Biography - W. H. BASSETT
Judge W. H. Bassett was born January 12, 1832, on a farm in Harrison
county, Kentucky, and there grew to manhood, receiving a common-school
education. He later attended a commercial college in Cincinnati, Ohio,
graduating May 12, 1854. Afterward he engaged in the mercantile business in
Cynthiana, Kentucky. He came to what is now Douglas county, Illinois, in
1857, and was engaged in farming until 1862. At this time he enlisted in
Company K, Seventy-ninth Illinois. Infantry, and served to the close of the
war, filling all the company offices from corporal to captain.
Upon returning from his army service our subject engaged in merchandising
and farming in and near Arcola until 1883, when he was elected county judge.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1889. Politically Judge
Bassett is a Republican, and religiously is an adherent of the Methodist
Episcopal church, having joined that society at Millersburg, Kentucky, in
1856.
In 1860 our subject was married to Miss Nellie M. Gruell, and two children
are the result of this union: Jonathan H., residing at Arthur, Illinois, and
Martin H., residing at Mattoon, Illinois.
Extracted 16 Jan 2020 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, page 263.
