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- Jonathan Henry Bassett was a newspaper publisher and editor.
1870 Federal Census of Arcola, Douglas County, Illinois (9 Jul 1870)
W.J. Bassett - 39 - M - Kentucky - Farmer
Helen - 29 - F - Kentucky - Keeping House
John - 9 - M - Illinois
1900 Federal Census of Bourbon Township, Douglas County, Illinois (7 Jul 1900)
John H. Bassett - 38 - Jul 1861 - M - IL-KY-KY - Head - Editor
Maggie - 25 - Apr 1875 - F - IL-IL-MD - Wife
Bessie - 3 - Aug 1896 - F - IL-IL-IL - Daughter
Martin - 2 - Sep 1897 - M - IL-IL-IL - Son
Mary - 1 - Feb 1899 - F - IL-IL-IL - Daughtr
(Married 5 years, 3 children, 3 living)
1910 Federal Census of Pontiac, Livingstone County, Illinois (19 Apr 1910)
John H. Bassett - 48 - M - IL-KY-KY - Head - Printer State Reformatory
Margaret - 35 - F - IL-IL-IL - Wife
Bessie J. - 14 - F - IL-IL-IL - Daughter
Martin J. - 12 - M - IL-IL-IL - Son
Mary L. - 10 - F - IL-IL-IL - Daughter
Margaret W. - 8 - F - IL-IL-IL - Daughter
Katherine - 6 - F - IL-IL-IL - Daughter
Charles A. - 4 - M - IL-IL-IL - Son
(2nd marriage for John, married 15 years, 6 children, 6 living)
County of Douglas, Illinois (1884)
The Arcola Record, the first newspaper to appear in the city, was inaugurated under the auspices of the Sellars Brothers of Tuscola in 1866 - the enterprise having been instituted by the subscription of liberal-minded citizens, without regard to political affinities; it was an indepdendent paper until the plant was bought by John M. Gruelle, which occurred soon after it was fairly started. For about seventeen years, Mr. Gruelle conducted it as an advocate of Republican principles, during which time, by close attention to the business interests of the office, and a due regard for those of his adopted county and city, he merited and received a fair share of success. He died in Arcola on the 23rd of October, 1883, in the prime of life, after nearly a year's illness. The paper is continued under the management of W.H. and J.H. Bassett, lessees, and bids fair to maintain its high character.
Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois
J.H. Bassett
J.H. Bassett is the editor and proprietor of the Arthur Graphic, which he bought and took charge of October 1, 1899. The paper was founded in April, 1887, by T.J. Haney, and was edited and owned by him until he sold it to Mr. Bassett. In 1883 he bought the Arcola Record, which he ran until 1886, when he sold it to P.L. Henry. Mr. Bassett was three years and a half in the public printing office at Washington, under the administration of President Harrison, at the end of which time he re-signed and came home. In 1891 he and his father then again purchased the Record and ran it until 1895, selling to B.F. Wamsley. In 1897 he and his brother, M.H. Bassett, who owned the Mattoon Daily Journal, again purchased the Record and Mr. Bassett had sole charge of the paper until January 1, 1899, when the paper was sold to Nathan Collins and son. The Arthur Graphic was originally a five-column newspaper, but has recently been made six by the present proprietor, who has in other ways overhauled the paper and office and considerably increased the circulation.
Mr. Bassett was born Arcola Township, this County, July 19, 1861. In 1882 he married Miss Nora Perkins, who died in 1887. To this union was born one child, Nellie. He again married, in 1895, Miss Maggie Degnan, of Springfield, Illinois, becoming his wife. To them three children have been born, Bessie, Martin and Mary. The Arthur Graphic has a circulation of about five hundred, is well edited and is a very popular local newspaper.
Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois
Sunday, June 4, 1939
John H. Bassett5 Dies At Residence
Held State Position For Many Years
John Henry Bassett, cost expert in the state division of printing from 1917 to 1933 and for many years associated with newspapers in various parts of the middle west, died at 3:05 p.m. yesterday at his home, 106 West Edwards street. He was 77 years old.
Mr. Bassett suffered a stroke of paralysis last Dec. 28 and had been bedfast since that time. He grew increasingly weaker and last Wednesday lapsed into unconsciousness, remaining in a coma until death came.
He was a native of Arcola, where he was born July 19, 1861, a son of Judge and Mrs. W.H. Bassett. He came from a family of printers and newspapermen, his father, brothers and three uncles having followed that profession.
Mr. Bassett first was employed on the Arcola Record and later was connected with newspapers at Worthington, Minn., Oakland, Ill., Indianapolis, Ind., and Charleston, Ill. He was with the government printing office in Washington, D.C., for three years.
He was owner of the Arthur Graphic, at Arthur, Ill., from 1898 to 1905 when appointed superintendent of the print shop at the Pontiac state reformatory. In 1916 he came to Springfield and was employed in the division of printing from July, 1917, until April, 1933, when he retired because of ill health.
While connected with the Graphic at Arthur, Mr. Bassett worked in the office of the clerk of the house of representatives when that body was in session, making official records, in 1901, 1903 and 1905. Later he served in this position again from 1915 to 1932.
Mr. Bassett was a member of the Masonic lodge and the Knights Templar.
He is survived by his wife, the former Margaret Degnan of Springfield; two sons, Charles, city, and Martin, Oak Park; five daughters, Mrs. Margaret Morrow, Mrs. Kathryn Woodruff, Mrs. Joseph N. Kern and Mrs. Lee Grubb, all of Springfield; Mrs. Curt Thornton, Chicago; a nephew, W. H. Bassett, Tulsa, Okla.; four grandchildren, Jack Kern, Enos Thornton, Robert Thornton and Kathryn Bassett, a great-grandchild, Janice Thornton.
Remains were removed to the Bisch Memorial home.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1861 - 1939 (77 years)