Hassett, Laban 1811 – 1892

HASSETT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/16/2013 at 14:55:08

Source: The Howard County Times January 28, 1892, Page 1

HASSETT - At his home in Howard Center twp., Howard Co., Iowa, on Sunday, Jan. 24, 1892. Laban Hassett, aged 80 years, 3 months and 17 days.

The funeral services were held at the village school house, on Tuesday, 26th inst., Rev. Willard Fuller of the Baptist church of Cresco officiating.

Laban Hassett was not only one of the best known citizens of Howard county, but he was one of our very best men. He died on the farm which he preempted in July, 1856, over thirty-five years ago. During nearly all of these years he held some township or county position which kept him constantly before the people and he held and expressed positive opinions on political and temperance questions, but we have never yet heard one word against his personal character or reputation. His integrity has never been questioned and his word was as good as a bond. In politics he was a Republican and in temperance a Prohibitionist, and maintained his views with intelligence and ability, but with charity and toleration for differences of opinion. No man ever questioned his sincerity, not even in the many hot campaigns in which he was a candidate for office.

He was interested in Sunday school work and was the first Superintendent of the Sunday school established in Howard Center in 1857, serving in that capacity for over a quarter of a century.

Laban Hassett was born in Attica, Genesee (now Wyoming) county, N.Y., Oct. 7, 1811. He was raised on a farm, and received his education in the common school and chimney corner. He acquired an unquenchable thirst for learning, which was never satisfied. He was sought for as a teacher when but nineteen years of age, and John L. Grant, who employed him to teach his first school, now resides at Panora, Guthrie county, this State. He followed the business of teaching for twenty years, most of the time summer and winter. After teaching district school ten or twelve years, he was employed as principal of the Sheldon high school in Varysburg, and occupied this position two years and a half. He afterward spent six years in the Portageville select school, which was largely patronized. He was for several years Superintendent of schools. In 1840 he took a school for life, which doubled his labors, for he could not live without spending much of his time in study.

In 1846 he commenced the practice of surveying. Teaching was his first choice as an employment and surveying his next preference. The latter he has followed more or less during the last 44 years.

Steady confinement to teaching affected his health unfavorably, in 1849 he purchased a small farm, and gratified the pleasure he took in making things grow. He spent much of his time since in farming.

He left Western New York in 1855 and came to Illinois, residing for a year about 14 miles south of Rockford, near Rock river, where he was attacked with ague and fever. This disease not agreeing with his constitution, he came in 1856 to Iowa, and arrived at Howard Center on the second of July. On section 11 of this township he selected for a home the first quarter section of land he had found belonging to the Government after leaving his native State. And on this he lived and died. The next day after his arrival he was employed to survey a road from Howard Center to Judge Upton’s; a road which was called No. 8. He continued the practice of surveying since that time and acted as County Supervisor during more than half the thirty-five years.

Between twenty-five and thirty-five years ago his political opponent electioneered against him on the ground that he was so old he could not see, but he read without glasses, and was free from rheumatism until lately. Although he never asked for an office, he evidently took pleasure in serving the public when elected to do so, which was many times.

As to Mr. Hassett’s political colors, he voted with the Whig party until the rise of the anti-slavery movement, when he gave his support in that friend of the oppressed, James G. Birney, and continued to vote with that party that has fearlessly taken ground against oppression and wrong without catering for the support of the vicious and criminal. He was never so strongly attached to a party but that he would criticize its mistakes and abort comings and demand progress and reform as to both men and measures.

At this writing we have no data as to Mr. Hassett’s marriage His wife died many years ago, and his home has been with his son Burdett on his old preemption farm in Howard Center. Two sons survive him, viz: Burdett Hassett of Howard Center, and Cary L. Hassett of Bozeman, Montana, who have the sympathy of the people of Howard county and of many friends elsewhere in their bereavement.

Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.

Transcriber's Note: Cemetery records show he was married to Lucy R. Hassett who died July 7, 1863 at 77 years of age.
Posted by Joy Moore Jan. 12, 2015:

Iowa Plain Dealer January 28, 1892, P3 C3

Crossed the Great Divide.

HASSETT--At his home in Howard Center, January 24, 1892, Laban Hassett, aged 80 years.

Deceased located in Howard Center upon the farm where he died in 1856. He was always at the front in all good work, at times, perhaps, having more zeal than discretion. He was for years county surveyor, holding the office till age and infirmities compelled him to resipn{sp}.

Howard Center Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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