Josie Bassett
Encyclopedia
Josie Bassett was a female rancher. She and her sister "Queen" Ann Bassett
are known for their love affairs and associations with well-known outlaws, particularly Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch
.
Herb Bassett was well known to many of the famous outlaws of the day, as he did business with them often, supplying them with beef and fresh horses. Among those who visited the Bassett ranch were "Black Jack" Ketchum
, Butch Cassidy
, Elzy Lay
, Kid Curry, Will "News" Carver
and Ben Kilpatrick
. With these notable outlaws coming often to the ranch, both Ann and Josie were first exposed to outlaws.
for eighteen months, starting in 1894, Ann became involved in a relationship with Ben Kilpatrick. By the time Cassidy was released, Will "News" Carver had become involved with Josie, who ended their relationship when Carver became involved with female outlaw Laura Bullion
. Josie in turn became involved with Cassidy for a time, until Cassidy again became involved with Ann.
That was the complicated circle of relationships that developed between the Bassett girls and Cassidy's Wild Bunch
gang. Despite the seemingly constant changes in romantic companions by both the Bassett girls and the gang members, there is no indication that any animosity ever resulted from it.
Josie Bassett was reportedly one of only five women who were ever allowed into the outlaw hideout called "Robbers Roost
", located in the rough Utah terrain, the others being her sister Ann, the Sundance Kid's girlfriend Etta Place
, Elzy Lay's wife Maude Davis, and Will "News" Carver's girl, Laura Bullion
.
Those outlaw relationships, as well as the Bassett ranch supplying beef and horses to the gang, assisted the sisters in their time of need. In 1896, several powerful and wealthy cattlemen approached the Bassetts to sell their ranch. When the sisters refused, the cattlemen's association began hiring cowboy
s to harass the sisters, stampeding their cattle and rustling. The sisters in turn began to rustle cattle from the cattlemen.
Although the cattlemen's association dispatched cowboys to harass the sisters, and intimidate them into selling, the cowboys rarely followed through with the acts for fear of retribution from the outlaws the sisters were known to associate with. One legend indicates that Kid Curry, easily the most feared of the Wild Bunch gang, approached several of the cowboys known to work for the cattlemen, and warned them to leave the Bassetts alone. That story cannot be confirmed, but what is certain is that by 1899, the sisters were receiving very little pressure to sell.
where he lived out the remainder of his life as a respectable businessman. Although he is reported to have been killed in Bolivia, Josie claimed that Butch Cassidy visited her in 1930 and lived in Utah until the late 40s.
Josie Bassett lived most of her life on her father's property, operating the ranch, and choosing a mostly outdoor life, with camping, fishing and hunting being her primary hobbies. She married five times over the course of her lifetime. She divorced four of her husbands, allegedly running one off with a frying pan. A fifth husband died, reportedly of alcoholism
, but rumors persist that Josie poison
ed him. With one husband, Carl McKnight, Bassett had two sons, Crawford McKnight and Herbert "Chick" McKnight.
In 1913 she moved to a homestead
near Vernal, Utah
, and made a new ranch there her lifetime commitment. In 1924, Crawford helped her build a new cabin on this property.
During the Great Depression
, she supplied food to others in the area, particularly with supplies of beef. She made her own soap
, sewed her own clothing, and became known for her prowess at hunting deer
, which she often did not only for her own family but to help feed less fortunate neighbors. In one instance, a Game Warden stopped by her cabin announcing that he was there to arrest her for poaching
. She confessed that she had just killed a deer and took him to the carcass. The game warden was joking with her and took no action.
During the Prohibition
years, Josie made and sold bootlegged
whiskey but she was never arrested. Years after prohibition, she continued to make her own brandy and whiskey until she was finally warned that revenue agents were looking for her still and her son threatened to break it up.
In 1936, rancher and former adversary Jim Robinson accused her of butchering his cattle, and selling it in town. Six other ranchers joined in on the accusations. Hides from the carcasses were found on her property. Bassett was arrested. She claimed the evidence was planted. Several neighbors supplied her with bail money until her trial
. She was tried twice, both ending in a hung jury. After the second trial, the local prosecutor
dropped the charges.
In 1945, she fell victim to a land scheme, and lost most of her land. However, she lived frugally in her cabin and supported herself well into her 80s. In later life, she became an eccentric, and talked often with neighbors about the wild days and her associations with outlaws.
In 1963, she fell when a horse knocked her down, breaking her hip. She died a few months later at the age of 90. She was the last remaining associate of the Wild Bunch gang, and the last direct source of information about its members, their personalities, traits and demeanors.
Ann Bassett
Ann Bassett , also known as Queen Ann Bassett, was a prominent female rancher of the Old West, and with her sister Josie Bassett, was an associate of outlaws, particularly Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch.-Early life:...
are known for their love affairs and associations with well-known outlaws, particularly Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch
Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch
Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch was one of the loosely organized outlaw gangs operating out of the Hole-in-the-Wall in Wyoming during the Old West era in the United States. It was popularized by the 1969 movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and took its name from the original Wild Bunch...
.
Early life
Josie Bassett was born the first of two girls, to Herb Bassett and Elizabeth Chamberlain Bassett, in Arkansas on January 17, 1874. When she was still a young girl, her parents moved to a ranch spanning the tri-state borders of Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. She and her sister were taught to rope, ride, and shoot at a young age. Both girls were sent to prominent boarding schools in their youth, but both chose to return to the ranching life by their teen years.Herb Bassett was well known to many of the famous outlaws of the day, as he did business with them often, supplying them with beef and fresh horses. Among those who visited the Bassett ranch were "Black Jack" Ketchum
Tom Ketchum
Thomas Everard Ketchum , known as Black Jack, was a cowboy who later turned to a life of crime. He was hanged in 1901 for attempted train robbery.-First train robberies and murders:...
, Butch Cassidy
Butch Cassidy
Robert LeRoy Parker , better known as Butch Cassidy, was a notorious American train robber, bank robber, and leader of the Wild Bunch Gang in the American Old West...
, Elzy Lay
Elzy Lay
William Ellsworth "Elzy" Lay was an outlaw of the Old West best known as being a member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch, gang, operating out of the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass in Johnson County, Wyoming...
, Kid Curry, Will "News" Carver
William Carver (Wild Bunch)
William "News" Carver was an American outlaw and a member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch during the closing years of the American Old West. His nickname "News" was given to him because he enjoyed seeing his name in newspaper stories of his gang's exploits...
and Ben Kilpatrick
Ben Kilpatrick
Ben Kilpatrick was an American outlaw during the closing days of the American Old West. He was a member of the Wild Bunch gang led by Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay. He was arrested for robbery and served about 10 years of his 15 year sentence...
. With these notable outlaws coming often to the ranch, both Ann and Josie were first exposed to outlaws.
Association with outlaws
Josie and Ann were extremely good looking young women, and both had a wild side. By 1893, Ann Bassett was involved romantically with Butch Cassidy, and Josie was involved with Elzy Lay, Cassidy's closest friend. When Cassidy was sent away to prisonPrison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
for eighteen months, starting in 1894, Ann became involved in a relationship with Ben Kilpatrick. By the time Cassidy was released, Will "News" Carver had become involved with Josie, who ended their relationship when Carver became involved with female outlaw Laura Bullion
Laura Bullion
Laura Bullion was a female outlaw of the Old West. Most sources indicate that Bullion was born of German and Native American heritage in Knickerbocker, near Mertzon in Irion County, Texas; the exact day of her birth is unclear...
. Josie in turn became involved with Cassidy for a time, until Cassidy again became involved with Ann.
That was the complicated circle of relationships that developed between the Bassett girls and Cassidy's Wild Bunch
Wild Bunch
The Wild Bunch, also known as the Doolin–Dalton Gang or the Oklahombres, was a gang of outlaws based in the Indian Territory that terrorized Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma Territory during the 1890s—robbing banks and stores, holding up trains, and killing lawmen. They were...
gang. Despite the seemingly constant changes in romantic companions by both the Bassett girls and the gang members, there is no indication that any animosity ever resulted from it.
Josie Bassett was reportedly one of only five women who were ever allowed into the outlaw hideout called "Robbers Roost
Robbers Roost
The Robbers Roost was an outlaw hideout in southeastern Utah used mostly by Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch gang in the closing years of the Old West....
", located in the rough Utah terrain, the others being her sister Ann, the Sundance Kid's girlfriend Etta Place
Etta Place
Etta Place was a companion of the American outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid , both members of the outlaw gang known as the Wild Bunch. Principally the companion of Longabaugh, little is known about her; both her origins and her fate remain mysterious...
, Elzy Lay's wife Maude Davis, and Will "News" Carver's girl, Laura Bullion
Laura Bullion
Laura Bullion was a female outlaw of the Old West. Most sources indicate that Bullion was born of German and Native American heritage in Knickerbocker, near Mertzon in Irion County, Texas; the exact day of her birth is unclear...
.
Those outlaw relationships, as well as the Bassett ranch supplying beef and horses to the gang, assisted the sisters in their time of need. In 1896, several powerful and wealthy cattlemen approached the Bassetts to sell their ranch. When the sisters refused, the cattlemen's association began hiring cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
s to harass the sisters, stampeding their cattle and rustling. The sisters in turn began to rustle cattle from the cattlemen.
Although the cattlemen's association dispatched cowboys to harass the sisters, and intimidate them into selling, the cowboys rarely followed through with the acts for fear of retribution from the outlaws the sisters were known to associate with. One legend indicates that Kid Curry, easily the most feared of the Wild Bunch gang, approached several of the cowboys known to work for the cattlemen, and warned them to leave the Bassetts alone. That story cannot be confirmed, but what is certain is that by 1899, the sisters were receiving very little pressure to sell.
After the outlaw days
As time passed, the Wild Bunch gang eventually faded. By 1904, most of the gang members closest to the Bassett girls had either been killed or captured. Her former lover, Wild Bunch gang member Elzy Lay, reportedly visited Ann and Josie at the ranch shortly after his release from prison in 1906, before he moved on CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he lived out the remainder of his life as a respectable businessman. Although he is reported to have been killed in Bolivia, Josie claimed that Butch Cassidy visited her in 1930 and lived in Utah until the late 40s.
Josie Bassett lived most of her life on her father's property, operating the ranch, and choosing a mostly outdoor life, with camping, fishing and hunting being her primary hobbies. She married five times over the course of her lifetime. She divorced four of her husbands, allegedly running one off with a frying pan. A fifth husband died, reportedly of alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, but rumors persist that Josie poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
ed him. With one husband, Carl McKnight, Bassett had two sons, Crawford McKnight and Herbert "Chick" McKnight.
In 1913 she moved to a homestead
Homesteading
Broadly defined, homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency.-Current practice:The term may apply to anyone who follows the back-to-the-land movement by adopting a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. While land is no longer freely available in most areas of the world, homesteading...
near Vernal, Utah
Vernal, Utah
Vernal, Uintah County's largest city, is located in eastern Utah near the Colorado State Line, and 175 miles east of Salt Lake City. It is bordered on the north by the Uinta Mountains, one of the few mountains ranges in the world which lie in an east-west rather than the usual north to south...
, and made a new ranch there her lifetime commitment. In 1924, Crawford helped her build a new cabin on this property.
During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, she supplied food to others in the area, particularly with supplies of beef. She made her own soap
Soap
In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.IUPAC. "" Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. . Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford . XML on-line corrected version: created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN...
, sewed her own clothing, and became known for her prowess at hunting deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, which she often did not only for her own family but to help feed less fortunate neighbors. In one instance, a Game Warden stopped by her cabin announcing that he was there to arrest her for poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
. She confessed that she had just killed a deer and took him to the carcass. The game warden was joking with her and took no action.
During the Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
years, Josie made and sold bootlegged
Rum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
whiskey but she was never arrested. Years after prohibition, she continued to make her own brandy and whiskey until she was finally warned that revenue agents were looking for her still and her son threatened to break it up.
In 1936, rancher and former adversary Jim Robinson accused her of butchering his cattle, and selling it in town. Six other ranchers joined in on the accusations. Hides from the carcasses were found on her property. Bassett was arrested. She claimed the evidence was planted. Several neighbors supplied her with bail money until her trial
Trial
A trial is, in the most general sense, a test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard.It may refer to:*Trial , the presentation of information in a formal setting, usually a court...
. She was tried twice, both ending in a hung jury. After the second trial, the local prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
dropped the charges.
In 1945, she fell victim to a land scheme, and lost most of her land. However, she lived frugally in her cabin and supported herself well into her 80s. In later life, she became an eccentric, and talked often with neighbors about the wild days and her associations with outlaws.
In 1963, she fell when a horse knocked her down, breaking her hip. She died a few months later at the age of 90. She was the last remaining associate of the Wild Bunch gang, and the last direct source of information about its members, their personalities, traits and demeanors.