My Genealogy Hound

John W. Bassett, one of the intelligent citizens and well-to-do farmers of Southfield township, Oakland County, who owns 148 fertile acres of land in section 3, belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Michigan. He was born in 1853 in Bloomfield township, Oakland County, and is a son of William and Roxanna (Curtis) Bassett, the former of whom was born in New York in 1818, and the latter in Connecticut in 1819.

William Bassett accompanied his parents to Michigan in 1832, his father, Samuel Bassett, settling on a farm in Bloomfield township, Oakland County. At his marriage William Bassett settled on a farm in the township of Novi, which he traded for a store in Novi, but later, purchased another farm in Bloomfield township, on which he resided until his death in 1886. He was a most exemplary man. He was a member of the religious body known as the Second Adventists. His wife, who was a daughter of Eli and Sarah (Jennings) Curtis, died in 1891, having been the devoted mother of a large family, of which our subject is the sixth member, the others being: Ada; Lawrence, a member of the 17th Michigan, lost his life at the age of 21 years, from wounds received in defense of his country, at the battle of Resaca; Leila; Cleantha, deceased; Henry, of Bloomfield township; and Grosvenor and Milburn, both deceased.

John W. Bassett received his education in the district schools, the Birmingham High School and the Detroit Business College. From early manhood he has been interested in farming and has made it a profitable life career.

In 1877 Mr. Bassett married Elissif Erity, who was born in 1858 in Southfield township, Oakland County, and is a daughter of William and Orpha (Reynolds) Erity. One son has been born to this marriage, Will, who resides at home, his father’s very efficient assistant.

Like his father, Mr. Bassett is one of the leading Republicans of his locality, but has cared little for public office, consenting on but one occasion, to serve as drainage commissioner. He has a pleasant home and very comfortable surroundings and finds enough interests without the cares attendant upon office. He is held in high regard in Southfield township.