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Charlie Bassett (lawman)
Encyclopedia
Charles Bassett was a lawman and saloon
keeper associated with the early days of Dodge City in the American Old West
.
Charles E. Bassett was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on October 30, 1847 to the parents of Benjamin Bassett and Julia (Norton) Bassett.
Bassett was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts
. He enlisted in "Company I, 213th Regiment of Pennsylvania" on February 14, 1865. He fought for the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. Shortly after the war ended, Bassett migrated west, and eventually became the county Sheriff
in Ford County, Kansas
, serving with Bat Masterson
, who was his under-sheriff. He received notoriety during his pursuit of outlaw
Sam Bass
following the latters robbery of a Union Pacific train in Big Springs, Nebraska
. A local law prevented a sheriff from serving three consecutive terms, so Bat Masterson replaced him in that position, then appointed Bassett his under-sheriff.
When Ed Masterson
, brother to Bat, was killed in a shooting in Dodge City, Kansas
in April 1878, Bassett became the new Dodge City Marshal
. His reputation quickly grew. During that same year, outlaw James Kennedy killed a woman named Fannie Keenan. Bassett pursued and captured Kennedy. Following that incident, he apprehended Frank Loving
for the killing of Levi Richardson, during a gunfight that Richardson started. During that time both Wyatt Earp
and Wyatt's older brother James
worked as deputies for him.
In November, 1879, Bassett resigned and moved west to New Mexico
, where he worked as a guard for Adams Express Company. He was replaced in Dodge City by another of Bat Masterson's brothers, James Masterson
, who had worked as a deputy for him. In 1880 Bassett mined for gold
in and around Montana
, eventually returning to Kansas
. In 1883, he returned to Dodge City with several notable gunfighter friends, including Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday
, M. F. McClain, Neil Brown, and W. F. Petillion, to support their friend, gunfighter and saloon owner, Luke Short
, in a dispute with a local politician. This became known as the Dodge City War
.
Bassett worked in and owned several saloons in his later years, until his death by natural causes in Hot Springs, Kansas.
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
keeper associated with the early days of Dodge City in the American Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
.
Charles E. Bassett was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on October 30, 1847 to the parents of Benjamin Bassett and Julia (Norton) Bassett.
Early life, career as a lawman
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
. He enlisted in "Company I, 213th Regiment of Pennsylvania" on February 14, 1865. He fought for the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Shortly after the war ended, Bassett migrated west, and eventually became the county Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
in Ford County, Kansas
Ford County, Kansas
Ford County is a county located in southwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 33,848. The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County. Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City. The county is named in...
, serving with Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson
William Barclay "Bat" Masterson was a figure of the American Old West known as a buffalo hunter, U.S. Marshal and Army scout, avid fisherman, gambler, frontier lawman, and sports editor and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph...
, who was his under-sheriff. He received notoriety during his pursuit of outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
Sam Bass
Sam Bass
Sam Bass was a nineteenth-century American train robber and outlaw.-Early life:Bass was orphaned at the age of 10. For the next five years, he and his siblings lived with an abusive uncle. In 1869, he set out on his own and spent the next year in Mississippi...
following the latters robbery of a Union Pacific train in Big Springs, Nebraska
Big Springs, Nebraska
Big Springs is a village in Deuel County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 418 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Big Springs is located at ....
. A local law prevented a sheriff from serving three consecutive terms, so Bat Masterson replaced him in that position, then appointed Bassett his under-sheriff.
When Ed Masterson
Ed Masterson
Ed Masterson was a lawman and the brother of the American West gunfighters Bat Masterson and James Masterson.-Lawman career:...
, brother to Bat, was killed in a shooting in Dodge City, Kansas
Dodge City, Kansas
Dodge City is a city in, and the county seat of, Ford County, Kansas, United States. Named after nearby Fort Dodge, the city is famous in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,340.-History:The first settlement of...
in April 1878, Bassett became the new Dodge City Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
. His reputation quickly grew. During that same year, outlaw James Kennedy killed a woman named Fannie Keenan. Bassett pursued and captured Kennedy. Following that incident, he apprehended Frank Loving
Frank Loving
Frank Loving, sometimes called "Cockeyed" Frank Loving was an Old West gambler and gunman. His two known gunfights were two of the better known and well publicized shootouts of the day, although over time they have become obscure....
for the killing of Levi Richardson, during a gunfight that Richardson started. During that time both Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...
and Wyatt's older brother James
James Earp
James Cooksey Earp was the little known older brother to old west lawman Virgil Earp and lawman/gambler Wyatt Earp. Unlike his lawmen brothers, he was a saloon-keeper and was not present at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral....
worked as deputies for him.
In November, 1879, Bassett resigned and moved west to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, where he worked as a guard for Adams Express Company. He was replaced in Dodge City by another of Bat Masterson's brothers, James Masterson
James Masterson
James Masterson, also known as Jim Masterson, was a lawman of the American West and the brother of gunfighters and lawmen Bat Masterson and Ed Masterson.-Lawman career:...
, who had worked as a deputy for him. In 1880 Bassett mined for gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in and around Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, eventually returning to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. In 1883, he returned to Dodge City with several notable gunfighter friends, including Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday
Doc Holliday
John Henry "Doc" Holliday was an American gambler, gunfighter and dentist of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
, M. F. McClain, Neil Brown, and W. F. Petillion, to support their friend, gunfighter and saloon owner, Luke Short
Luke Short
Western frontiersman Luke L. Short was a noted gunfighter, who had worked as a farmer, cowboy, whiskey peddler, army scout, dispatch rider, gambler and saloon keeper at various times during the four decades of his life.- Early life :...
, in a dispute with a local politician. This became known as the Dodge City War
Dodge City War
The Dodge City War was a bloodless conflict that took place in 1883 in Dodge City, Kansas. It came at the close of the first 10 years of the city's history at a time when whiskey and saloons were fading as a dominant force in the city's politics....
.
Bassett worked in and owned several saloons in his later years, until his death by natural causes in Hot Springs, Kansas.
External links
- Bio of Bassett
- Dodge City Shootout The Deaths of Levi Richardson and Frank Loving, by Roger Myers, Ford County Historical Soc., Dodge City, KS