Hassell, Rev. Richard Burton 1853-1942

HASSELL, WHITCOMB, ROBBINS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 6/22/2013 at 10:48:38

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register

REV. R.B. HASSELL,
EARLY GRINNELL
GRAD, PASSES AWAY
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B.T. Moore, Grinnell '11, who is now secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in Everett, Wash., sends word to The Herald-Register of the death of Richard Burton Hassell of the college class of 1877, who passed away in Everett on Sept. 26, 1942. Mr. Moore adds some interesting information regarding Mr. Hassell's colorful career. He was born in 1853, living to the ripe old age of 89. He came to Everett in the early part of the century from what Mr. Moore terms "the wilds of the Montana frontier," Virginia City. He had previously been in South Dakota and served there as a county prosecuting attorney. He served for a term of years as pastor of the First Congregational church in Everett and has also served a term as mayor of the city. During the course of his long life he had been successively a teacher, lawyer and minister.

"Quite a grand old man," writes Mr. Moore, "and kept up his interest in church and city until his death. He was, for the last 15 years of his life, quite a marryin' preacher, for his home was across the street from the courthouse, so he got many of the doubtful ones.

Mr. Hassell was married twice. His first wife was Susan Whitcomb, member of a family well-known in early Grinnell, and a sister-in-law of H.H. Robbins, who for many years in the nineties and early 1900's filled the post of college treasurer. Mr. Hassell married her in 1887 and she died about 1927. Mr. Hassell remarried in 1933, his wife passing away several years ago. He left his property, including several houses, to the church in Everett, the money derived from the estate to be used for the erection of a Hassell memorial parsonage.