Bassett Family Newsletter, Volume XVIII, Issue 1, 26 Jan 2020

(1) Welcome (2) New book on the Basset family of (3) Obituary for Edwin Russell Bassett of New Jersey (4) Dennis L. Bassett of Bassett Trucking from Wauzeka, Wisconsin (5) Norman Douglas Bassett book donation (6) Update on Russell Bassett, Actor (7) Obituary for Floyd Francis Bassett Jr. of Maryland (8) New family lines combined or added since the last newsletter (9) DNA project update

Section 1 - Welcome

No new trees were added to the Bassett website database since the last newsletter:

Family Tree DNA has now decreased the cost of the Y-DNA test to $119. This is the new price going forward. If anyone is interested in doing the test, you can visit their webpage at www.familytreedna.com or contact me to help get a kit ordered.

Totals number of individuals loaded into the Bassett website: 170,709

* * * * * Section 2 – Featured Bassett: New Book on the Basset family of Umberleigh

In September of 2019, I included a link to a book written about John Basset of Umberleigh The link for that article is below. http://www.bassettbranches.org/newsblog/a-novel-that-includes-john-basset-of-umberleigh/

This month I want to announce a follow up to that first book, this one featuring Nora Basset, daughter of John. Included below is a picture and description of this book.

https://www.youcaxton.co.uk/mistress-whiddon/

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Section 3 – Featured Bassett: Obituary for Edwin Russell Bassett of New Jersey

Edwin Russell Bassett descends from #4 William Bassett of Connecticut as follows:

William Bassett and wife Sarah Burt Elisha Bassett (b. 1649) and wife Elizabeth Collins Elisha Bassett (b. 1692) and wife Abigail Davis Elisha Bassett (b. 1722) and wife Elizabeth Davis Joseph Bassett (b. 1765) and wife Mary Allen Elisha Bassett (b. 1788) and wife Mary Nicholson David Bassett (b. 1814) and wife Mary Smith Charles Edwin Bassett (b. 1839) and wife Marianna Griscom Frederick Bassett (b. 1870) and wife Nella Edwin Russell Bassett Edwin Russell Bassett Jr.

South Jersey Times, January 19, 2020 Edwin Russell Bassett Jr. (Picture included) Mannington, New Jersey

Edwin Russell Bassett, Jr., 83 years old, of Mannington passed away on January 16, 2020. Russ was born in Salem, NJ in 1936 and attended the Salem schools graduating in 1955. He attended Wesley College in Dover, DE and was in the class of 1957. Russ excelled in football, basketball, and track in college. He won a medal in the Penn Relays College Division in 1957. He also attended Davis and Elkins College. He joined the United States Marines Corps in 1958 and was assigned to the Special Warfare Amphibious Group in Little Creek, VA where he also spent time as a bodyguard and driver for 3 Navy Admirals. Russ was a longtime member of the Salem Country Club and the Washington Club. He served as Salem County Chairman of Ducks Unlimited in the 1960's and 1970's and then as Tri-County Chairman of Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland Counties. He was then made New Jersey State Vice Chairman and served one year as New Jersey State Chairman. Russ was a birthright Quaker and belonged to the Salem Monthly Meeting of Friends. He served two different terms as a trustee. He also enjoyed serving on the Board of Managers of Friends Village for 16 years. Russ loved all types of hunting, especially for ducks and geese and he trapped for years in Mannington. He and his son kept their fishing boat near the Delaware Bay where it was enjoyed by the entire family. Russ also enjoyed long distance roller blading well into his seventies and biked throughout Salem County. Earlier he enjoyed long distance running and ran many races in the Tri-State area for 45 years. Russ spent 30 plus years with Southern Wine and Spirits, formerly known as Delaware Importers, a wholesale liquor and wine distributor in Wilmington, DE. He was a salesman before being promoted to Merchandise Manager in 1988. As a boy, he was one of the first members of the Salem Boat Club in the early 1950's and helped in the construction of the original boat basin. He also drove a crash boat for the races at Oakwood Beach and was responsible for rescuing a drowning racer from his submerged boat. Russ played the snare drum in the Salem American Legion Band from 1951 to 2002 and marched in local parades. Periodically he enjoyed playing drums with the local band the Crescent City Stompers. Russ married the former Joanne Butcher from Salem and they had two children; Kimberly Patricia Whitehead (Husband Larry) of Odessa, DE and Edwin Russell Bassett III (Wife MaryBeth) of Shamong, NJ and had two grandchildren Ryan William Bassett and Emily Margaret Bassett. He was predeceased by his parents Edwin Russell Bassett Sr. of Salem and Elma Allen Bassett of Shiloh. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 from 6 to 8 PM at Adams Funeral Home, 64 Broad Street, Woodstown, NJ 08098. There will be a memorial service on Thursday, January 23rd at 11 AM at Salem Friends Meeting House, 200 East Broadway, Salem, NJ 08079. A reception will follow the service in the Friends' annex. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Friends Village at Woodstown, Attn: Arianne Hegeman, 1 Friends Drive, Woodstown, NJ 08098.

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Section 4 – Featured Bassett: Dennis L. Bassett of Bassett Trucking from Wauzeka, Wisconsin

Dennis L. Bassett is a son of Frank Bassett and Laura Kuchenbecker. Frank Bassett had not yet been identified.

To read more about the history of Bassett Trucking, click on the link below. http://www.bassetttrucking.com/history.html

Image from the Bassett Trucking website

Madison, Wisconsin, 24 Jul 2005 Dennis L. Bassett

WAUZEKA - Dennis L. Bassett, age 69, of Wauzeka, passed away unexpectedly Friday, July 22, 2005, at the Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital. He was born Oct. 16, 1935, the son of Frank and Laura (Kuchenbecker) Bassett. He served in the U.S. Army. He married Norma Jean Fillbach on June 3, 1961. She preceded him in death on March 9, 1978. He later married Joyce Rice on Feb. 15, 1997. Denny began his career as owner of Bassett Trucking in 1961 and was very active until his death. He loved his pets, hunting and fishing. He enjoyed visiting with the "Good Old Boys," while sipping on a cold one at his shop. He is survived by his wife, Joyce of Wauzeka; a son, Michael (fiancee, Tina Dryer) of Wauzeka; a brother, Terry Geisler of Wauzeka; along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be Monday, July 25, 2005, at 1 p.m. at the Garrity Funeral Home Chapel, the Rev. Stuart Allen will officiate with burial in the Wauzeka Cemetery, Wauzeka. Military rites will be accorded graveside by the Wauzeka American Legion. Friends may call on Sunday, July 24, 2005, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Monday from noon until the time of services at the funeral home.

* * * * * Section 5 – Featured Bassett: Norman Douglas Bassett book donation

Norman Douglas Bassett descends from #4 William Bassett of Connecticut as follows:

William Bassett and wife Sarah Burt William Bassett (b. 1647) and wife Sarah Hood John Bassett (b. 1682) and wife Abigail Berry Daniel Bassett and wife Lydia Hood John Bassett (b. 1739) and wife Ruth Newhall Daniel Bassett (b. 1773) and wife Abigail Bean Joel Bean Bassett (b. 1817) and wife Aurelia Bernard Carpenter William Lincoln Bassett (b. 1885) Norman Douglas Bassett

To read the original article on Norman Douglas Bassett, click on the link below. http://www.bassettbranches.org/newsletters/2011/12/201112.shtml

Milwaukee Journal, Wisconsin, Thursday, September 29, 1938 Scholarship Fund Will Be Aided by “First Edition’ Sale

What is believed will be the first public auction there of “first edition books” will be held under the auspices of the Wisconsin Library association Oct. 7 at the Schroeder hotel. Fifty-three books, valued at more than $500, have been donated by their authors or friends of the authors, according to E.E. Seebach of the Milwaukee public library, who is treasurer of the association. Many of the books are accompanied by letters written by the authors. Norman Bassett, Madison, who collected the books, will be auctioneer. He will be assisted by Gilbert Doan, librarian at the University of Wisconsin, and Seebach. Proceeds of the sale will go toward a scholarship fund for a Wisconsin boy or girl who is studying library technique. The books are on display at the library. Included in the collection is a copy of Hamlin Garland’s “Daughter of the Middle Border.” Other authors represented are John Steinbeck, Kathleen Norris, James Hilton, John Galsworthy, Eugene O’Neill, Booth Tarkington, Thornton Wilder, Noel Coward and Ellen Glasgow. The auction is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. Bids will be received by mail, Seebach said.

The New York Times, January 14, 2020

This book, once owned by Norman Douglas Bassett of Wisconsin, has found its way home to the library of Mount. Edith Wharton was the first female author to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1921.

To read the complete article, click on the link below. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/arts/edith-wharton-the-age-of-innocence.html

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Section 6 – Featured Bassett: Actor Russell Bassett

My original article on Russell Bassett can be seen in the following newsletter. http://www.bassettbranches.org/newsletters/2007/20071118/20071118.shtml

I have finally identified Russell Bassett. He was actually Eugene Soggs from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I do not yet know why he took the stage name of Bassett.

Russell Bassett Photograph currently for sale on ebay.

Themis, Sunday Morning, April 7, 1889

Russell Bassett is a member of “Little Lord Fauntleroy” Company, in the role of Grover Hobbs. He is a good actor and hard worker now. We remember our old boyhood friend when he was the fattest and laziest mortal one would meet in a clay’s travel. At college he never pretended to do any hard work that could possibly be avoided. About the only thing Eugene Soggs – that is his true name – would ever try to do well, was something in the dramatic line. He always was inclined to the stage. The students were always picking upon him, and he was too infernally lazy to resent their abuse. But when he became aroused, we call to mind the fact, that he was a lion in bravery as well as action. We are glad he is now approaching the topmost round of an actor’s ambition.

Sun and New York Press, New York, Thursday, May 9, 1918 Russell Bassett

Russell Bassett, 73, for fifty years an actor and one time manager of Lawrence Barrett, died from a hemorrhage of the brain yesterday morning in his home, 101 West Eighty-ninth street. He had been ill since last Saturday. Mr. Bassett played more than a hundred roles during his career, and appeared with many prominent actors and actresses, including Booth, Modjeska, Charlotte Cushman and Clara Morris. He had been with the Famous Players in the moving pictures for the last six years. The actor is survived by a widow and one son, Albert Anthony Bassett. Funeral services will be held next Sunday in the Campbell studio, Boradway and Sixty-sixth street.

Arizona Republican, Jan. 3, 1899 San Francisco Chronicle, April 16, 1915

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Section 7 – Featured Bassett: Obituary for Floyd Francis Bassett Jr. of Maryland

Floyd Francis Bassett Jr. descends from #93B. John Bassett of Maryland as follows:

John Bassett and wife Elise William Bassett John Bassett and wife Rachel William Bassett and wife Elizabeth Adkins John Bassett and wife Martha Burbage Benjamin Bassett Edwin Francis Bassett (b. 1851) and wife Thedoshia E. Godfrey Claude Francis Bassett (b. 1877) and wife Edna M. Holloway Floyd Francis Bassett (b. 1908) and wife Antoinette McTernan Floyd Francis Bassett Jr.

Floyd was one of the original participants of the Bassett Y-DNA project.

The Daily Times, January 7, 2020 Floyd Francis Bassett Jr. (Includes Picture)

Floyd F rancis Bassett, Jr. passed away at home on Jan. 5, 2020. Floyd was born in Asbury Park, N.J. on July 24, 1933 to the late Floyd, Sr. and Antoinette Bassett. At the age of 4, his family moved and he was raised in Ocean City, MD on 42nd St. above the Party Market. As the student living furthest to the north, the one and only city school bus picked him up and then turned around and headed south. He graduated from the original Ocean City High School, later converted to City Hall.

After graduation, Floyd served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army in the Korean War for 3 years. Upon leaving the Army, he enrolled at Salisbury State Teachers College where he earned a B.S. and a Masters Equivalent in Education. It was at Salisbury State Teachers College that he met the love of his life, Louise ("Buttons") Bassett, to whom he was married for 60 years. He retired as a Guidance Counselor after 27 years teaching in Worcester County Schools.

For many years, Floyd was the Charter Boat Captain of The Teacher's Pet. He loved to share his knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn. Floyd enjoyed duck hunting until he was 80 years old and continued fishing through this fall. He was a member of the American Legion and the VFW. He was a Worcester County Commissioner from 1991-1995. He had a Real Estate Broker's License and taught some real estate classes. He and Buttons traveled the world with a close group of friends.

Floyd was preceded in death by his parents; and brother Ronnie Bassett. He is survived by his wife; two sons Jeff Bassett (Rehoboth, DE), and David Bassett and wife Kathy (Snow Hill, MD); and grandchildren, Colleen, Kelsey and Kevin Bassett; a brother, Michael Bassett and wife Lynda (Falls Church, VA) and several nieces and nephews.

Floyd acquired many, many friends over the years who no doubt will remember his great sense of humor as well as his "Live and let live" attitude. Others will also remember his crazy driving. One of his favorite sayings was "Life is good!". He lived his life to the fullest and will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him, especially his grandchildren.

If you would like to honor Floyd's memory, please consider a donation to Coastal Hospice, "Stansell House at the Ocean", P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1733. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

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Section 8 - New family lines combined or added since the last newsletter

No new lines added or combined since the last newsletter.

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Section 9 - DNA project update.

No new results to report on the Bassett DNA project.

Donations of any amount can be made to the Bassett DNA project by clicking on the link below. Any funds donated will be used to fund select Bassett DNA tests that will further our project as a whole and benefit all Bassetts worldwide.

http://www.familytreedna.com/group-general-fund-contribution.aspx?g=Bassett

This is just a reminder that the DNA portion of the Bassett Family Association can be found at:

A current spreadsheet of results can be found at: http://www.bassettbranches.org/dna/BassettDNA.xls

If you don't have Excel and can't open the spreadsheet above, you can now see the DNA test results at the following website. http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Bassett/

Jeffrey Bassett 520 Salceda Drive Mundelein, IL 60060 USA [email protected]