| Notes |
- 1860 Federal Census of 4th ward of Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama
Marie McCullough 19 F
Henry Bassett 3 M Pennsylvania
1900 Federal Census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA (2 Jun 1900)
Harry Bassett 45 M Mar 1855 PA PA PA Head Upholstery Goods
Emma 30 F May 1870 PA PA PA Wife
Henry B. 4 M May 1896 PA PA PA Son
Mary S. Leigh 50 F Feb 1850 PA PA PA Cousin
(Living at 1126 North 41st Street) (#298B12)
(Married 9 years, 1 child, 1 living; Mary married 20 years, 1 child, 1 living)
1910 Federal Census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA (18 Apr 1910)
Henry Bassett 53 M PA PA PA Head Merchant Upholstery
Emma 39 F PA PA PA Wife
Henry Jr. 13 M PA PA PA Son
John W. Leigh 52 M PA PA PA Cousin Clerk Upholstery Store
Alfred B. 29 M PA PA PA Cousin Clerk Upholstery Store
Mary S. (Wd) 62 F PA PA PA Cousin
Katherine J. Brennan 25 F IR IR IR Servant Servant Private Family
(Living at 1126 W. 41st Street)
1920 Federal Census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA (24 Jan 1920)
Henry Bassett 62 M PA PA PA Head Merchant Upholstery
Emma C. 47 F PA PA PA Wife
Pearl Brown B 28 F VA VA VA Servant Waitress private family
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PENNSYLVANIA BIOGRAPHY, by Ernest Spofford (192
Bassett, Henry - Business man.
Among widely known business men of Philadelphia must be numbered Henry
Bassett, president and director of Bassett, McNab Company, Incorporated.
Anything that makes for the advancement of Philadelphia finds in Mr. Bassett a
warm supporter, and he is a welcome figure in her club circle
Henry Bassett, was born in Philadelphia, March 29, 1857, son of Jacob
Keen and Elizabeth (Burt) Bassett. He received his education in the schools of
Philadelphia and Eastern Maryland. He began the business of life as a farm boy
on a farm on the Eastern Shore, Maryland, continuing in this work until the
age of sixteen. Henry Bassett, his grandfather, emigrated from Philadelphia,
going to Mobile, Alabama, where he entered the shipbuilding business on his
own account. Jacob Keen Bassett, father of Henry Bassett, went South and
started with his father and was there one year when he and his wife died of
yellow fever. Henry Bassett was raised by his grandfather, until the age of
nine, when he was sent to Philadelphia, where he lived with his uncle, Clement
Keen, finally going to Holmesburg, Philadelphia. Here he remained with Henry
Weed for two years and later went to Isaac Overdorf, an uncle, in Burlington,
New Jersey, for six months and thence to the farm at Longwood, Maryland, where
he remained for seven years, finally taking up his residence with Mrs.
Benjamin E. Mahan, his sister, in Wilmington, Delaware, where he remained for
four years, then returning to Philadelphia. Here he learned the trade of
upholstering, and in 1882 came with the present house, then known as Brown,
DeTurck and Company, which name was changed later to DeTurk, Bassett &
Company, at which time Mr. Bassett became a partner. In 1902 the firm name was
changed again to Bassett, McNab & Company, and was incorporated January 1,
1921, as Bassett, McNab Company, Incorporated, with Mr. Bassett as its first
president, and office, with that of director, he still holds. A man of action
rather than words, he has ever demonstrated his public spirit by actual
achievements that have advanced the wealth and prosperity of his city. The
upholstery house which he heads, and has largely aided in making one of the
largest of its kind in the United States, has offices in Paris, New Yor
Chicago and Los Angeles, the headquarters being, of course, Philadelphia. Its
great growth has been chiefly due to the vision, foresight and aggressiveness
of Mr. Bassett.
Politically, Mr. Bassett is a Republican, but has never accepted
office. Of genial personality, he holds membership in various clubs, among
them the Union League and Philadelphia Country, of Philadelphia; the Ocean
City Fishing and Ocean City Yacht, of Ocean City, New Jersey, and the Seaview
Gold, of Absecon, New Jersey. Fraternally, he is identified with the Masonic
fraternity, being a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 52, Free and Accepted Masons;
Oriental Chapter, No. 183, Royal Arch Masons; Mary Commandery, No. 36, Knights
Templar, and a member of Lulu Temple. For a number of years Mr. Bassett was a
member of Company C, First Regiment, National Guard, Pennsylvania and is now a
member of the First Regiment, Veteran Corps.
The personality of Henry Bassett gives assurance of the force of
character and vigor of mentality which his career has shown him to possess.
Progressiveness is a part of his being, and he keeps step with all that is
new, but no man perceives more clearly the dividing line between courage and
rashness. His nature is kindly and genial, he makes friends and holds them,
and in appearance and manner he is a true type of the broad-gauge business man
of Philadelphia.
On November 25, 1890, in Philadelphia, Mr. Bassett married Emma
Cecelia Shaw. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett are the parents of a son: Henry Bassett,
Jr.; born May 18, 1896, educated at and a graduate of Episcopal Academy, then
attended the Wharton School of Finance, of the University of Pennsylvania; now
in business with his father, being secretary and director of Bassett, McNab
Company, Incorporated; married Dorothy Fisher Morris, and they are the parents
of two sons (twins) and a daughter: Henry Bassett, born May 24, 1922; Robert
Morris Bassett, born May 24, 1922; and Ann Bassett, born August 30, 1924.
Henry Bassett's career may be summed up in one word - success - the
result of his own unaided efforts. Throughout his career he has been animated
by the spirit of progress, ever pressing forward and seeking to make the good
better and the better best. Happily gifted in manner, disposition and taste,
enterprising and original in ideas, personally liked most by those who know
him best, and as frank in declaring his principles as he is sincere in
maintaining them, his career has been a well-rounded one, and has add
worthy page to the business annals of Philadelphia. Mr. Bassett's portrait
appears with this account.
Henry Bassett
PHILADELPHIA - Sept. 27. Henry Bassett, well known in the upholstery
trade here, died today at the home of his son, Henry Bassett Jr., in
Wynnefield, after an illness of more than a year. He was 75 years old.
Formerly the head of Bassett, McNab Company, he was a member of the Uni
League the Elks and several Masonic orders. He leaves his wife and a son.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1857 - 1932 (75 years)