OBIT: Malachi Z. BASSLER, 1917, Martinsburg, Blair County, PA

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M. Z. Bassler.

  At his home in Martinsburg, at 8 o'clock Saturday evening, M. Z. 
Bassler, editor of the Martinsburg Herald, and for over eight years the 
Tribune's Martinsburg correspondent, died of a complication of 
diseases, aged 52 years, 11 months and 26 days.
  Mr. Bassler was a son of Rev. Joseph and Rebecca Zook Bassler, and 
was born in Woodbury township, Bedford county, January 31, 1864.  He 
received his education in the common schools and in the Woodbury normal 
and at the age of 18 became a school teacher in Bedford county, 
following that profession for eight years under the superintendency of 
the late J. H. Cessna.  In 1890 he became a mail clerk, and after 
several promotions was assigned a desk in the postmaster general's 
department at Washington.  During his service he was in four serious 
railroad wrecks, narrowing escaping instant death at Allegheny Furnace 
in 1895.
  January 1, 1903, Mr. Bassler became editor of the Martinsburg Herald, 
which he made one of the brightest and best of the weeklies of Central 
Pennsylvania, and also largely increased its circulation.  His assuming 
of the editorial chair was perhaps the realizing of a long cherished 
ambition, for he had been [sic] early in life developed considerable 
talent for newspaper work, serving as correspondent of the Everett 
Press and the Bedford Inquirer.  He was also a regular contributor to 
the Railway Mail and other publications.
  In politics, he was a Republican, and this fact prevented his 
confirmation as postmaster in 1912, when the Democratic senate held up 
some 1,500 such appointments of President Taft.  He served his home 
town as treasurer for several years and was a man of large influence.
  On December 27, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Huldah Agnes 
Dicken, near Clearville, Bedford county.  They resided at Woodbury, 
Hyndman and Henrietta, moving thence to Martinsburg in 1902.  His wife 
and the following children survive him: Mrs. E. I. Burget, of 
Martinsburg; William C., of Roaring Spring; J. Earl, of Hollidaysburg; 
Adah G., Walter A., J. Harold, E. Oren, all at home.  These sisters and 
brothers also survive: Mrs. Mary Roberts, of Deer Park, Wash.; Mrs. 
Fannie Lesher, of Abilene, Kan.; D. F., of Woodbury; E. D., of Mines.
  The funeral service will be held at the home in Martinsburg, on 
Tuesday, at 2:30 p.m.  Rev. W. H. Snyder will officiate, assisted by 
Rev. E. R. Detrick.  Interment in Fairview cemetery.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday Morning, January 29, 1917

1870 Middle Woodbury Township, Bedford County census -
Joseph Bassler, 31  
Rebecca Bassler, 36  
Daniel Bassler, 7  
Malachi Bassler, 5  
Mary Bassler, 3  
Emanuel Bassler, 1