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Family Biographies |
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M. A. Bassett (1842-1900)
Mitchell A Bassett was born in 1842, in Buncombe County, North Carolina. He was the second child, and oldest son of William Prestwood Bassett and Evaline Haren, in a family of five children.
The first record of Mitchell’s life was the census of 1850. Mitchell is found in Buncombe County, North Carolina with his parents, sister Martha and brothers Jesse and James. Mitchell and his family appear to be the first of the Bassetts to populate Buncombe County. Many, many more will follow.
In the census of 1860, the Bassett family has moved to nearby Henderson County, NC. The sons present are Mitchell, Jesse, James and Jasper. Daughter Martha is married to Cleveland Gilreath and is also living in Henderson County.
The order of birth of the children was: Martha C Bassett, b. 1838 (married Cleveland H Gilreath) Mitchell A Bassett, b. 1842 Jesse M Bassett, b. 1843 (married Lucinda Laughter) James Elisha Bassett, b. 1849 (married Emmie Stamp) Jasper Hicks Bassett, b. 1854 (married Mittie Lipscomb)
Mitchell enlisted in the Confederate Army, Co G, 1st NC Cavalry, on May 20, 1861, at the age of 19. His occupation at the time was carpentry. He was discharged for medical reasons at camp near Culpepper Court House, VA, on January 21, 1863 by reason of "necrosis of the OsCalcis destroying the conformity of the heel". On his discharge papers, Mitchell is listed as 5 feet-11 inches tall, with light complexion, dark eyes and dark hair.
After the war Mitchell married Eva R Unknown, from Tennessee. A son, William H. D. Bassett was born in Tennessee in 1869. In the census of 1870, Mitchell, Eva and William are living in Bowie County, Texas. Mitchell’s occupation is listed as “farm labor”. His name is listed as M. A. Bassett, which will be his name on all future documents we have uncovered. We do not see the name Mitchell again.
The census of 1880 shows them still in Bowie County, and lists two additional children, L. G. (Lucy Gertrude), born 1872, and Nellie, born 1878. “Willie” is now age 12. Mitchell is widowed. Eva died sometime before 1880, perhaps in childbirth. Mitchell’s occupation is “hotel keeper”. Lucy Gertrude married John William Earles in 1886, in Texarkana. Nellie and Willie have not been found in later records.
The census of 1880 contains an unusual note. Mitchell was first listed as “married”, but it was scratched out and marked “widowed”. There may a reason for this. It is true that Eva died sometime between 1878 and 1880, however, Mitchell married Effie Miller on May 24, 1880, in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The census was taken on July 5, 1880, with the notation that persons would be counted as of June 1st. Obviously the married couple traveled to Texas from Tennessee after the marriage, but Effie was not a resident by June 1st. (This was only 1 week after the marriage.) The census-taker may have seen a husband and wife on July 5th, but upon further questioning, determined that Mitchell was a widower on June 1st.
Some may question whether the marriage of M A Bassett to Effie Miller in Jefferson county, Tennessee involves our M. A. Bassett. We believe this is our Mitchell based on the following: 1. With three young children, Mitchell would have been seeking a wife. 2. The Texarkana Independent lists an unclaimed letter for Effie Bassett in the Texarkana, AR post office on Oct 1, 1886. 3. The Texarkana Independent lists two real estate transactions on September 25, 1886 involving “M. A. Bassett and wife”. 4. There is a connection to Jefferson County, Tennessee with the Bassett family. Mitchell’s brother, with his family and mother (Evaline Haren Bassett) lived in Jefferson County, Tennessee during the census of 1900.
At some point after 1880, Mitchell became an auctioneer. The Texarkana Independent has several advertisements and mentions of him as an auctioneer between 1884 and 1886. The family has also recounted this as his profession. Mitchell owned quite a bit of land in Bowie County, Texas, according to the family, and this is supported by Texas land records. He owned 1,920 acres.
According to the records we have located, Mitchell had the following occupations during his lifetime:
1. Carpenter 2. Farm laborer 3. Hotel keeper 4. Auctioneer 5. Justice of the Peace 6. Notary Public
Other than the mentions above in newspaper accounts, Mitchell, Effie, William and Nellie have not been located after 1886. It is possible they moved from Texarkana, perhaps to Tennessee. We have reason to believe that Mitchell died before 1900 for the following reason. In the census of 1900, Mitchell’s mother Evaline (Haren) Bassett was living with the family of her youngest son, James Elisha Bassett, in Jefferson County, Tennessee. She responded to the census-takers question about her children by saying that 4 of her 5 children are still living. Since we can account for Martha, James, Jessie and Jasper, it can only be Mitchell that is deceased. We have death certificates for the four children living after 1900 to support our theory:
Martha C Basset Gilreath, (1838-1915) Jesse M Bassett, (1843-1918) James Elisha Bassett, (1849-1915) Jasper Hicks Bassett, (1854-1945)
Mitchell’s daughter, Lucy Gertrude Bassett, the wife of John William Earles, remained in Texarkana, and died there in 1903.
Jim Thompson Great great grandson-in-law May 28, 2009
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