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- Portrait and Biographical Record of Arizona
Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago (1901)
Josiah S. Bassett
That Mr. Bassett is one of the most enterprising farmers of the Gila valley is a distinct evidence of his indomitable perserverance. Many discouraging trials have come his way, and many obstacles presented themselves, the surmounting of which would have formed to the average a bar to any kind of headway. The family of which he is a member were for years identified with the best agricultural interests of Arkansas, in which state he was born April 18, 1838. His parents, T.J. and Sarah Bassett, were also born in Arkansas, and the father eventually died within twenty miles of the scene of his birth. The mother subsequently removed to Texas, and after a long and useful life died in Fort Worth. Josiah S. was about sixteen when he went to Texas and became interested in farming, and for a long period was engaged in the same occupation. In order to better his condition he resolved upon an overland journey to Arizona, and the expedition remains to this day a memory replete with horror and ever-present danger and death. The Indians still regarded the plains and mountains as their undisputed possession, and gave the pale-faced intruders anything but a hearty welcome. Every day witnessed the murder of travelers, and the little expedition came upon many bodies of the slain. Some were burned and some were not, but the whole way was a terrible reminder of a possible ignominious fate.
Arriving at Safford, Arizona, Mr. Bassett found but two white families there, and very little improvement as yet effected. He began to till the soil with moderate success, and then removed to Dos Cabezos, where he engaged in the cattle business, and also had the mail route between Fort Bowie and the Cherry Cow mountains. In the former occupation he was interested for four years, and was mail carrier for six years. Upon selling out his interests at Dos Cabezos he removed thirty-five miles southwest to the Hot Springs, where he farmed, and then located sixty miles below Phoenix. There he engaged in an unfortunate undertaking, the construction of the Bassett ditch, which consumed four years of time and all the money he had, but was swept away by floods.
Following this discouraging experience Mr. Bassett went to Phoenix, where he lived for five years, during which time he was in poor health, and labored at a disadvantage. Nevertheless he took the mail contract from Phoenix to Buckeye, and continued in that capacity for four years. At the end of that time he came to Gila valley, which has since been his home. For a year he rented a farm, and then bought forty acres half way between Solomonville and Safford, where he still lives, although the place has since been sold to his son. He has since purchased what is known as the Olney ranch, one-half mile north of Solomonville on the river.
Interested in mining, Mr. Bassett owns claims in the Clarke and Lone Star district. He also owns one of the largest marble mines that has ever been located, at Dos Cabezos. He was disappointed in what seemed a lucky disposition of the property in 1899 for $100,000 which deal fell through owing to the failure of a bank.
In 1842 Mr. Bassett married Susie Gibbs, and of this union there are six children: Mrs. Elizabeth Teal; Charles H., who lives at Dos Cabezos; Josiah, who is a farmer near Phoenix; Mrs. Susan L. Cooper; Mrs. George Nash; and Alice, who is living at home. In national politics Mr. Bassett is a firm believer in the principles and issues of the Democratic party, and has served for several years as a school trustee. During the Civil War he enlisted in Gould's Regiment, Twenty-third Cavalry, Confederate States of America, but served only three months, owing to the bite of a rattlesnake. As a reminder of his short war service he was troubled for sixteen years with a running sore.
1850 Federal Census of Missouri Township, Pike County, Arkansas (30 Nov 1850)
Thomas Bassett - 32 - M - Arkansas - Wheel Right
Sarah - 30 - F - Arkansas
Josiah - 13 - M - Arkansas
Eliza - 10 - F - Arkansas
Polly C. - 8 - F - Arkansas
Rachel L. - 6 - F - Arkansas
William H. - 4 - M - Arkansas
Andrew J. - 3 - M - Arkansas
John T. - 2/12 - M - Arkansas
1870 Federal Census of Spring Hill, Navarro County, Texas
Josiah Bassett - 32 - M - Arkansas - Farmer 1200 700
Susan - 20 - F - Missouri - Keeping House
Liza Ann - 5 - F - Texas
Jas. Henry - 3 - M - Texas
Joseph - 3/12 - M - Texas
Living next door
Sarah A. Bassett - 49 - F - Arkansas
Robt - 15 - M - Arkansas
Rufus - 14 - M - Arkansas
James - 14 - M - Arkansas
Living next door
Andrew J. Bassett - 24 - M - Arkansas - Farmer
Mary - 31 - F - Arkansas - Keeping House
E. - 16 - F - Arkansas
William H. - 7 - M - Texas
Missouri - 3 - F - Texas
Sarah - 7/12 - F - Texas
Mary Servis - 63 - F - Missouri
1880 Federal Census of Cebasas, Pima County, Arizona (Jun 1880)
Josiah Bassett - 42 - M - AR----TN - Head
Sarah - 31 - F - MO-MO-MO - Wife
Lizzie - 14 - F - TX-AR-MO - Daughter
James - 12 - M - TX-AR-MO - Son
Josiah - 10 - M - TX-AR-MO - Son
Ella - 6 - F - TX-AR-MO - Daughter
Edda - 1 - F - AZ-AR-MO - Daughter
1900 Federal Census of Solomonvlle, Graham County, Arizona (7 Jun 1900)
Joseph S. Bassett - 62 - M - Apr 1838 - AR-AR-AR - Head - Farmer
Susan - 52 - F - May 1848 - MO-MO-MO - Wife
Alice - 18 - F - Oct 1881 - AR-AR-MO - Daughter - At School
Albert N. Lyall - 10 - M - Apr 1890 - AR-CA-TX - Grdson - At School
(Married 36 years, 7 children, 6 living)
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Bassett Family Association Database
1838 - 1906 (68 years)
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