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- 3B325437. David Edwin Bassett, son of Loren Elias and Hulda Dimrus (Vaughn) Bassett, was born 9 Oct 1846 in Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois. He died 17 Feb 1935 in Basin, Big Horn County, Wyoming. He married Eliza Jane Atkinson, daughter of Alfred John and Ann (Botting) Atkinson, on 9 Apr 1867 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. She was born 22 Jul 1852 in Bermondsey, Surrey, England. She died 26 Feb 1934 in Basin, Big Horn County, Wyoming. They are both buried in the Iona-Kane Cemetery, Big Horn County, Wyoming.
Eliza Jane sailed for America with her family in March of 1855. They settled in Millcreek, Salt Lake County, Utah. In 1857 they moved to Mendon, Utah, where, later, she met and married Edwin Bassett. After several moves they made Clarkston, Utah their home, where they had a nice dairy farm. Eliza became very proficient in making butter and cheese. She carded and spun wool and wove it into cloth for her husband's suits and shirts.
David Edwin also married Emily Ann Atkinson, sister to Eliza Jane, on 25 Oct 1869 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. Emily was born 28 Jan 1855 in Egham, Berkshire, England. She died 30 Mar 1924 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, Idaho.
In 1886 Edwin took a contract to build part of the railroad from Frannie to Thermopolis, Wyoming, and Eliza boarded 15 men. They worked two summers, living in tents. In the winter they returned to Clarkston.
In 1889 David Edwin moved to Star Valley, Wyoming with Eliza Jane, leaving Emily Ann and her children behind for a time. His leaving Emily behind in Clarkston was most likely due to the threats of anti-polygamy raids from federal marshals. (See note below.) In 1899 David Edwin and Eliza Jane moved to the Big Horn Basin in northern Wyoming.
GIVEN NAME: He was given the name of Edwin Bassett at birth. When he married his second wife, Emily Ann, he used the name David to avoid prosecution by the fedral marshals. (See note on polygamy below.) Both names have continued, with the namd David often in parentheses.
1880 Federal Census of Clarkston, Cache County, Utah, En. Dist.13, p. 8 Taken 3rd - 4th June 1880
Edwin Bassett 33 M IL NY CN Head Farmer
Eliza Jane 26 F EN EN EN Wife Keeping House
Eliza Ann 9 F UT IL EN Daughter
Susan A. 7 F UT IL EN Daughter
Lucinda J. 4 F UT IL EN Daughter
Apleton H. 1 M UT IL EN Son
Emely 24 F EN EN EN Wife
Emely J. 7 F UT IL EN Daughter
C. Albert 4 M UT IL EN Son
Elena C. 2 F UT IL EN Daughter
Harlow F. Bassett 12 M UT IL UT Other Servant
Elizabeth Atkinson 16 F UT EN EN Sister-in-law
(Note: see also 1880 Census for Lorin and Emma Bassett. Harlow F is listed there also. He is a son of Loren Elias Jr. & Emma, and the nephew of Edwin.)
1900 Census of Cody, Big Horn, WY, En. Dist.72, p.16 (FHL film #1241826). Census taken 13 June 1900.
Bassett David E Head M Oct 1846 53 Married 33 yrs Illinois New York Penn Farmer
Bassett Eliza G Wife F Jul 1852 48 M 33 yrs 12 children 11 living Eng Eng Eng immigrated 1855
Bassett Appleton H Son M Oct 1878 21 S Utah Illinois England
Bassett David E Son M Oct 1880 19 S Utah Illinois England
Bassett Lucretia M Dau F June 1883 16 S Utah Illinois England
Bassett George R Son M Mar 1885 15 S Wyoming Illinois England
Bassett Nancy M Dau F Sep 1888 11 S Wyoming Illinois England
Bassett Harvy D Son M June 1891 8 S Wyoming Illinois England
Bassett Ona L Dau F Jan 1894 6 S Wyoming Illinois England
Bassett Herbert L Son M Feb 1898 2 S Wyoming Illinois England
1910 Census of Sarver Precinct, Big Horn, WY, En. Dist. 15, p. 13 (FHL film #1375758). Census taken 20 May 1910
Edwin Bassett Head, M W 64 M 43 years, Ill. NY Penn., farmer
Eliza Bassett Wife F W 57 M 43 years, mother of 12 children, 11 living Eng. Eng. Eng
Nancy M. Bassett Dau. F W 21, single, Wyo. Ill. Eng. working out as general houseworker
Harvy Bassett Son M W 18 single, Wyo. Ill. Eng. foreman at sheep ranch
Ona Bassett Dau. F W 15, single, Wyo. Ill. Eng.
Herbert Bassett Son M W 12, single Wyo. Ill. Eng. Farm laborar [sic] on home farm.
1930 Federal Census of Kane, Big Horn County, Wyoming (22 Apr 1930)
Edwin Bassett 84 M IL NY PA Head
Eliza 77 F EN EN EN Wife
(Married at 20 & 16)
Note: David Edwin Bassett participated in the practice of plural marriage that was promoted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) for a time in the early days of the Church. It was viewed as a divine commandment to “raise up seed unto God” and practiced by only 20% to 25% of the Mormon population. Only men who were called by those in authority were to practice it and only after obtaining the consent of the current wife. The “Manifesto” of 1890 ended this practice. (See Ludlow, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol. 3 (1992), pp. 1095, 1109). Polygamist marriages, like most marriages and families worked well in some cases and not so well in others. From accounts of the descendants of David Edwin Bassett, this plural marriage worked well. Ona Bassett Scott, the youngest daughter of David Edwin and Eliza Jane wrote this description of the families: “Sometime after Father and Mother were married, Father married Emily Ann, younger sister of Mother.... It has been said by families and by the older children who experienced it, that the home with the two families in it could not have been any more harmonious. They can’t remember a single harsh or angry word between the two mothers or the two sets of children. A child would mind one mother just as readily as the other. It was the Manifesto that separated the two families.” When this declaration from the Church ended the practice of plural marriage in 1890, those who were already married still faced possible prosecution from the federal marshals. This may be what made it necessary for Emily Ann and her children to stay behind when David Edwin and Eliza Jane moved on. Emily did have help from her parents family in raising her children. She was also skilled in domestic crafts and was able to support herself.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1846 - 1935 (88 years)