Will M Bass

BASS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/27/2010 at 14:23:11

Will M Bass is a farmer and stockman of Des Moines township, owning and cultivating a fine tract of land two miles north of Boone. He is also active in the pubic life of his locality and his now serving for the eighteenth year as clerk of this township. It was in that township that he was born on December 21, 1866, a son of David Bass and a grandson of Edward Bass, who came to Iowa in 1855 and secured as a homestead claim the farm now owned and occupied by the subject of this review. Edward Bass was born in North Carolina and when a young man removed westward to Indiana, where he lived until he established his home in Iowa. He traveled with ox cart to this state and having entered his claim, began the development of ht far, which he converted into a rich and productive tract, residing thereon until his death, which occurred I 1882, when he was eighty years of age.
David Bass also resided on the old homestead, but at the time of the Civil war he felt that his duty to his country was paramount to all other interests and went to the front, serving froufrou years as a private in Company K, Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and on one occasion was wounded in the elbow. He died November 11, 1911, at the age of seventy-two years. The community regarded him as a representative citizen. In politics he was a stanch democrat, and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church. In early manhood he married Susan Harter, who was born in Baden Germany and when six years of age was brought to America. She was reared to womanhood in Ohio and then came to Boone county, where she married. At the age of seventy-one years she now lives on the old home place in Des Moines township and she is a member of the German Reformed church. Unto Mr and Mrs Davis Bass were born eight children of whom two died in early life, while six are yet living, namely: Will M, Mrs Albert S Beckett, of Des Moines township, whose husband follows farming, Mrs Charles Ross also of the same township, Mrs Clark Ross living in Esterville, Iowa, Samuel who is single and resides on the old homestead and Mrs Charles Sturtz, of Des Moines.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Will M Bass in his boyhood and youth. He pursued his education in the public schools and through the summer months worked in the fields, and he has never desired to change his occupation. For the past quarter of a century eh has resided at his present home, owning and cultivation 160 acres of rich land which is now splendidly developed. He carries on general farming, raising the crops best adapted to soil and climate, and as the years have gone on his labors have been attended with a substantial measure of success.
Mr Bass was united in marriage to Miss Anna M Burk a daughter of Thomas Burk, now of Tacoma, Washington, but for many years a resident of Boone county, where he engaged in farming and also served as county supervisor, filling that position for six years. He was elected tot eh office on the republican ticket, having always been a loyal supporter of the party. His daughter, Mrs Bass was born in Des Moines, Iowa and by her marriage she has become the mother of one son, Paul now eighteen years of age.
In his political views, Mr Bass is a republican. He ahs held a number of school offices and for the past eighteen years has been township clerk. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and in fact his influence is always on the side of right and progress, truth and reform. He holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife is connected with the ladies’ auxiliary of that organization, known as the Royal Neighbors. IN religious faith Mr Bass is a Methodist, his member ship being in Bethel church of Des Moines township. He represents one of the old pioneer families of the county, a family long and honorably connected with the agricultural development of this part of the state, and the work instituted by his grandfather and continued by his father is now being carried on still farther by him.

1914 Boone County History Book