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ADAM BASSETT, formerly a substantial and prosperous farmer of this county, to which he came when Michigan was yet a Territory, in 1835, became one of the leading men of the community, and when his death occurred, March 30, 1887, it was felt by all who knew him that a good man was called to his rest. He was situated on section 34, Batavia Township, and met with very good success in the pursuit of his chosen calling.

Adam Bassett was born in Andes, Delaware Co., N.Y., March 1, 1823, and was the son of John Bassett, who was a native of Martha's Vineyard, Mass., where he was born on the 20th of March, 1793. He married Cynthia Benjamin, who was a native of the same island, and was born Sept. 24, 1793. After the marriage ceremony, which also took place on that Island, John Bassett and his young wife removed to Andes, N.Y., and remained there until eight of their family of ten children were born. They then, accompanied by their family, started overland to Michigan, and arriving in this county located on Government land, on section 33, Batavia Township. They were the very first settlers in this township, and it is needless to state that with their large family they experienced all the vicissitudes that fell to the lot of the pioneer. But they perservered. until finally they saw grow up around them a beautiful section of country, redeemed from the sway of nature by indefatigable and persistent toil. The father died in March, about 1873 or 1874, after attaining the age of eighty-four years, while his wife had passed away many years previously, in 1860, when sixty-two years of age. John Bassett was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a good, honest and industrious man, and he and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While improving his tract of 160 acres of wild land in Batavia Township, Mr. Bassett had foudn time to engage in teaching, and conducting one of the first schools taught in the township. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, and was an influential man in the early history of the township.

The parental family of our subject was increased after the arrival of the parents in Michigan to ten children, seven sons and three daughters, of whom Adam was the third in order of birth, and they are recorded as follows: Amelia, Arnold S., Adam, Emily, Edward H., John C., Francis, Marcus T., Sophia L., and George H. Adam was reared and educated chiefly in Batavia Township, and was there united in marriage, Nov. 24, 1850, with Miss Adeline Roberts, who was born in Mendon Township, Monroe County, NY, April 2, 1824, and is the second child of Lyman and Sally M. (Stimpson) Roberts, natives of New York State. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Roberts settled in Mendon, and there resided until the death of the wife, which occurred in 1826, when she was less than thirty years old, being called away by that dread disease consumption, and leaving three children, the youngest of whom was six months old. After the death of his wife Lyman Roberts removed to Lockport, Niagara County, and for some time acted in the capacity of Sheriff of the county. He subsequently went west and started a good grocery store in Chicago, which he conducted for some years, and finally came to Michigan and lived with his eldest daughter, Mrs. Marshall Miller, of Batavia Township, until his death, which occurred in 1868, when he was sixty- eight years of age. In politics he was a Republican, and was an active and practical business man most of his life.

According to an arrangement made by her mother just before her death, Mrs. Bassett was regularly adopted by the former's sister, Carolina Leet, and was reared by her aunt, with whom she lived until her marriage. At six years of age she accompanied the family to Ohio, and in 1848 they came to Michigan and made a settlement in Batavia Township, where Mrs. Leet and her noble husband, John L. Leet, both passed away, ripe in years and honros. A brother of Mrs. Adeline Bassett, Mortimer D. Roberts, was but six months old when his mother died, and he was afterward given by his father to a man by the name of Eals, who was to care for him for some years but was not to adopt him. The foster father, howeveer, abducted the child and took him to Philadelphia, where the father lost all trace of both. They subsequently removed to Minnesota, where Mortimer grew to manhood, and after serving through the late Rebellion, married and settled down to farm life, all the while supposing that he was the sone of Mr. Eals. But the anxious father never gave up hope, and at length, learning through a friend the address of the Eals family, instituted a search, and finally found his long-lost son. There was great rejoicing over this reunion, and he was rewarded for his efforts by having his son return with him to Batavia Township, where he still resides.

Our subject and his wife at once engaged in farming in Batavia Township, where Mr. B. secured a tract of 120 acres of land, which is still owned by Mrs. Bassett, and there spent the remainder of his life. They became the parents of two children: Ida, the wife of Thomas Reading, residing on a farm in Bethel Township, and Elmer J., who took to wife Edna Sheldon, of Matteson Township, and is now operating the homestead. In addition to general farming he makes the breeding of horses a specialty, and owns "Minnesota Jack," a Clydesdale horse and a very valuable animal. He owns another wellbred animal, "Adicure," of trotting stock, which is stout and active, and gives promise of developing into a fast horse.