BASS BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== BASS, Edwin - b: 1827 Boone Co, MO source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 555 residence: Windsor Edwin Bass, deceased, was born in Boone County, Missouri, February 23, 1827. His father, Lawrence Bass, originally from Baltimore, Maryland, moved to Tennessee and then to Boone County, Missouri. His mother was formerly Nancy Patten, of North Carolina. They were married in Nashville, Tennessee. Edwin was the twelfth of a family of thirteen children. After working faithfully on his father's farm until seventeen years of age, and attending school winters, he entered a store in Nashville, Missouri, where he acquired a knowledge of general trade, and after remaining here for three years or more he left and obtained a situation on a Missouri River boat as clerk, which position he held for one season. He then opened a store in Nashville, but soon sold out, and in the spring of 1850 started a store in Claysville, Boone County. His business was carried on very successfully until the fall of 1865, when he came to Windsor and before long he was a leading merchant and one of the most respected citizens here. He married Miss Mary Jane Spencer in January, 1856. She was the daughter of Perry Spencer, of Boone County, who was born in Maryland. Her mother's maiden name was Eliza Jane Wiseman, daughter of James Wiseman, of Virginia. She died in 1845. Edwin Bass, the subject of this sketch, died at his home October 15, 1882. Politically he was a Democrat, and an exemplary member of the M. E. Church, south. In 1865, upon removing his family to Windsor, he purchased the hotel property, now known as the Bass house, from Samuel Duncan. In the same year he opened a store under the firm name of Bass & Major, on the place where the present brick structure now stands. In 1866 or 1867, he purchased the entire stock and store and in 1868 he sold the stock to Aaron Saunders, who failed, and he was obliged to re-purchase it. In the fall of 1868 he disposed of the stock of goods to the Tryon Brothers, who occupied the house until 1869. During the seasons of 1868-9 he employed much of his time in improving a new farm, two miles east of Windsor, which he owned at the time of his death. In the spring of 1869 he again engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of A. J. Bass & Co. A. J. Bass sold his interest eighteen months later, and the new firm was formed by Edwin Bass and J. S. Kelly, Bass & Kelly. Under this new management business prospered, and in 1874 they erected the present two story brick store, 24x70, which is a fine building. Mr. Bass was a life long Christian, his membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, south, commencing from his early boyhood. He was a zealous worker, always active in the local organizations, where he made his home, as church steward and Sunday School superintendent. He contributed liberally to all church work and the spread of the gospel. He was a friend to the poor and bestowed charity upon those in need, and in his death the county lost one of its most esteemed men, and Windsor one of its most valued citizens. Edward Spencer, brother of Mrs. Bass, came to Windsor in 1870, and has since made his home with his sister. He was born in Boone County in 1825. He learned the carpenter's trade in youth, and has ever done much in the building line. Since coming to this place he has spent much of his time in the store. ==================================================================== BASS, James Harvey - b: 1834 Howard Co, MO source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 556 residence: Windsor James Harvey Bass, stock dealer and proprietor of the Bass House, was born in Howard County, Missouri, in June, 1834. His father, George P. Bass, who was born in Nashville, Tennessee, died in Howard County in, 1863. He came to Boone County as an early pioneer and established a tannery, which he carried on for many years. The mother of James, formerly Susanna M. Wiseman and a native of Kentucky, is now living in Boone County. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm and received a common school education, and learned the plastering trade. He worked some on the farm and at plastering in the fall seasons, and in 1861 he became a member of the Home Guards. Coming to Henry County in 1867, he settled twelve miles west of Windsor on a farm, working the farm and also doing the plastering for the country around about. He married Mrs. Elizabeth (Woolfolk) Wall December 16, 1868. She had two sons by her first husband, Eugene E. and Julius F. Julius F. married Miss Katie Burress, of Windsor, July 8, 1882. Mrs. Bass' first husband, Julius F. Wall, was killed at the battle of Lone Jack August 16, 1862. He was with Colonel Cockrell's regiment. Her father, Charles T. Woolfolk, was born in Virginia, but was raised in Kentucky. His father was John Woolfolk, a Virginian by birth and of English descent and a soldier in the revolution. Her mother was originally Polly A. Payne, of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Bass have four daughters: Katie Woolfolk, Sallie P., Mary Ella and Bessie Lewis. In 1869 Mr. Bass commenced the stock business and has made it his principal occupation since then. In 1876 he went to Texas with his family and started a sheep ranch in Comanche County with his brother, Lawrence. They continued it for four years. Selling out, he returned to his farm near Windsor, but soon disposed of this and moved into town. As the stock business was his favorite calling, he immediately commenced operations in company with Jacob Strauss, and since that time they have been the leading buyers in town. They are members of the Baptist Church and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Bass has been a very fortunate business man and accumulated a large property. He is liberal in the support of schools, churches and the different enterprises of the city. Mrs. Bass has charge of the hotel and is proving herself to be a most capable and energetic woman. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================