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H[enry] L[yman] BASSETT, editor and publisher of the Blairstown Press, while not a native Hawkeye, has yet lived in Iowa long enough to he considered "to the manor born." He is a native of New York, born in Rensselaer County, Aug. 1, 1834, and came with his parents to Jefferson County, Iowa, in 1838, eight years before the Territory was admitted among the States of the Union, and but five years after it was thrown open to settlement. His growth was contemporaneous with that of the State, and of its marvelous advancement in numbers, wealth and influence, he has been an eye witness, and in many of the scenes an active participant. On the 8th day of March, 1857, he was united in marriage with Lydia Jones, of Oskaloosa, by whom he has had two sons and two daughters. In March, 1863, he moved with his family to Benton County, where he has since continued to reside. Mr. Bassett has frequently been honored by his fellow citizens with local offices. He was four years a Justice of the Peace, two years Township Clerk, two years Township Assessor, School Director several years, Secretary of the School Board and Treasurer of the same. He was Postmaster in Blairstown for six years, from 1875 to 1881. In 1870 he was United States Deputy Marshal for taking the census in six townships in Benton County, and also, in 1880, took the census of Le Roy Township. The greater part of the life of Mr. Bassett has been spent upon a farm, but during the last fourteen years he has been a resident of Blairstown. In May, 1886, he purchased the Rising Sun, changed its name in September to the Blairstown Press, and is still running the same. Since eighteen years of age he has been a professed Christian, and has endeavored to live a consistent Christian life. The honors received from his friends and neighbors testify of his worth.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 366.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on February 18th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.
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