GILMAN A. BASS

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Gilman A. Bass and Mrs. Gilman A. Bass

Gilman A. Bass, who died in Inland township on the 10th of March, 1904, was long successfully engaged in the real-estate and loan business here but spent the last seven years of his life in honorable retirement. His birth occurred in Orange county, Vermont, on the 9th of August, 1826, his parents being Alpheus and Sarah (Copeland) Bass, who were farming people of that county. He supplemented his preliminary education by a course of study in the Middlebury Seminary of Vermont and subsequently followed the profession of school teaching in the Green Mountain state. In 1857 he removed to Big Rock, Iowa, where he also taught school, and in the spring of 1858 went to Davenport, there devoting his attention to the study of law. He next came to Tipton and there made his home for nearly five years with the exception of eight months spent as a soldier in the Union army. He enlisted for service in October, 1864, and was honorable discharged in June, 1865, having accompanied Sherman on his march to the sea. In 1866 he took up his abode in Inland township, where he embarked in the real-estate and loan business, carrying on an extensive and successful enterprise of that character until the time of his retirement in 1897.

On the 10th of September, 1861, Mr. Bass was joined in wedlock to Miss Martha Marsh, a daughter of Daniel and Aurelia (Gould) Marsh, who came to this county from Ohio in 1854. Their children were three in number, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving daughter is Abbie L.

Mr. Bass was a republican in politics, ever being a stanch supporter of the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. His business record was always such as won for him respect and regard as well as success, and all who knew him entertained for him warm esteem, for his salient qualities were those of honorable, upright manhood. He was called to his final rest when in the seventy-eighth year of his age and in his passing Cedar county lost one of its widely known and representative citizens.

Miss Abbie L. Bass gave her hand in marriage to Marion M. Blazer, a son of George W. and Catherine (Scarlet) Blazer, who came to this county from Ohio in the ‘60s. Marion M. Blazer obtained his early education in the district schools here and afterward pursued the fine arts course in the Valparaiso Normal School. He taught school during one winter term and then turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, being engaged in farming for six years. On the expiration of that period he became identified with the real-estate and loan business, continuing in that field of activity until his demise, which occurred on the 2d of January, 1907. Unto him and his wife were born four children, namely: Edith M.; Silas G.; Inez M.; and Ira F., who died in infancy. Mr. Blazer gave his political allegiance to the republican party, believing firmly in its principles. His widow still survives and makes her home in Bennett, where she has an extensive circle of warm friends.