William Calvin "Will" Bass

Notes:

When Will was courting Lizzie both families lived in Abesville, Missouri. The Bass family lived up "Bass Hollow" southeast of Abesville. The Simmons familie lived northeast of Abesville near the Christian-Stone county line. Will rode a horse or walked across the fields to go see Lizzie. They were married in the home of her parents; both fathers were witnesses to the ceremony. They lived in Stone county most of their married life and were parents of nine children.

William and Elizabeth (Lizzie) moved to North Hayes, Reno County, Kansas by 1930 with son James, where they farmed a rented farm. They were back on the family farm in Reeds Spring by 1935. Lived in Garber, Missouri in 1942.

Farmer, died age 69 years 11 months 9 days. Death Certificate # 10802, informant: Mrs. Lizzie Bass, Garber, Taney Co., MO.

William married Nancy Elizabeth Simmons on 20 Jan 1895 in Ponce de Leon, Stone, Missouri. Nancy (daughter of Francis Marion Simmons and Malinda Cordelia Hagewood) was born on 28 Jul 1877 in Hickory County, Missouri, USA; died on 2 Feb 1960 in Branson, Taney, Missouri; was buried on 20 Feb 1960 in Ponce de Leon, Stone, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Charles Leroy "Roy" Bass was born on 22 Jun 1896 in Galena, Stone, Missouri, USA; died on 1 Jun 1958 in Kern County, CA, USA; was buried in Johannesburg, Kern, California, USA.
2. Clarinda Gertrude "Clara" Bass was born on 14 Jul 1899 in Galena, Stone, Missouri, USA; died on 19 Aug 1901 in Ponce de Leon, Stone, Missouri; was buried in Ponce de Leon, Stone, Missouri.
3. Cordelia Merle Bass was born on 12 Aug 1901 in Oto, Stone, MO; died on 1 Jan 1979 in Spokane, Christian, Missouri, USA; was buried in Spokane Cemetary, Christian Co., MO.
4. Mildred Bass was born on 12 Nov 1903 in Abesville, Stone, Missouri, USA; died on 28 Nov 1991 in Wayne, Wayne, Michigan; was buried in Spokane Cemetary, Christian Co., MO.
5. Fannie Bass was born on 19 Nov 1905 in Christian, Missouri, USA; died on 10 Oct 1960 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA.
6. William Oscar Bass was born on 14 Dec 1907 in Crane, Stone, Missouri, USA; died on 22 May 1922 in Ozark, Christian, MO; was buried in Ponce de Leon, Stone, Missouri.
7. Nannie Bass was born on 24 Mar 1910 in Grant, Stone, Missouri; died on 8 Jul 1995 in Spokane, Christian, Missouri, USA.
8. James Shannon Bass was born on 1 Apr 1913 in Stone, Missouri, USA; died on 3 Jun 1998 in Reeds Spring, Stone, Missouri.

Notes:

Both John and his sister Mary were helped to education by their uncle Eli Bass. Both also married Massey (Nathaniel and Clarinda).

88 years 11 months 6 days. Death Certificate # 21715, informant: Clara C. Bass, Reed Springs, MO.

John married Clarinda Clementine "Clarie" Massey on 2 Mar 1870 in Crane, Stone, Missouri, USA. Clarinda (daughter of James H. Massey and Martha Ellen Anderson) was born on 4 Jan 1852 in Campell Twp, Greene, Missouri, USA; died on 27 Jul 1950 in Lowry City, St. Clair County, Missouri; was buried on 29 Jul 1950 in Ponce de Leon, Stone, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Clara Or C.C.

Notes:

Clarinda never dressed herself untill she was 16 yrs. old. They had slaves to do this.

1860 • Campbell, Greene, Missouri, near Springfield
1870 • Washington, Stone, Missouri
1880 • Flat Creek, Stone, Missouri, USA
1900 • Ponce de Leon & Washington Townships, Stone, Missouri
1910 • Mckinley, Stone, Missouri
1920 • Ruth, Stone, Missouri
1930 • Reeds Spring, Stone, Missouri
1950 • Lowry City, St Clair, Missouri, USA

Gravestone. Widow, 98 years 6 months 23 days: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52514849&ref=acom

Other Events:

• Name: Theo

Notes:

Theophilus Bass, was the first County-Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Taney County (now part of Stone County, Missouri), being appointed in 1837 by Governor Lilburn W. Boggs. Coming from a family with means, he was highly educated for one of that period, and was very industrious and had taken up the work of surverying. It was while surveying the "base line" with Nathaniel Boone (son of Daniel Boone) that he met, wooed and won Mildred Shannon, daughter of John David Shannon, of White River Township.

Theophilus Bass entered his land on White River (Missouri), just a little way from Forsyth, on August 23, 1845), comprising about 132 acres of Government land for which he paid $1,25 an acre, but turned in Government vouchers for surveyers services as payment. It was on both sides of the river and part of it became known and still is rememered as the Casey homestead (not related Caseys!). The land was sold to Levi Casey in April of 1848, for $1500 the year before Theophilus Bass died. Ill health may have been a factor in his selling this land for he was not quite forty years old.

Theophilus owned NW 1/4 on the West and the NE 1/4 on the East side of the White River, giving him a shore line of 1 3/4 miles on the west and 3/4 miles on the east side of the river, and which comprised the new Shepherd of the Hills Estates.

He lived on the south side of White River and held court at the mouth of Bull Creek. He was the sixth representative from Taney County to the 15th Gen. Assembly from Taney County, at Jefferson City, in 1848-49., and died while in office March 11th 1849. He was buried at Jefferson City, by Special Act of the Legislature and a tablet was erected to his memory.

The following is taken from the proceedings of the Session of 1848-49: "An Act to pay funeral expenses of Hon. Theopolis Bass" Introduced and passed in the Senate march 12, 1849. Mr Mares introduced a Resolution in reference to the death of Theo. Bass, which were read, rules suspended and adopted. Mr. Hicks, introduced a Resolution autorizing George P. Bass (brother) to draw the pay which is due Theo. Bass, late member of Taney County, deceased. Adopted (House). House adopted an Act to pay funeral expenses. Senate adopted following Resolutions relating to the death of Theopolis Bass, and have also adopted House resolutions on the same subject. The House concurred in the Resolitions from the Senate in reference to the death of T.B.

The inscription on the tablet in the Cemetery reads: "Sacred to the memory of Theopolis Bass, late Representative from Taney County, Missouri, who was born in Columbia, Murray County, Tennesse, on the 2nd of February 1811, and died on the 11th of March 1949. Erected by an Act of the General Assembly".

The Missouri Statesman, published at Columbia, Missouri, says on March 16th, 1849: "Mr. Theopolis Bass, a member of the Legislature from Taney County, and who has been seriously ill during most of the Session, died on Saturday night last. Mr. Bass, was a son of Mr. Lawrence Bass of this County."

In reading the preceedings of the latter part of this Session, Theopolis Bass, was absent for many days, unable to answer the roll call, but was reported from day to day as being sick and unable to atend the Sessions. At that day and age, distances were great, roads were bad, travel was light, and news was carried slowly and largely from "mouth to mouth". Mrs. Bass, (or as she was known later, Grandma Nelson,) did not know anything of her husbands death, until weeks later a horseman came riding to her doorway, leading another horse, and announced the death of Theopolis. The riderless horse was the one Theo. rode away to Jefferson City on when he went to attend the Legislature. On its return, it carried his saddle, saddle bags, clothing and gun and other belongings. The rider was believed to be one of his brothers from Boone county.

Theophilus married Mildred Catherine Shannon on 5 Nov 1840 in Forsyth, Missouri. Mildred (daughter of John David Shannon and Mary Polly Goode) was born on 17 Nov 1823 in White River Township, Independence County, Arkansas, USA; died on 17 Jul 1906 in Oto, Stone, Missouri, USA; was buried in 1906 in Nelson Cemetery, Oto, Stone, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Milly

Notes:

1850 Swan, Taney, Missouri
1860 Washington Township, Stone, Missouri
1880 Washington, Stone, Missouri

A letter to Mrs. Mildred C. Bass, Forsyth, Taney County, Missouri.

Jefferson City, Jan. 3, 1849.

My Dear, I have with pleasure taken my pen in hand to inform you that I have missed the chills for several days hoping that I am now entirely clear and remain so. I was taken with the chill on Friday after I left home and had them several days though the weather was so cold, sleeting and snowing on us all the way from Hancock s here. I looked for noting else. I have not been up to Father s yet. I expect to go up on Saturday nect. Brother Eli, was here last week. Our relations are well. Father strained his ankle and has been laid up with it for several weeks. James Harris, married Sabru Jackson, shortly after he returned from the south. I have an excellent place to board. There are seven of us together, Hancock, Neveas, Hicks, Cole, Hawkins, Sanders and myself, all good moral men. (Hancock was a Senator from the 21st District; the rest of the men were representatives, Neaves from Greene County, Hicks from Ozark County, Cole from Morgan County, Hawkins from Camden County and Sanders from Chariton County). All of the members are complaining of colds and several are pretty sick. It is said that the cholera is in St. Louis and some of the members are very uneasy for fear it will get here and if it does, we will adjourn forthwith and go home. I am unable to say when the Legislature will adjourn, but I do think it will not be a long session. I am anxious to see you and the children. It would give me more pleasure to be with you and the children than all the luxury and splender here which I am surrounded. You will please write to me as it will be more pleasure to see a line from your hands than all the news I could receive from any other. You can write me and seal your leter and have it backed by some person to me. My dear, do not fail to wirte to me often, and I will do the same with you. Kiss the children for me, especially sweet little John and give all the news of the neighborhood. Do the best you can. My dear, I remain Your affectionate Husband, Theo. Bass

-------------------------------------------------------- Ozark County, Missouri, March 20th A.D. 1849.

Mrs. Bass, I inclose to you a few lines on my return home from Jefferson City which will inform you of the death of your husband. I can say to you that I was eye witness to all his sickness. We both roomed and bedded together until he got too low to be troubled. I waited on him through all his sickness which was 52 days with countinued feavour. His two brothers, George and Edward Bass, Pilee Dunkns wife and Wade Jackson was there nearly through all his sickness. He died on the 11th March the day before the Legislature broke. I got an Act past the day we adjourned appropriating two hundred dollars to pay his funeral ecpenses and to erect a tomb over his grave. I also interduced a resolution and got it pst authorizing George P. Bass to draw his pay as a member from the treasur which was $282.00. He is to settle off his bill both for Boarding and Doctor fees and account you for the remained. His beast was at his brothers and I think George Bass was to take charge of his clothing and return all to you as soon as he could conveanently. If you wish any further information you will please write to me. Your Friend and well wisher in hast, Robert Hicks

Other Events:

• Name: Captain In War Of 1812
• Name: James Henry

Notes:

Greene Co, Missouri, History book, pages 1927-29:
Born in Ireland, where he spent his boyhood and attended school. When eighteen years of age he ran away from home and sailed on broad Atlantic toward the United States to seek his fortune. He first settled in Knox County, Tennessee, at the foot of the Cumberland Mountains, regarding whose picturesque inhabitants so much has been written, and in that locality he was married and made his home until the year 1832, when he made the tedious and somewhat hazardous overland trip to Greene county, Missouri, bringing his family in a primitive wagon, and thus the Masseys were among the earliest pioneers of this locality.

He secured a tract of land just east of what is now the thriving city of Springfield, but which was at that time an encampment of the Kickapoo Indians. He set to work with a will, cleared, broke and fenced his land, erected a log cabin and by perseverance and hard work became very comfortably fixed in due course and time, and was a man of influence among the early frontiersmen, his neighbours being, however, very few and most of them some miles distant, untill more Tennesseeans followed him, the Fulbrights, the Freemans and others.

Although he devoted the major portion of his life to farming, he was a mechanic by trade and a skilled workman. He made the first separator, or "ground-hog" tresher, ever seen in this part of the country. During the war of 1812, he enlisted in defense of his adopted country, gladly fighting against the flag under which he was born, and for meritoruius conduct on the field of battle he was promoted from a private to a captain, and served with distinction throughout the war. Politically he was first a Whig, then a Republican after that party was organized in the fifties. His death occured on his farm here in 1863.

His first wife was Faithful Strickland, she bore him 13 children. Among them Nathaniel J., William, Mrs. Mc Adams, Mrs. Rountree. William was a quarter master in the Union Army during the Civil War. His second wife, Martha Ellen Anderson, was a native of Tennessee, where she grew up and recieved a limited education. She lived to an advanced age, dying in Stone County, Missouri, in February 1899?. To these parents nine children were born."

1810 Living next door to Moses Strickland, Pendleton district, South Carolina.
1820, Pendleton district, SC.
1830, Giles, TN, family of ten, seven slaves.
1840, Greene, Missouri
1844, Sep 10th, James H. Massey bought 79 acres of land in Springfield, MO (twp 29).
1845, May 5th, James Massey bought 80 acres of land in Springfield, MO (twp 29).
1850, Campell, Greene, Missouri
1859, June 1st, James H. Massey, bought 40 acres of at Springfield, MO.

He may have had a brother Ephraim M. Massey, who is mentioned in connection with the Treaty from the Cherokee in 1820:

TREASURY OFFICE - Columbia, May 9, 1820
Notice is hereby given to Noble Anderson, Thomas Smith, E.M. Massey, Jane Poteat, Ira Nicholson, Wm. Beavort, David Kitchen, William Deadman, Philemon Crane, and Ralph Cobb respectively, and all other persons who have not yet paid the second instalment upon their Bonds, given for the purchase money of each Tract or Tracts of Land as may have been bought by them, at the sale of Public Lands lying in that part of Pendleton District, lately known as Teritory purchased by Treaty from the Cherokee Indians which was sold in March, 1818, at the house of Ephraim Massey, on the old Cherokee Boundary Line; that they and each of them, by delaying to pay the said second installment now due, have made default, and that unless the said second installment shall be paid within sixty days from the date hereof, together with the costs of this publication, the payments heretofore made will be forefeited and the lands purchased by them revert to the State.
Benjamin T. Elmore
Treasurer Upper Division
Note on Ancestry: The same above ad ran into mid July 1820. The E.M. Massey shown on the above notice was Ephraim Massey, brother of James Massey who will move to Greene Co., Missouri.
The above ad was found on GenealogyBank.com Newspaper Archives subscription service.

(Half)siblings may have been: Ephraim Miller Massey, Jane Brown (born Massey), Sarah Dunlap (born Massey), Martha Smith (born Massey), Robert Massey, Mary Margaret Knox Patrick (born Massey).

Uncertain how all these siblings in the US coincides with the history James running away from home in Ireland. Both Limerick and Northern Ireland have been mentioned as a birthplace. Sarah Jane "Sally" Massey Taylor, James' daughter, states on 1930 census that her father was born in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland was not a country untill 1921.

Birth:
Sarah Jane "Sally" Massey Taylor, James' daughter, states on 1930 census that her father was born in Northern Ireland.

James married Martha Ellen Anderson on 10 Jul 1838 in Springfield, Greene, Missouri, USA. Martha (daughter of Samuel Anderson and Mary McKenzie) was born in 1819 in Pendelton, South Carolina; died on 15 Feb 1894 in Galena, Stone, Missouri, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Parents: Peter Bass of Maryland and Sarah M. Jackson of KY.

Brothers Peter (b 1771) and Lawrence (b 1780) BASS moved from Bardstown KY to Davidson county, Tennessee about 1803. Peter had just married Anna Stone and Lawrence married Nancy Patton on Oct 15, 1803 (in Nashville?). Peters wife died in childbirth May 14, 1809 in Nashville where she is buried. Lawrence and Nancy had may have had son George in Nashville. Both families left shortly after 1810.

Notes in Bass Family Bible state that Peter Bass (abt 1769-18. May 1829 Smithland, Livingston, KY) came to Baltimore from Holland, was originally surnamed BEST, and was 99 years old when he died in 1829.

Home in 1840: Cedar, Boone, Missouri, 7 free white persons, 12 slaves.
1850: District 8, Boone County

Lawrence said to have had 13 children.
He was one of the "Commissioners" to locate a "Seat of Justice" in Boone County, Missouri. A town company was formed and called the "Smithton Company" which bought a tract of land, surveyed and laid out the town of Columbia.

Will, December 18th, 1852: "To My beloved wife Nancy Bass in lieu of her driver, the plantation on which we now recide, being the West half of section No one of Range No 12 and the west half of the North West quarter of section No eight all in township No Forty Six of Range No Eleven, containing in all about four hundred acres, during her lifetime of widowhood, together with all my slaves and their increase, during her lifetime or widowhood, should my wife Nancy Bass wish at any time to give or distribute any of our slaves to any of our children herinafter named she can do so by having them carefully appraised and the child or heir receiving the slave or slave shall receipt to my executor for the valuation of the said slave or slaves who shall charge the same to said child or heir, which amount shall stand agains said child or heir and be deducted out of his or her par of my estate on a final settlement, toghether with all my horses, cows, oxen, mules, sheep and hogs or stock of all kid which may be in possession of at the time of my death, also all the household and kitchen furniture, farming utensils of all kinds together with all other atricles not otherwise disposed of in this will during her lifetime in widowhood and at the death or marriage of my said wife all the property hereby divised or bequeathed to her as aforesaid, on so much or may remain undisposed of whall be sold or divided by my executor so as to make an equal division of all my estate amongst all of our children : Sarah Jackson, George P. Bass, Augustus Bass, John S. Bass, Peter Bass, Edwin Bass, Eli M. Bass, Parilee Duncan, Julyanne Stone and the heirs of Theophilus Bass and Thomas Bass, to their heirs and assigns forever.
Peter Bass and Edwin Bass, executors."
Probate June 20-23rd, 1856, Boone county, Missouri.

Lawrence married Nancy Patton on 15 Oct 1803 in Davidson Co., TN, USA. Nancy was born in 1786 in North Carolina, USA; died in 1874 in Henry, Missouri, USA; was buried in New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery, Ashland, Boone County, Missouri, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John D. Shannon was the first sheriff of the territory that is now Taney and Stone County, Missouri.

Washington, May, 1860

Letter to John D. Shannon from Washington National Monument Office:

Sir, Agreeable to instructions, I have to request that you will act as Collector for the Society during the taking of the census in your district. Should you feel disposed to undertake the duty, and it be with the consent of the Marshal in your ditrict, a commission of fifteen per cent. will be allowed you out of the gross amount of your colections. You will also deduct the cost, from said collections, of a book necessary for the purpose, and make your returns and pay te nett amount collected to the Marshal of your district, who will account for and remit the same to the Society. The enclosed instructions are sent for your guidance. Very respectfully, your obediant servant, John Carrol Brent, Secretary.

John married Mary Polly Goode on 25 Sep 1817 in Williamson Co., TN. Mary (daughter of Charles B. Goode and Elizabeth Halbert) was born on 26 Dec 1797 in Stokes County, NC; died on 3 Mar 1891 in Stone, Missouri, USA; was buried in Parsons Family Cemetery, Old Oto. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Polly

Notes:

Children: James H. (1818), David C. (1820), Thomas M. (1823), Mildred C., Rufus B. (1828), Leonidas A. (1833), Leona E. (1836) m. John II Cox, Cordella Orleana (1840) m. William Burchfield Cox.

Notes:

1744, Northern Ireland
1790, Union, South Carolina
1800, 1810, 1820, Pendleton District, South Carolina
1836 tax list, Giles, Tennessee
1839, passed in Cornersville, Giles, TN at the age of 95.

Died at the age of 94 years. Inscription: Sacred to the Memory of James Massey, Sen., Who departed this life Nov the 4th in the year 1839. Aged 94 years.

The father of Esq. Ephraim Miller Massey who died 1836. Both are buried in the "Old Marrs Church Cemetery" about 1/4 mi north of the current cemetery in Marshall County, TN near Lynnville. As is Andrew Miller Massey, who died Feb 16, 1828, aged 5yrs, 8 mos, 11 days.

May have married Nancy Miller on 9 Aug 1812 in Greene, Georgia.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69638279/james-henry-massey

Notes:

Enlisted on Aug 15th 1810 with the rank "drummer" in US Arty, and served for five years Fort St. Phillip and Fort St. Charles (New Orleans). Discharged Aug 15th 1815 when term expired.

1830 census reciding in Regiment 98, Monroe, Tennessee.

Children were born in White Co., Tennessee. Came to Missouri in 1837, located in Greene County about four miles east of Springfield, and resided there for years. Thence they moved to James River in Stone County, about four miles above Galena, and resided there for many years. In 1860 they moved to Douglas Co, where there mother died three years later, and the father returned to Stone Co, and died in 1865, close to where he first settled. He was the father of seven children: Martha, Elizabeth, Sarah, Anna, Helen, Dorcas and Eliza. He came from old Revolutionary stock, his father having fought bravely for independence.
Source: A Reminiscent History Ozark Region 1894.

1860 MO census, Stone Co, Microfilm page 552, line 12; Washington twp, Galena P O, dwg 22. Samuel Anderson, age 60, and Mary, age 59, have one child, William Watson, age 12, in the home. relationship unknown.

Death year seen as 1865 (above) or Dec 1873. Named as a native of White, Tennessee, but believed to have been born in the Pendelton district of SC, which split into Anderson and Pickens counties, GA. The Anderson land fell into Pickens.

Probate: 28 Jan 1874 • Stone Co, , Missouri, USA. Estate of Samuel Anderson, dec'd

Samuel married Mary McKenzie in 1818. Mary (daughter of Chesley McKenzie) was born in 1802 in Pendelton District, SC; died in 1863 in Douglas, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]