Rock Island Argus., 1919-09-08

Nearly a century ago, "a years
today toe be exact. Isaac Newton
Bassett, at one time Mercer coun-
tvs leading attorney and one of her
most brilliant men, first saw the
light of day in a tiny village in
northern Kentucky, on the spot
where the town OF Quincy, on the
Ohio river, now stands.
Today, enfeebled by age and
blind, but with mentality practic-
ally unimpaired, he celebrated
his Gath birthday midst loving
friends and family. Throughout
the day callers paid their respects
to the aged barrister at his home
on North Walnut street, while
many offered congratulations by
telephone and letter.
This evening members of the fam
fly gathered at a dinner at the Bas-
sett home given in joint honor of
Mr.. Bassett and a relative, Mrs. W.
A Lorimer of this city, who today
observed her 10Th birth
day. Out of town guests were DR..
V. H. Bassett, city bacteriologist
of Savannah, Ca, a son and o. ].
Ingmire of Galesburg, a son-in-law.
Marvellous, for so old a man, is
the memory which recalls viVidly
the details of a personal meeting
and handshake with Abraham Lin
coin, the great emancipator. "It
was in Springfield in 1856, when I
was there to obtain a license as
member of the United States court
that met personally, to my great
delight ever after, the man who
was destined to lead this nation
through the vissiscitudes of
mighty civil war; said Mr.. Bassett.
"I was introduced to him and he
conducted me in person to his Of
fee where l secured my license. /
was impressed by his courtesy and
kindliness of manner"
The story of Mr.. Bassett's long
life is one of inspiring and never
tagging ambition-truly that of a
self-made man.
Born on the Ohio river In Ken
lucky. Sept 8, 1925, rich in name
and heritage but poor in purse,
Isaac Bassett as lad succeeded in
but the most meagre edu-
cation. He studied as best he
could in the miserable, tumble-down
make-believe school, and at the
age of IA struck out for himself,
one of a family of six children,
but fortunately under
the supervision of a father who had
to pick up a fairly good
in certain lines, notably
English.
With his brother he engaged in
business and enjoys the distinction
of erecting the first business house
constructed in the city of Quincy.
Upon reaching the age of 81 he
entered the mercantile business, in
which he continued until the Ohio
river rose and foated his store
down stream. This was in 1852.
Just previous, in 1S47, however,
he was married, taking as a wife
Miss ScendA Isle Moore Of Scotia,
Ohio. The ceremony took place on
March 4. He mourned the passing
of his first wife Jan. "a, 1860. To
this union there were born six
five of whom survive.
In 1852 Mr.. Bassett, with his
family, removed to New Boston |
township, where for several years
he farmed and taught school. Two
years later he had the honor of |
being elected to the first board of |
ever voted upon in |
Mercer county, and as a member |
of this body gained considerable |
In 1855 he was elected |
county treasurer and in 1857 was |
for this Office. The county |
burg. When the county's capital
was changed to Aledo in the spring |
Of 1857 he, as county treasurer, |
came with it In 1855 there were |
14O inhabitants in Mercer town
ship. according to a census taken at |
that time by Mr.. Bassett person.
ally. During his tenure OF office he |
a law partnership with |
Elias Willis of New Boston, dis |
solving this arrangement in 1855. |
Since then he had many differ |
ent business colleagues as partners, |
his last being D. A. Hebel, now |
assistant states attorney, under /
the firm name Of Bassett & HeheI. |
Mr.. Bassett was admitted to the |
bar of state courts in the fall of |
1854 and in the spring of the next |
year began practice with Elias /
Willis under the firm name of Will |
its & Bassett in Keithsburg.
Possessed of a rugged constitu-
ion Mr.. Bassett held up in active
practice work until after he had
passed his Goth milestone. He |
greatly handicapped by
.ota, blindness, which gradually
,ame upon him in 1916, just three
7ears ago.
Mr.. Bassett's second wife was
Mrs. Caroline Harrison Yerty, a
widow. To this union four children