm work.
Industry and perseverance were traits in his character which were early
manifested, and he worked long and earnestly to get a start in lif
In 1839 he was united in marriage to Katie Maria DeCondris and settled
in New York removing a few years later to Port Washington, Wisconsin and in
1863 he came to Martin County, Minnesota, settling on a homestead in Tenhassen
Township and for years enduring all the trials and hardships of a true pioneer
life. He lived on his farm thirty one years, transforming the raw prairie into
rich and fertile fields, literally making the desert to bud and blossom as the
rose.
In 1893 Mr. Bassett sold his farm and came to Fairmont with his wife
to reside, and after the latter's death (about two years ago) he made his home
with his son Ashley M. Bassett, where he died, on Tuesday, May 13 at the
advanced age of 87 years.
Besides his son and daughter, Mrs. W. C. Persons of Ceylon survive
him. Mr. Bassett was an honest upright independent man, and enjoyed the
respect and confidence of all who knew him. He loved his home, his country,
and his God. He showed his love of country by following the stars and stripes
through the struggle of the civil war. He was wounded at the Battle of Shilo
and carried the scar of the gunshot wound to his death.
He showed his love of God and his desire to please him by being a kind
husband, a good father and an accommodating neighbor. In all the relations of
life, whether a citizen, a soldier or a Christian, he was always faithful and
true. He was a man of the strictest integrity, genial and accommodating, and one
who made friends of all with whom he came in contact. He has passed to the
home beyond but his memory will live in the hearts of many who through his
influence and example were led to live higher and better lives.
Memorial Record of the Counties of Faribault, Martin, Watonwan and Jackson
By Solomon Canright (1895)
William Orlando Bassett, a retired farmer now living in Fairmont, is
numbered among the honored early settlers of Martin County, his residence here
covering a period of nearly a third of a century. He has therefore witnessed
the greater part of its development and progress, and has aided in its
upbuilding and advancement. The best interests of the community have ev
found in him a friend, and to such men the county owes its present prosperity.
Mr. Bassett is descended from an old New York family. His grandfather,
Isaac Bassett, lived for many years in Cortland, New York, and the father of
our subject, William Bassett, claimed Connecticut as the state of his
nativity. He was drafted for service in the war of 1812, but it was difficult
for him to go and he sent a substitute. He married Samantha Powers, a native
of Dutchess County, New York, and a daughter of Peter Powers, a local
Methodist preacher. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bassett was celebrated in the
State of their birth, and there the father died November 5, 1816, at the age
of twenty-eight years, his birth having occurred January 17, 1787. His wife
was born September 2, 1789. After her husband's death she lived with her
family in Tompkins County, New York, rearing her children as best she might,
although her financial resources were somewhat limited. Her last days were
passed in Middleville, Michigan, at the home of her son, Charles Wesley, and
she was called to her final rest when more than sixty years of age. In the
family were four children, George, Charles and Nelson, all now deceased, and
William O., whose name heads this record.
The last named was born October 18, 1815 in Tompkins County, New York,
and when he was little more than a year old his father died. He then went to
live with his grandfather, Peter Powers, with whom he remained during t
greater part of his boyhood and youth. The common schools of the neighborhood
afforded him his educational privileges, and he made his first independent
effort in life at farm work, being employed as a farm hand for several years.
His industry and perseverance, which have been important factors in his life's
success, were early manifested, and he worked long and earnestly to g
start in life.
On the 1st of January, 1839, Mr. Bassett was united in marriage with
Miss Katie Marie De Coudress, a native of Dryden, Cortland County, New York,
and a daughter of Christian and Katie (Powers) De Coudress, the former a
native of France and the latter of Dutchess County, New York. Their marriage
was celebrated in the Empire State and they located in Dutchess County,
removing thence to Dryden. On leaving the East they became residents of
Wisconsin, the date of their emigration being 1851. They settled in Port
Washington, where both died of cholera. In their family were nine children,
including Mrs. Bassett, who was born March 31, 1818. To our subject and his
wife have been born four children, as follows: Ashley M., born July 1, 1840,
wedded Mary Garner and they have five living children: William J., who married
Katie Presonius; Nellie, wife of George Champine, by whom she has two
children, Mabel and Sybil; Ila Maud, wife of Chester Personius; Daisy Dean,
wife of Leaver Champine, by whom she has two children, Ashley and Madeline;
and Solomon C., who married May Palmer. Jerome, the second of the family, is
now deceased. Mary Iantha, born March 31, 1844, is the wife of Walter Person,
and their children, four in number, are: Katie, wife of William Beach and the
mother of five children - May, Carrie, Earl, Burns and Linn; Annie, wife of
Frank Rooney, by whom she has two children, Frank and Tressa; Burns and Jesse,
both at home. Jerome, born January 23, 1847, married Sophia Nichols and
afterward wedded I.N. Drake; his five children are: Annie, wife of George Clark
and the mother of four children - Georgianna, Harry, Archie and Rosie; George;
Frederick; and Ada P., who married James Lampord, and has a daughter, Miriam
Alice. Jessie completes the Bassett family.
Upon his marriage Mr. Bassett, whose name heads this article, located
in New York, removing after a few years to Port Washington, Wisconsin, where
he made his home until 1863, which year witnessed his arrival in Martin
county. He settled in Tenhassen township and began the development of a farm,
living in true pioneer style. The few settlers of the locality were widely
scattered and the people were quite fearful of the Indians about the time of
his arrival. He broke his land and transformed the raw prairie into rich and
fertile fields, also added many improvements to the place in the way of good
buildings and the other accessories of a model farm. He lived on the farm for
thirty-one years, successfully conducting and managing his business affairs,
and then removed to Fairmont, where he has since lived a retired life,
enjoying a well-earned rest and the fruits of his former toi
During the late war Mr. Bassett responded to his country's call for
troops, thus manifesting his loyalty to the Union and the northern cause. He
was assigned to Company F, Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and at the battle of
Shiloh was seriously wounded by a gunshot in the right forearm, which disabled
him for further duty, and in consequence of his physical disability he was
honorably discharged in Madison, Wisconsin. He is now a member of the Grand
Army Post of Fairmont. When the Republican party was formed to prevent the
further extension of slavery he joined its ranks and is still one of its
stalwart supporters. He has served as Supervisor of Tenhassen Township, but
has never aspired to public office, preferring to give his entire time to his
business interests. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm
friend, and he gave land on which to build a schoolhouse. The best interests
of the community have ever received his earnest support and co-operation, and
he is widely recognized as a wide-awake, progressive citizen.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1815 - 1903 (87 years)