Harriett M. Bassett (1854-1938)

BASSETT, GODDARD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/11/2022 at 11:26:24

From Nevada Evening Journal January 19, 1938 (page 1)

Pioneer Maiden Lady Passed Away at State Center

State Center, Jan. 19--Miss Harriett M. Bassett, 84, a pioneer and one of the most interesting and kindly characters in State Center, died her at 7:30 a. m., on Tuesday at Woods hospital, where she had been a patient for about a week. Both shoulder bones were broken Jan. 8 in a fall resulting from a heart attack at her home. Her death was due to this accident and the infirmities of age.

Miss Bassett was one of the early teachers in the State Center schools, when seats were wooden benches and desks were improvised boxes, and she also taught at Tabor college, as well as being a private tutor here and elsewhere. She was an artist of some note and for several years in the early 90's was an instructor in are at All Saints School in Sioux Falls, S. D.

Miss Bassett was born Nov. 19, 1854, at Ottawa, Ill., a daughter of Rev. George W. and Sarah Goddard Bassett. Her father at one time for a year or more was chaplain of the house of representatives at Washington, D. C. She came to State Center with her parents when she was 13 years of age and this place had been her hom for 71 years.

She attended the public schools in State Center in her girlhood and afterwards went to what is now the Syracuse Academy, Syracuse, N. Y., where she graduated in 1872. Later she studied art in the east, at the Chicago Art Institute, Chicago.

She was primary teacher in the old State Center school house and taught art in the new building from 1910 to 1914. For 10 years from 1890 to 1898 she was art instructor at All Saints School, Sioux Falls, S. D., and afterwards for two years taught art at Tabor College, Tabor, Ia., an institution that is now operated by the American Legion as a home for veterans' children.

Miss Bassett was a member of the Presbyterian church and served at teacher in the Sunday school here for more than 50 years. She was a charter member of Lucy Fellows Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and was one of the organizers of the Vincent chautauqua chapter, besides being a member of the Garden Club. She also was very active in patriotic affairs, having successfully carried on several Red Cross drives for fund during the world war.

Funeral services will be conducted at the home at 2:00 o'clock Thursday afternoon by Rev. James D. Ransom, minister of the First Presbyterian church. Burial will be in Hillside cemetery.