Oscar T. Bassett
Encyclopedia
Oscar T. Bassett was a prominent El Paso, Texas
businessman. Bassett, California
is named for him.
and orphaned early. In the 1860 census, he was living in McHenry County, Illinois. With little formal education, he drifted in and out of the army before settling in Clinton, Indiana
, where he was a contractor and lumber dealer. Bassett married Myrtle Alma Nebeker in 1879. A street was later named for him in Clinton.
in 1879, where he started a lumber business. He arrived in El Paso, Texas
in 1880 to buy real estate for the Texas and Pacific Railway
and to investigate some Arizona mines. Bassett returned to Indiana for the birth of his son (C. N. Bassett). His wife died soon thereafter, and Bassett returned to El Paso. On the way he stopped in St. Louis, Missouri
to arrange financing for El Paso's first bank. He later became a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of El Paso, later known as the State National Bank. Bassett was also in the lumber business and was a large landholder. He had properties and banking interests in Oklahoma
, Los Angeles
and El Paso. He was president of the El Paso school board in 1882. Bassett also served as an El Paso city councilman.
He died in his office above a lumberyard on January 3, 1898.
with the class of 1900. In 1901, Charles Bassett came to El Paso after the death of his father, to operate the O.T. Bassett and Company lumber business. In 1929 Charles Bassett built the 15-story O.T. Bassett Tower
as a memorial to his father. Charles Bassett died in Santa Monica, California
and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso, Texas
from the son of William Workman
and the Bassett Township
was established. In 1921, Josephine Workman
won a lawsuit against Charles N. Bassett to recover an interest in the Rancho La Puente land. The decision was reversed in 1922.
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
businessman. Bassett, California
Bassett, California
Bassett is an unincorporated community in the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California, United States, located within the Census boundaries of Avocado Heights...
is named for him.
Early life and career
Oscar Thomas (O. T.) Bassett, son of Abner Snow and Betsey Bassett and grandson of Perez and Lydia (Snow) Bassett, was born in Rutland County, VermontVermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and orphaned early. In the 1860 census, he was living in McHenry County, Illinois. With little formal education, he drifted in and out of the army before settling in Clinton, Indiana
Clinton, Indiana
Clinton is a city in Vermillion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,893 at the 2010 census. The city was established in 1829 and is named after DeWitt Clinton, who served as governor of New York from 1817 to 1823. Many of Clinton's original settlers were immigrants working in coal...
, where he was a contractor and lumber dealer. Bassett married Myrtle Alma Nebeker in 1879. A street was later named for him in Clinton.
El Paso, Texas
Bassett moved to Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
in 1879, where he started a lumber business. He arrived in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
in 1880 to buy real estate for the Texas and Pacific Railway
Texas and Pacific Railway
The Texas and Pacific Railway Company was created by federal charter in 1871 with the purpose of building a southern transcontinental railroad between Marshall, Texas, and San Diego, California....
and to investigate some Arizona mines. Bassett returned to Indiana for the birth of his son (C. N. Bassett). His wife died soon thereafter, and Bassett returned to El Paso. On the way he stopped in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
to arrange financing for El Paso's first bank. He later became a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of El Paso, later known as the State National Bank. Bassett was also in the lumber business and was a large landholder. He had properties and banking interests in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and El Paso. He was president of the El Paso school board in 1882. Bassett also served as an El Paso city councilman.
He died in his office above a lumberyard on January 3, 1898.
Charles Nebeker Bassett
Charles Nebeker Bassett (October 8, 1880 – June 10, 1944), son of pioneer O.T. Bassett was born in Indiana, and educated in the schools of Indiana, graduating from Wabash CollegeWabash College
Wabash College is a small, private, liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Morehouse College, Wabash is one of only three remaining traditional all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.-History:Wabash College was founded...
with the class of 1900. In 1901, Charles Bassett came to El Paso after the death of his father, to operate the O.T. Bassett and Company lumber business. In 1929 Charles Bassett built the 15-story O.T. Bassett Tower
O.T. Bassett Tower
The O. T. Bassett Tower is an Art Deco skyscraper located at 303 Texas Avenue in Downtown El Paso, Texas. It was built by Charles N. Bassett, who named it in honor of his father. The tower was designed by Trost & Trost and completed in 1930, making it one of Henry Trost's last commissions...
as a memorial to his father. Charles Bassett died in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso, Texas
Bassett, California
In 1895, O.T. Bassett acquired 814 acres (3.3 km²) of the Rancho La PuenteRancho La Puente
Rancho La Puente was a ranch in the eastern San Gabriel Valley that, in its fullest extent, measured just under , and remained intact until about 1870. By modern landmarks, the ranch extended from San Gabriel River on the west to just west of the 57 Freeway on the east and from Ramona...
from the son of William Workman
William H. Workman
William Henry Workman was an American politician, banker and businessman. He served two terms as the 18th Mayor of Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...
and the Bassett Township
Bassett, California
Bassett is an unincorporated community in the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California, United States, located within the Census boundaries of Avocado Heights...
was established. In 1921, Josephine Workman
Mona Darkfeather
Mona Darkfeather was an American actress. During the silent era of motion pictures, from 1911 to 1917, she appeared in 102 movies...
won a lawsuit against Charles N. Bassett to recover an interest in the Rancho La Puente land. The decision was reversed in 1922.