John A. Bassford Page 510-511 - John A Bassford. With offices in the Federal Square building in the city of Grand Rapids, Mr. Bassford is giving vigorous and successful administration as western Michigan manager for the Aetna Life Insurance Company, for which he has developed a large and representative business in his assigned jurisdiction. Mr. Bassford was born at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, January 14, 1882, and is a son of John and Ida (Wolcott) Bassford , the latter of whom is deceased. John Bassford, who was born in Canada of English ancestry, became an early settler at Sturgeon Bay, where he was for many years engaged in the mercantile business, he being now a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota. His wife was born in Vermont and was a resident of Sturgeon Bay at the time of her death. The public schools of the Badger state afforded John A. Bassford his youthful education, and virtually his entire active career has been marked by association with the insurance business, with which he has been identified nearly a quarter of a century. Mr. Bassford came to Grand Rapids in 1907, and after having here been for some time a representative of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, he transferred his productive allegiance to the old and influential Aetna Life Insurance Company with which he has since made a record of splendid service. The company’s business in Michigan is divided into three administrative districts, with general offices at Detroit, Grand Rapids and Flint. The district of western Michigan, of which Mr. Bassford has charge, is comprised of thirty-three counties, in which he has supervision of the work of fifty agents. Mr. Bassford has gained authoritative knowledge of all phases of life insurance and as an executive has proved in results his excellent administrative and initiative ability. He is a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters and also of the Michigan Association of Life Underwriters. His political alignment is with the Republican party, he is affiliated with the Scottish Rite body of the Masonic fraternity, as well as the Mystic Shrine, has membership in the Peninsular Club of Grand Rapids and the Masonic Country Club, and he and his wife are communicants of Grace church, Protestant Episcopal. On the 29th of October, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bassford to Miss Gertrude Sibree, of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and they have three children: Sibree W., Helen M., and John A., Jr.

Transcriber:  Nancy Myers
Created: 5 November 2002