25 January 1916: Capt. John H. Bassler, Civil War veteran and well known resident of West Main Avenue for more than 35 years, died yesterday afternoon at his Home, aged 82 years. Capt. Bassler had been in failing health for several years, and recently there was a marked change, and his children were notified of his serious condition. Prof. Harvey Bassler, a son, who is engaged in Geological Survey work for the State of Maryland, and whose laboratory is at Johns' Hopkins University, Baltimore arrived several days ago and another son, Ralph Bassler, Mrs. Bassler and the latter's sister, Miss Lizzie Mosser are also enroute home. The deceased's widow and a daughter, Miss Laura Bassler, of New York also survive. The funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Services will be conducted at the house by Rev. Dr. J. Lewis Fluck, of the Reformed Church. Interment will be made on Mt. Hope Cemetery. Funeral Director Isaac N, Bahney is in charge of the arrangements.
The Bassler family is one of the oldest as well as one of the most prominent in Lebanon County, and has contributed members who have adorned the business and professional circles of that and other communities. Its founders were men of strong character, who came as refugees from their native Switzerland to America long prior to the Revolutionary War. These sturdy ancestors handed down many of their sterling qualities, and a most worthy representative of this family was to be found in Capt. J. H. Bassler. Capt. Bassler was born Feb. 6, 1834 on the farm now owned by Davllla Swope, 1-2 miles north of Myerstown, a son of Henry and Barbara (Unger) Bassler, the former of whom was born in the old Bassler homestead, December 10, 1797, and died In Myerstown, Jan. 16, 1851, after a successful agricultural life. His parents were Simon and Catherine (Houtz) Bassler, of Jackson Township, the former of whom was a son of Simon Bassler, who was born in 1734, and died in 1802. This Simon Bassler was a son of Henry Bassler, who was born In Basel, Switzerland, and who was the emigrant to America in 1707, settling in Rhinebeck, N. Y., on the Hudson River, whence he moved into the Schoharie Valley, New York. Later he and his neighbors found that their farms were claimed by the proprietors of large tracts of land known as "Manor Lands" and that it was difficult to secure title to them. They had heard of the liberal terms offered by William Penn to settlers in Pennsylvania and resolved to brave the dangers and hardships of a long journey through an unexplored country, inhabited only by Indians, for the sake of securing free homes. They crossed the wilderness to the upper waters of the Susquehanna, constructed a raft on which they floated down the river, and after many days reached the mouth of the Swatara. They followed up that creek to the Quittapahilla and traveling up that stream some of the party located on its headwaters, while the rest, including Henry Bassler, crossed the divide and selected homes on the upper course of the Tulpehocken. This was in 1723. He took up a tract of land in the vicinity of Myerstown and purchased it as soon as it was surveyed in 1734, the same year of his son, Simon's birth, who settled on the farm which is still the property of his descendants. John H. Bassler was reared on the farm on which he was born and obtained his education in the subscription schools, the Myerstown Academy, and later the Millersville State Normal School. At the age of eighteen years he was qualified to teach school and this profession he followed with eminent success for seven years, becoming the principal of the Myerstown Academy in which position he remained three years. Then came the dark days of the Civil War, following the Union reverses, near Richmond in the summer of 1862, and however, tender the ties of family or pleasant and lucrative his profession, he felt that his services were needed at the front. Within eight days he raised a full company of volunteers, incorporated as Company C, of the 149th regiment, his company taking a very prominent part in the later campaign. Capt. Bassler saw much hard service and was severely wounded at Gettysburg July 1, 1863, lying within the Confederate lines, and was practically a prisoner until the retreat of the enemy, and was not carried off the field until the evening of July 5. This wound necessitated an honorable discharge and a long convalescence. As soon as he was again able to take up business he engaged in contracting and car building at Myerstown, but his old feeling of patriotism conquered as soon as he found himself able to return to the services of his country, and on September 28, 1864, he tendered his services to President Lincoln, and was placed in command of Company H., Tenth Regiment. Veteran Reserve Corps, and later, Jan. 19, 1865, was transferred to and appointed Captain of Company B, Twelfth Veteran Reserves. On November 30th of the same year his loyalty and services were recognized by the Government by his appointment as assistant Superlnlendent of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, with headquarters at Lumberton, N. C. On February 13, 1866, he was finally mustered out of the services at his own request and returned to Pennsylvania, locating in Schuylkill County in 1867. There Capt. Bassler was chosen principal of the Pine Grove public schools, which position he resigned one year later in order to accept a position on the Lebanon and Tremont branch of the Lebanon Valley railroad, as station agent at Tower City, Pa; five years later he gave up this position in order to embark in a mercantile business at the same place. However on account of his wife's delicate health, he decided to make a trip to California, locating at Riverside in 1877. His care proved of no avail as her death occurred there October 31, of that year. Capt. Bassler then went to Oakland, Cal., and engaged in carpenter work on the Central Pacific Railroad. In 1880 he returned to his old home in Myerstown and here he remained in familiar localities ever since, interested in local enterprises, notably the creamery business and the Myerstown Enterprise. During the last year's, he had assumed no new business cares, living somewhat retired. His literary talents were valued during his editorship of the above named journal. On October 2, 1859, Captain Bassler was married to Miss Sarah Brobst, daughter of Valentine and Mary (Miller) Brobst, of Berks County. This union was blessed with four children: Laura, of Chicago and Ralph, of Chicago, are yet living. The second marriage of Captain Bassler was on December 14, 1880, to Miss Amanda Mosser, of Myerstown, daughter of Daniel and Magdalena (Holstein) Mosser, an old family of Jackson Township. One son, Harvey came to this Union, born April 21, 1883. In politics, Capt. Bassler had always been a Republican. Reared a member of the Reformed church, he later became a convert to the truths of spiritualism. His long service in the army was honorable in the highest degree, and had no call to arms intervened he would probably have been one of the leading educators of his State. In his advancing years he was surrounded by warm and sincere friends and enjoyed the esteem of the whole community. The captain was never involved in any case at court, not oven as a witness, except, in 1883, when one night he wounded two burglars, and capturing one of them, had him lodged in the Lebanon jail. As a matter of good citizenship, it was necessary to prosecute this criminal, who was sentenced to four years in the penitentiary. [Lebanon Daily News]
The Bassler family is one of the oldest as well as one of the most prominent in Lebanon County, and has contributed members who have adorned the business and professional circles of that and other communities. Its founders were men of strong character, who came as refugees from their native Switzerland to America long prior to the Revolutionary War. These sturdy ancestors handed down many of their sterling qualities, and a most worthy representative of this family was to be found in Capt. J. H. Bassler. Capt. Bassler was born Feb. 6, 1834 on the farm now owned by Davllla Swope, 1-2 miles north of Myerstown, a son of Henry and Barbara (Unger) Bassler, the former of whom was born in the old Bassler homestead, December 10, 1797, and died In Myerstown, Jan. 16, 1851, after a successful agricultural life. His parents were Simon and Catherine (Houtz) Bassler, of Jackson Township, the former of whom was a son of Simon Bassler, who was born in 1734, and died in 1802. This Simon Bassler was a son of Henry Bassler, who was born In Basel, Switzerland, and who was the emigrant to America in 1707, settling in Rhinebeck, N. Y., on the Hudson River, whence he moved into the Schoharie Valley, New York. Later he and his neighbors found that their farms were claimed by the proprietors of large tracts of land known as "Manor Lands" and that it was difficult to secure title to them. They had heard of the liberal terms offered by William Penn to settlers in Pennsylvania and resolved to brave the dangers and hardships of a long journey through an unexplored country, inhabited only by Indians, for the sake of securing free homes. They crossed the wilderness to the upper waters of the Susquehanna, constructed a raft on which they floated down the river, and after many days reached the mouth of the Swatara. They followed up that creek to the Quittapahilla and traveling up that stream some of the party located on its headwaters, while the rest, including Henry Bassler, crossed the divide and selected homes on the upper course of the Tulpehocken. This was in 1723. He took up a tract of land in the vicinity of Myerstown and purchased it as soon as it was surveyed in 1734, the same year of his son, Simon's birth, who settled on the farm which is still the property of his descendants. John H. Bassler was reared on the farm on which he was born and obtained his education in the subscription schools, the Myerstown Academy, and later the Millersville State Normal School. At the age of eighteen years he was qualified to teach school and this profession he followed with eminent success for seven years, becoming the principal of the Myerstown Academy in which position he remained three years. Then came the dark days of the Civil War, following the Union reverses, near Richmond in the summer of 1862, and however, tender the ties of family or pleasant and lucrative his profession, he felt that his services were needed at the front. Within eight days he raised a full company of volunteers, incorporated as Company C, of the 149th regiment, his company taking a very prominent part in the later campaign. Capt. Bassler saw much hard service and was severely wounded at Gettysburg July 1, 1863, lying within the Confederate lines, and was practically a prisoner until the retreat of the enemy, and was not carried off the field until the evening of July 5. This wound necessitated an honorable discharge and a long convalescence. As soon as he was again able to take up business he engaged in contracting and car building at Myerstown, but his old feeling of patriotism conquered as soon as he found himself able to return to the services of his country, and on September 28, 1864, he tendered his services to President Lincoln, and was placed in command of Company H., Tenth Regiment. Veteran Reserve Corps, and later, Jan. 19, 1865, was transferred to and appointed Captain of Company B, Twelfth Veteran Reserves. On November 30th of the same year his loyalty and services were recognized by the Government by his appointment as assistant Superlnlendent of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, with headquarters at Lumberton, N. C. On February 13, 1866, he was finally mustered out of the services at his own request and returned to Pennsylvania, locating in Schuylkill County in 1867. There Capt. Bassler was chosen principal of the Pine Grove public schools, which position he resigned one year later in order to accept a position on the Lebanon and Tremont branch of the Lebanon Valley railroad, as station agent at Tower City, Pa; five years later he gave up this position in order to embark in a mercantile business at the same place. However on account of his wife's delicate health, he decided to make a trip to California, locating at Riverside in 1877. His care proved of no avail as her death occurred there October 31, of that year. Capt. Bassler then went to Oakland, Cal., and engaged in carpenter work on the Central Pacific Railroad. In 1880 he returned to his old home in Myerstown and here he remained in familiar localities ever since, interested in local enterprises, notably the creamery business and the Myerstown Enterprise. During the last year's, he had assumed no new business cares, living somewhat retired. His literary talents were valued during his editorship of the above named journal. On October 2, 1859, Captain Bassler was married to Miss Sarah Brobst, daughter of Valentine and Mary (Miller) Brobst, of Berks County. This union was blessed with four children: Laura, of Chicago and Ralph, of Chicago, are yet living. The second marriage of Captain Bassler was on December 14, 1880, to Miss Amanda Mosser, of Myerstown, daughter of Daniel and Magdalena (Holstein) Mosser, an old family of Jackson Township. One son, Harvey came to this Union, born April 21, 1883. In politics, Capt. Bassler had always been a Republican. Reared a member of the Reformed church, he later became a convert to the truths of spiritualism. His long service in the army was honorable in the highest degree, and had no call to arms intervened he would probably have been one of the leading educators of his State. In his advancing years he was surrounded by warm and sincere friends and enjoyed the esteem of the whole community. The captain was never involved in any case at court, not oven as a witness, except, in 1883, when one night he wounded two burglars, and capturing one of them, had him lodged in the Lebanon jail. As a matter of good citizenship, it was necessary to prosecute this criminal, who was sentenced to four years in the penitentiary. [Lebanon Daily News]
25 January 1916: Capt. John H. Bassler, Civil War veteran and well known resident of West Main Avenue for more than 35 years, died yesterday afternoon at his Home, aged 82 years. Capt. Bassler had been in failing health for several years, and recently there was a marked change, and his children were notified of his serious condition. Prof. Harvey Bassler, a son, who is engaged in Geological Survey work for the State of Maryland, and whose laboratory is at Johns' Hopkins University, Baltimore arrived several days ago and another son, Ralph Bassler, Mrs. Bassler and the latter's sister, Miss Lizzie Mosser are also enroute home. The deceased's widow and a daughter, Miss Laura Bassler, of New York also survive. The funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Services will be conducted at the house by Rev. Dr. J. Lewis Fluck, of the Reformed Church. Interment will be made on Mt. Hope Cemetery. Funeral Director Isaac N, Bahney is in charge of the arrangements.
The Bassler family is one of the oldest as well as one of the most prominent in Lebanon County, and has contributed members who have adorned the business and professional circles of that and other communities. Its founders were men of strong character, who came as refugees from their native Switzerland to America long prior to the Revolutionary War. These sturdy ancestors handed down many of their sterling qualities, and a most worthy representative of this family was to be found in Capt. J. H. Bassler. Capt. Bassler was born Feb. 6, 1834 on the farm now owned by Davllla Swope, 1-2 miles north of Myerstown, a son of Henry and Barbara (Unger) Bassler, the former of whom was born in the old Bassler homestead, December 10, 1797, and died In Myerstown, Jan. 16, 1851, after a successful agricultural life. His parents were Simon and Catherine (Houtz) Bassler, of Jackson Township, the former of whom was a son of Simon Bassler, who was born in 1734, and died in 1802. This Simon Bassler was a son of Henry Bassler, who was born In Basel, Switzerland, and who was the emigrant to America in 1707, settling in Rhinebeck, N. Y., on the Hudson River, whence he moved into the Schoharie Valley, New York. Later he and his neighbors found that their farms were claimed by the proprietors of large tracts of land known as "Manor Lands" and that it was difficult to secure title to them. They had heard of the liberal terms offered by William Penn to settlers in Pennsylvania and resolved to brave the dangers and hardships of a long journey through an unexplored country, inhabited only by Indians, for the sake of securing free homes. They crossed the wilderness to the upper waters of the Susquehanna, constructed a raft on which they floated down the river, and after many days reached the mouth of the Swatara. They followed up that creek to the Quittapahilla and traveling up that stream some of the party located on its headwaters, while the rest, including Henry Bassler, crossed the divide and selected homes on the upper course of the Tulpehocken. This was in 1723. He took up a tract of land in the vicinity of Myerstown and purchased it as soon as it was surveyed in 1734, the same year of his son, Simon's birth, who settled on the farm which is still the property of his descendants. John H. Bassler was reared on the farm on which he was born and obtained his education in the subscription schools, the Myerstown Academy, and later the Millersville State Normal School. At the age of eighteen years he was qualified to teach school and this profession he followed with eminent success for seven years, becoming the principal of the Myerstown Academy in which position he remained three years. Then came the dark days of the Civil War, following the Union reverses, near Richmond in the summer of 1862, and however, tender the ties of family or pleasant and lucrative his profession, he felt that his services were needed at the front. Within eight days he raised a full company of volunteers, incorporated as Company C, of the 149th regiment, his company taking a very prominent part in the later campaign. Capt. Bassler saw much hard service and was severely wounded at Gettysburg July 1, 1863, lying within the Confederate lines, and was practically a prisoner until the retreat of the enemy, and was not carried off the field until the evening of July 5. This wound necessitated an honorable discharge and a long convalescence. As soon as he was again able to take up business he engaged in contracting and car building at Myerstown, but his old feeling of patriotism conquered as soon as he found himself able to return to the services of his country, and on September 28, 1864, he tendered his services to President Lincoln, and was placed in command of Company H., Tenth Regiment. Veteran Reserve Corps, and later, Jan. 19, 1865, was transferred to and appointed Captain of Company B, Twelfth Veteran Reserves. On November 30th of the same year his loyalty and services were recognized by the Government by his appointment as assistant Superlnlendent of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, with headquarters at Lumberton, N. C. On February 13, 1866, he was finally mustered out of the services at his own request and returned to Pennsylvania, locating in Schuylkill County in 1867. There Capt. Bassler was chosen principal of the Pine Grove public schools, which position he resigned one year later in order to accept a position on the Lebanon and Tremont branch of the Lebanon Valley railroad, as station agent at Tower City, Pa; five years later he gave up this position in order to embark in a mercantile business at the same place. However on account of his wife's delicate health, he decided to make a trip to California, locating at Riverside in 1877. His care proved of no avail as her death occurred there October 31, of that year. Capt. Bassler then went to Oakland, Cal., and engaged in carpenter work on the Central Pacific Railroad. In 1880 he returned to his old home in Myerstown and here he remained in familiar localities ever since, interested in local enterprises, notably the creamery business and the Myerstown Enterprise. During the last year's, he had assumed no new business cares, living somewhat retired. His literary talents were valued during his editorship of the above named journal. On October 2, 1859, Captain Bassler was married to Miss Sarah Brobst, daughter of Valentine and Mary (Miller) Brobst, of Berks County. This union was blessed with four children: Laura, of Chicago and Ralph, of Chicago, are yet living. The second marriage of Captain Bassler was on December 14, 1880, to Miss Amanda Mosser, of Myerstown, daughter of Daniel and Magdalena (Holstein) Mosser, an old family of Jackson Township. One son, Harvey came to this Union, born April 21, 1883. In politics, Capt. Bassler had always been a Republican. Reared a member of the Reformed church, he later became a convert to the truths of spiritualism. His long service in the army was honorable in the highest degree, and had no call to arms intervened he would probably have been one of the leading educators of his State. In his advancing years he was surrounded by warm and sincere friends and enjoyed the esteem of the whole community. The captain was never involved in any case at court, not oven as a witness, except, in 1883, when one night he wounded two burglars, and capturing one of them, had him lodged in the Lebanon jail. As a matter of good citizenship, it was necessary to prosecute this criminal, who was sentenced to four years in the penitentiary. [Lebanon Daily News]
The Bassler family is one of the oldest as well as one of the most prominent in Lebanon County, and has contributed members who have adorned the business and professional circles of that and other communities. Its founders were men of strong character, who came as refugees from their native Switzerland to America long prior to the Revolutionary War. These sturdy ancestors handed down many of their sterling qualities, and a most worthy representative of this family was to be found in Capt. J. H. Bassler. Capt. Bassler was born Feb. 6, 1834 on the farm now owned by Davllla Swope, 1-2 miles north of Myerstown, a son of Henry and Barbara (Unger) Bassler, the former of whom was born in the old Bassler homestead, December 10, 1797, and died In Myerstown, Jan. 16, 1851, after a successful agricultural life. His parents were Simon and Catherine (Houtz) Bassler, of Jackson Township, the former of whom was a son of Simon Bassler, who was born in 1734, and died in 1802. This Simon Bassler was a son of Henry Bassler, who was born In Basel, Switzerland, and who was the emigrant to America in 1707, settling in Rhinebeck, N. Y., on the Hudson River, whence he moved into the Schoharie Valley, New York. Later he and his neighbors found that their farms were claimed by the proprietors of large tracts of land known as "Manor Lands" and that it was difficult to secure title to them. They had heard of the liberal terms offered by William Penn to settlers in Pennsylvania and resolved to brave the dangers and hardships of a long journey through an unexplored country, inhabited only by Indians, for the sake of securing free homes. They crossed the wilderness to the upper waters of the Susquehanna, constructed a raft on which they floated down the river, and after many days reached the mouth of the Swatara. They followed up that creek to the Quittapahilla and traveling up that stream some of the party located on its headwaters, while the rest, including Henry Bassler, crossed the divide and selected homes on the upper course of the Tulpehocken. This was in 1723. He took up a tract of land in the vicinity of Myerstown and purchased it as soon as it was surveyed in 1734, the same year of his son, Simon's birth, who settled on the farm which is still the property of his descendants. John H. Bassler was reared on the farm on which he was born and obtained his education in the subscription schools, the Myerstown Academy, and later the Millersville State Normal School. At the age of eighteen years he was qualified to teach school and this profession he followed with eminent success for seven years, becoming the principal of the Myerstown Academy in which position he remained three years. Then came the dark days of the Civil War, following the Union reverses, near Richmond in the summer of 1862, and however, tender the ties of family or pleasant and lucrative his profession, he felt that his services were needed at the front. Within eight days he raised a full company of volunteers, incorporated as Company C, of the 149th regiment, his company taking a very prominent part in the later campaign. Capt. Bassler saw much hard service and was severely wounded at Gettysburg July 1, 1863, lying within the Confederate lines, and was practically a prisoner until the retreat of the enemy, and was not carried off the field until the evening of July 5. This wound necessitated an honorable discharge and a long convalescence. As soon as he was again able to take up business he engaged in contracting and car building at Myerstown, but his old feeling of patriotism conquered as soon as he found himself able to return to the services of his country, and on September 28, 1864, he tendered his services to President Lincoln, and was placed in command of Company H., Tenth Regiment. Veteran Reserve Corps, and later, Jan. 19, 1865, was transferred to and appointed Captain of Company B, Twelfth Veteran Reserves. On November 30th of the same year his loyalty and services were recognized by the Government by his appointment as assistant Superlnlendent of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, with headquarters at Lumberton, N. C. On February 13, 1866, he was finally mustered out of the services at his own request and returned to Pennsylvania, locating in Schuylkill County in 1867. There Capt. Bassler was chosen principal of the Pine Grove public schools, which position he resigned one year later in order to accept a position on the Lebanon and Tremont branch of the Lebanon Valley railroad, as station agent at Tower City, Pa; five years later he gave up this position in order to embark in a mercantile business at the same place. However on account of his wife's delicate health, he decided to make a trip to California, locating at Riverside in 1877. His care proved of no avail as her death occurred there October 31, of that year. Capt. Bassler then went to Oakland, Cal., and engaged in carpenter work on the Central Pacific Railroad. In 1880 he returned to his old home in Myerstown and here he remained in familiar localities ever since, interested in local enterprises, notably the creamery business and the Myerstown Enterprise. During the last year's, he had assumed no new business cares, living somewhat retired. His literary talents were valued during his editorship of the above named journal. On October 2, 1859, Captain Bassler was married to Miss Sarah Brobst, daughter of Valentine and Mary (Miller) Brobst, of Berks County. This union was blessed with four children: Laura, of Chicago and Ralph, of Chicago, are yet living. The second marriage of Captain Bassler was on December 14, 1880, to Miss Amanda Mosser, of Myerstown, daughter of Daniel and Magdalena (Holstein) Mosser, an old family of Jackson Township. One son, Harvey came to this Union, born April 21, 1883. In politics, Capt. Bassler had always been a Republican. Reared a member of the Reformed church, he later became a convert to the truths of spiritualism. His long service in the army was honorable in the highest degree, and had no call to arms intervened he would probably have been one of the leading educators of his State. In his advancing years he was surrounded by warm and sincere friends and enjoyed the esteem of the whole community. The captain was never involved in any case at court, not oven as a witness, except, in 1883, when one night he wounded two burglars, and capturing one of them, had him lodged in the Lebanon jail. As a matter of good citizenship, it was necessary to prosecute this criminal, who was sentenced to four years in the penitentiary. [Lebanon Daily News]
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