Ancel Henry Bassett, born 22 Aug 1859, Bassett Homestead, Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois, son of Harvey Foster and Sarah (Chilton) Bassett . Henry died 15 Nov 1938, Kinmundy Township, Marion County, Illinois. He was named for his Uncle Ancel, who died a few days after this Ancel was born. Henry and Mary are buried in Sandy Branch Cemetery, Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois. (Note: Uncle Henry's funeral was the first funeral my mother, Monna (CONANT) FRAKES ever attended. She was only 4 years old and it scared her. The funeral was held in Henry's home, which was located where Roy and Lela May (NICHOLS) DOOLEN later built a home on Robb Road in Kinmundy Township.)
Henry married Mary I. McCUNE 22 Sep 1881, Monticello, Piatt County, Illinois. Mary was born 13 Feb 1862, near Decatur, Macon County, Illinois, daughter of Martin and Mary (___?___) McCUNE. She died 13 Dec 1941, Kinmundy, Marion County, Illinois.
In 1884, they moved to South Dakota.
In 1892, they were still living in South Dakota.
On 27 Jun 1900, the census shows Henry A. (40) and Mary B. (38) BASSETT living in Township 5 South, Range 2 West, Chickasaw Nation County, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). With them were their children Earnest O. age 17; James A. age 13; Lena C. age 10; Ralph age 8; and Sadie L. age 6. They lived near his sister and her family, the ALTUM's. Mary was listed has having given birth to 5 children, with all living at time of census. Henry was listed as a farmer.
They moved to Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas, where his sister, Bell (BASSETT) ALTOM, and brother, Sid BASSETT, were living.
In 1904, they moved to Mena, Polk County, Arkansas, where they lived for several years.
In 1919, they moved back to Marion County, Illinois.
On 27 Jan 1920, the census shows Henry (64) and Mary (61) BASSETT living in Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois with his brother, LaFayette and family.
Henry had a bad stroke which disabled him, not allowing for him to do much work the last eleven years of his life. Henry had red hair.
On 21 Jul 1926, the Kinmundy Express has, "Alma News: E. BASSETT and family spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Henry BASSETT."
On 26 May 1927, the Kinmundy Express has, "Alma News: Mr. and Mrs. A.H. BASSETT visited Sunday with their son, Ernest and family."
On 15 Apr 1930, the census shows A. Henry (70) and Mary (68) BASSETT living in Kinmundy Township, Marion County, Illinois. They were renting their home. He was listed as a farmer.
On 24 Sep 1931, the Kinmundy Express has, "Fiftieth Anniversary: On September 22, 1881, Mr. Henry BASSETT and Miss Mary McCUNE were united in marriage at Monticello, Ill. Last Sunday, Sept. 20, a large gathering of their relatives and friends met at their home to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this event. Those present at dinner were Mrs. Serena McCUNE and Dave DEAN of Alma; Mrs. Vera BASSETT and son of Kinmundy; Mrs. Kate LAMBERT, Loren, Wayne and Miss Opal BARNES of Patoka; Joe PEARSON, Ralph BASSETT and the following families: Milburn JONES of St. Louis; Mason BASSETT of Vernon; G.W. Conant, Mrs. Ella SHREFFLER, Luther SULLENS of Alma; Chas. FORD, W.L. GREEN, Clyde BASSETT, Wm. JONES, R.H. FEATHER, T.M. JONES, Lafe BASSETT, Ernest BASSETT, Elmer BASSETT, and Nancy GREEN. Those calling in the afternoon were Andrew ROSS and wife, Tom DAY and wife, C.E. RAINEY and wife and Harry SHREFFLER and family of Alma; Abbie COX and family, Jessie JONES and family, Wm. ROBINSON, Aunt Tack CONANT and Lodema CONANT."
On 29 Sep 1932, the Kinmundy Express has, "East Zion News: Henry BASSETT and wife spent Sunday with Lafe BASSETT and wife."
On 26 Oct 1933, the Kinmundy Express has, "North Fork: Mr. and Mrs. Ernest BASSETT and Mr. and Mrs. Henry BASSETT attending the homecoming at the Christian Church in Alma Sunday afternoon."
On 2 Nov 1933, the Kinmundy Express has, "Mr. and Mrs. Ernest BASSETT and Mr. and Mrs. Henry BASSETT visited Sunday afternoon with Lafe BASSETT and wife."
On 11 Mar 1937, the Kinmundy Express has, "East Zion: Mr. Clyde BASSETT and family spent Sunday with Uncle Lafe BASSETT and Uncle Henry BASSETT and wife."
On 13 Jan 1938, the Kinmundy Express has, "Swift School: Mr. and Mrs. Henry BASSETT had with them Sunday, their daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest BASSETT of St. Louis."
On 3 Mar 1938, the Kinmundy Express has, "Swift School: Moving seems to be in full sway in this community this week. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher COLE are moving to their farm just vacated by Mr. and Mrs. Henry BASSETT, Mr. BASSETT moved to the Marshall WILLIAMS farm. Ren WAINSCOTTs are moving to the Mose WAINSCOTT place, and Virgil LIVESAYs are soon moving back to their farm."
On 10 Mar 1938, the Kinmundy Express has, "Swift School: Mr. and Mrs. Ernest BASSETT visited Sunday with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry BASSETT."
After the death of Uncle Henry, Mary moved into Kinmundy. She lived in a two-story house. The day of her death, she got up out of bed, went down the stairs, sat down on a chair at the bottom of the stairs and there died.
On 17 Nov 1938, the Kinmundy Express has, "Ancel Henry BASSETT, Life Long Resident of This Community, Succumbs, Age 79: On Tuesday morning this community was visited by the grim reaper who closed life's race for one of our good friends and neighbors. Ancel Henry BASSETT, son of Harvey and Sarah BASSETT, was born in Foster township, August 22nd, 1859, and was overtaken by the enemy, "Death", Nov. 15, 1938. The deceased was one of a family of seven children, three girls and four boys, all of whom are gone except one brother. He was united in marriage to Mary McCUNE Sept. 22, 1881, and to this union five children were born: Ernest, of Foster township, Arthur, Len and Ralph deceased, and Mrs. Sadie MILLER, of Jennings, Mo. Uncle Henry, as he was known to all his friends and neighbors and which reflected the high esteem in which he was held, had been in very poor health for many years, having had a paralytic stroke eleven years ago, and being nearly deaf for some years. Yet with all these afflictions he remained cheerful and jovial to everyone, and how his face would light up with joy when company came in. He leave his devoted companion of 57 years who has so +tenderly cared for him during his years of affliction; one son, Ernest; one daughter, Mrs. Sadie MILLER; one brother, Elmer BASSETT, who resides on the old parental homestead; five grandchildren; many other relatives and host of friends where ever he has resided. The family has lost a kind, loving husband and father, the community, a good citizen and neighbor. Funeral services were held from the home yesterday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, Rev. Paul ARNOLD, officiating. Interment was made in Sandy Branch Cemetery."
On 18 Dec 1941, the Kinmundy Express has, "Mary I. BASSETT, Aged Resident of Kinmundy Passes Away Suddenly Saturday Evening: Mary I. BASSETT, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin McCUNE, was born near Decatur, Ill. She was united in marriage to Henry BASSETT on Sept. 22, 1881, and to this union came five children, one daughter and two sons deceased, Mrs. Sadie MILLER of St. Louis, and Ernest of Kinmundy. The companion and father preceded her in Nov. 1938. In 1884 the family moved to S. Dakota and later to Texas making the latter trip by wagon. From 1904-1919 they lived in Arkansas and the remainder of her life has been spent in and near Kinmundy. At the age of 35 she united with the Christian Church. Being an energetic woman, she found time outside her family duties to work in the church she loved, and always attended services when at all possible. She had been in ill health for some time, and entered peacefully into eternal sleep on Saturday evening, Dec. 13, at 8:30 p.m., at her home, aged 79 years and 10 months. Four brothers, two sisters and a twin survive. Surviving are her two children, five grandchildren, Leighton BASSETT, Washington, Otho, Mt. Vernon, Ill., Lora, St. Louis, Pvt. James, Johnson City, Tenn., Pvt. Lawrence, Camp Wheeler, Ga., two great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Glenn F. SHARP from the Christian Church at 2 p.m., Monday. Interment was made in Sandy Branch Cemetery."
Politically, Henry was a Republican, as were all of the Bassett Family.
Children of Ancel Henry and Mary I. (McCUNE) BASSETT:
1. Ernest Otho BASSETT, born 26 Sep 1882, Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois.
Ernest married Edna ING.
2. James Arthur BASSETT, born Jan 1887, South Dakota.
Arthur married Roxie Jane DeHART.
3. Lena C. BASSETT, born Nov 1889, South Dakota.
4. Ralph L. BASSETT, born Jan 1892, South Dakota. He had poor health and died young.
Daughter of Ralph L. BASSETT:
4-1. Laura BASSETT.
Laura lived in Chicago, Illinois.
5. Sadie BASSETT, born 10 Nov 1899, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma).
Sadie married 2nd Elmer Dwight MILLER.
I still have much to add to this site, so please check back later.
The complete Bassett Family Genealogy is located in the files section of the Sandy Branch Yahoo Group.
There are chapters 1 thru 16, including most of the descendents of Harvey Foster Bassett and his two wives, Mary Sullivan Bassett and Sarah Chilton Bassett.
