Biography of George Washington Bassett, Jr., St. Augustine, St. Johns County, FL

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Transcribed from:  The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. 
III, page 286, 1923.

BASSETT Jr., GEORGE WASHINGTON.  One of the active and very successful members of the bar 
of St. Augustine, GEORGE WASHINGTON BASSETT, Jr., brought to his profession an equipment 
and qualifications the result of a most unusual range of experience and exceptional personal 
gifts.

He was born at Lake City, Columbia County, Florida, December 25, 1884, son of GEORGE WASHINGTON 
and CORINNE ELIZABETH (MONCRIEF) BASSETT, his father a native of Charleston, South Carolina, 
and his mother of Montgomery, Alabama.  His father began his education in South Carolina, and 
was a boy when the family established their home at Tallahassee, Florida, where he grew up, 
completed his school work, and then began railroading as a lifelong occupation and profession.  
For a time he was with the Florida Central and Peninsula Railroad, then with the Florida 
Southern Railroad, and for many years has been with the Atlantic Coast Line.  He has been 
conductor, station agent, yard master and is now chief clerk in the freight operating department 
at Palatka, which has been the home of the family for over thirty years.  The father is 
affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, is a democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, South.  He and his wife have two children, GEORGE W., Jr., and MABEL C., wife of D. 
J. COUGHLIN.

GEORGE W. BASSETT, Jr., was three years of age when his parents moved to Palatka.  He attended 
the grammar and high school there, and was then appointed a cadet in the United States Naval 
Academy at Annapolis.  Eighteen months later he resigned on account of ill health.  Following 
that he was an employee for several months in the general offices of the Atlantic Coast Line 
Railroad at Palatka.  He continued his higher education in Stetson University at DeLand and 
also at the University of Florida.  As a result of a competitive examination had received an 
appointment to the West Point Military Academy, but did not enter that institution since 
there seemed to be an opportunity to acquire a commission two years earlier through actual 
service.  Consequently in November, 1904, he became a private in the One Hundred and Eleventh 
Company of the Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Dade, Edgmont, Florida.  In 1906 he took the 
physical and mental examination for a commission at Fort Oglethorpe, but failed to receive a 
commission of second lieutenant through lack of sufficient service.  He had been made a 
noncommissioned officer two months after entering the army and in 1907 he took his discharge 
as sergeant major.  While in the army he taught the Post School and was the chief plotter, 
these facts indicating something of his versatility.  After taking his discharge he was made 
assistant construction engineer in the Quartermaster's Department and continued until March, 
1908.  He has been for a number of years Judge Advocate General of the National Guard of Florida.

After leaving the army Mr. BASSETT was in the insurance business as cashier of the Florida 
Life Insurance Company at Tampa, and subsequently as district manager for the company of the 
East Coast of Florida.  In May, 1910, he took up the study of shorthand, acquired proficiency 
in thirty days' time, and while acting as stenographer with several law firms at Palatka, he 
studied law and in eighteen months was admitted to the bar.  He had begun the study of law 
privately while in the army.  He was admitted on examination before the Supreme Court June 13, 
1912, and at once engaged in general practice at Palatka.  On January 18, 1915, Mr. BASSETT 
removed to St. Augustine.  He handles a general practice, and has represented a number of 
prominent interests during his professional career.

He is a member of the St. Johns County Bar Association.  Fraternally he is affiliated with 
Ashler Lodge No. 98, F. & A. M., and demitted from Florida Consistory No. 2, to become a 
charter member of St. Augustine Lodge of Perfection No. 1.  He is also a member of Morocco 
Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Jacksonville, is a charter member of the St. Augustine Rotary 
Club, and a member of the Country Club.  In politics he is a democrat and a member of the 
State Executive Democratic Committee.

January 19, 1908, Mr. BASSETT married Miss LENA H. DIVINE, daughter of W. D. DIVINE, a prominent 
citizen of St. Petersburg.  She was born at Bartow, Polk County, Florida.  They have two 
children, GEORGIA CLARICE and NAN ELIZABETH.