Mrs. Mary M. Collins Bassett
(Special to The Telegram)
Rice Lake, Wis. -
Mrs. Mary M. Bassett passed
away Monday noon at her
home in this city after a
short illness at the age of 78 yrs.
The deceased was a member
of the Eastern Star order
& also of the Woman's
Relief corps, being a charter
member of the latter.
A few years ago
Mr. & Mrs. E. Bassett
celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, Mr. Bassett
being a Civil War Veteran
who passed away early
last spring.
Mrs. Bassett is survived by
three children:
Fred of Minneapolis,
Mrs. J. B. McElroy of Augusta
& Mrs. Nellie Link of Chicago.
Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon from the home & also at
the Masonic Temple where the Eastern Star will have charge of the
services. Interment will take place at Nora Cemetery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obit for Ebenezer Lord BASSETT:
RICE LAKE LOSES AGED PIONEER
E. L. Bassett Built City's 1st School
& Brick Building
-------------------------
Was Civil War Vet, Prominent Mason. and Former City Official
Rice Lake lost one of its oldest
& most highly respected citizens
in the death on Monday noon
of Ebenezer Lord Bassett.
Mr. Bassett was born at
Bradford, NY on Aug. 14, 1841,
& reached the age of 81 yrs.,
8 mos., & 9 days.
When 3 yrs. of age he
removed with his parents to
Hampshire, IL, where he
grew up & at the age of
20 enlisted in Co. B, Eighth
Illinois Cavalry, serving
three years in the
Army of the Potomac.
Upon expiration of this term
of serving he enlisted in
Co. A, 2nd US Veteran Inf.,
Hancock Corps, for one year
& was finally discharged on
Feb. 6, 1866.
The same year he was
married to Mary M. Collins,
& they removed to
Kirksville, MO, in 1868,
where he engaged in the
copper business.
They removed to Eau Claire
in 1872 & two years later
took a homestead in the
town of Cedar Lake,
Barron County, where the
family lived for 6 yrs.,
then removed to Rice Lake.
During that 6 yrs.
Mr. Bassett was engaged
in general building in
Rice Lake, having the
distinction of laying the 1st
sidewalk & building the
1st school house which
now is used as a woodhouse.
He also built the first brick
structure in this city,
the 1st ward school house
in 1880, before the coming
of the railroad, making the
doors and windows himself.
In 1890 he engaged in the
furniture & undertaking
business, soon dropping the
furniture part & continuing
as an undertaker for
several years.
He served the city one year
as an alderman,
3 years as city clerk,
1 year as assessor, & for
20 yrs. was chairman of
the Soldiers' Relief
committee for this county.
Mr. Bassett received the
first degrees in Masonry at
Hampshire, Ill., becoming
a master mason on
Jan. 20, 1866.
The following year he
dimitted to A. J. Willing lodge,
under the dispensation,
at Burlington, Ill.
A year later he dimitted to
Kirksville lodge at
Kirksville, MO.
In 1872 he dimitted to the
West Eau Claire lodge & in
1887 became a charter
member of......
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