Charles Osmer Bassett (1839-1921)

BASSETT, GIBBS, CROFT, MILLER, FRUNDLE, GRAVES

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/15/2023 at 17:37:47

From The Slater News January 4, 1922 (page 2)

OBITUARY OF C. O. BASSETT

He Was Born in Delaware County, New York, Lived in Illinois and Later in Iowa.

Charles Osmer Bassett was born at Andes, Delaware county, New York, November 26, 1839, and died at his home at Slater, Iowa, December 30, 1921, having attained an age of 82 years, one month and four days. While yet a young boy, five years, he moved with his folks to near Polo, Illinois. Here he was given the advantage of a public school education and grew to manhood. He took up the vocation of a farmer and was thus employed when the nation was threatened with disruption through secession movement and civil war broke out. President Lincoln's first call for volunteers thrilled young Bassett, who had then attained an age of twenty-two years and he was the first one of his community to offer his services and enlisted in Company H of the Fifteenth Illinois volunteer infantry and was at once sent to the front. He served his colors over three long, bloody years, enduring the hardships and privations that is the lot of a soldier. He took part in the battles at Ft. Donaldson, Shiloh, Corinth and Iuka and went through the siege of Vicksburg, receiving an honorable discharge on June 14, 1864, at Springfield, Illinois.

Back from the conflict he took up his duties as a citizen of the community, from which he had been separated for four long years and three months. Over a year later, on the 25th of December, 1867, he was married, he having won his bride, Miss Mary E. Gibbs, with whom he shared life's joys and sorrows for over fifty-four years, till death called him last week. The early years following their marriage were spent in the vicinity of Polo--till the westward spirit brought them to Iowa in 1877. They took up their residence on a Boone county farm, where they lived till 1889, when they moved to --------- ----- have since resided. To them were born eight children, of whom two died in infancy and one daughter, Clara, at the age of three. Those surviving him, besides his life companion, are Mrs. William Croft of Slater, Mrs. W. H. Miller of Perry, Mrs. J. A. Frundle of Lemmon, South Dakota, Mrs. H. D. Graves of Madrid and Mr. G. L. Bassett of Colorado Springs, Colorado, all of whom were at his bedside when the end came present at the funeral on Monday afternoon. He is also mourned by a brother, Marquis, who was also present at the last sad rites. Many other relatives and friends, a legion of them, are also mourning his passing into the other world, from whence there is no return.

In the death of Mr. Bassett, Slater and vicinity has been deprived of one of its most beloved and worthy citizens. He was blessed with an optimistic spirit and a genial nature that at once attracted warm friendship and, while to him was allotted a long life of over eighty-two years, it was with deep regret that his fellow townsmen and many friends learned that he had been called away last Friday evening.

"Dad" Bassett, we'll never forget him, and as years come and go, many pictures will remain fresh in the memories of his many friends. Of these will be his friendship towards man. And then his great patriotism! His loyalty to the old flag was as strong the day he died as it was during the days that he followed the emblem of freedom through shot and shell on southern battlefields, and only recently, a few days before he passed away, we saw him pose for a photo with Old Glory for a background, and this was, by the way, the last time he had his picture taken and the flag used was the one present him on recent birthday by the members of the American Legion and the Woman's Relief Corps. He's gone, but will forever be remembered as one who was universally loved.