Edward Peter Basse

Edward Peter Basse was born June 14, 1833, in the Province of Wesphalia, Prusia, Germany, where he attended school until he was 15 years old. He intended to study for the ministry, but the death of his father caused him to turn his thoughts in another channel. When 13 years old he began to learn the trade of gold and silver smithing. He came to the United States arriving in New York City in February 1855, and immediately went to Philadelphia, where he stayed a short time, and then moved to Stephenson County, Illinois where he engaged in his trade, and part of his time at farming. In 1858 he came to Black hawk County, Iowa, and located in Barclay township. He lived there until 1861 when he started for Colorado with an ox team, and eight dollars in his pocket to pay expenses, but returned with a couple of thousand dollars, a top carriage and two ponies. He lived in Central City, Colorado, pursuing his business of jeweler. His establishment was known as the "Crystal Palace."

In 1865 he returned to Blackhawk County, Barclay township. On September 16, 1865, in Waterloo, Iowa, he married Lydia A. Trumbauer, daughter of Peter and Mary (Boyer) Trumbauer of Barclay Township. Eight of their children were born in Jesup, Iowa. Edward Peter was appointed postmaster of Barclay township in 1868. He was a Republican in politics and was township constable eight years, township collector one year and Road Supervisor one term. He was a member of No. 133, Jesup Lodge of I.O.O.F. and also a member of Blue Ribon Temperance Reform Society of Barclay Township.

In the fall of 1879 they moved to Beloit, Mitchell County, Kansas, and lived on a farm about eleven miles south of Beloit. They lived on the farm until 1889 when they moved into Beloit and operated "The Valey Hotel." Their last three children were bron in Beloit. Edward Peter had been ill for some time, but did not suspect any danger when on Monday night January 25, 1892, he took a drink of water and told his wife he would lie down on the bed for a while to rest. Nothing peculiar was noticed in his actions as he slowly reclined and apparently went to sleep. His wife noting the suddenness of the appearance of sleep tried to rouse him but he was dead. He was buried in Pleasant View Cemetery in Beloit, Kansas.

Since the death of her husband, Lydia lived mostly with her children. She made her last visit to Beloit in the summer of 1924. She then went to Lomita, California, to stay with her daughter, Lottie Smith, where she died on March 14, 1925. She was buried in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Beloit. She was a member of the Lutheran Church for 65 years.

Lydia's second great grandfather, Andreas Trumbauer (German spelling) or Andrew Trumbower (English spelling) first appeared in the are of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the early 1700's. Her great grandparents Henry and Elizabeth Trumbower lived in Bucks County, Richarland Township, Pennsylvania. They had eight sons and two daughters. her grandparents, John and Maria Magdalene Trumbower moved to Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in about 1803 where her father, Peter Trumbauer, was born, May 12, 1816. he had four sisters and six brothers. Peter married September 10, 1837, to Miss Mary Boyer of Spinnersville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and then bought his father's farm. They had five sons and four daughters. In the spring of 1865, with their nine children moved to Iowa and bought a farm four miles northwest of Jesup in Blackhawk County where they lived until 1882 when they sold that farm and bought another one three miles southeast of Jesup where they remained until the death of Mary Boyer Trumbauer which occurred January 13, 1897. Peter sold his farm and made his home with his daughter, Mary Ann Freed, and spent part of the time with his other children. In the spring of 1900 he left Jesup for a visit with his daughter, Lydia Basse, at Beloit, Kansas, at which place he took sick with the Grippe, and after four days died on January 12, 1901. He was buried at Jesup, Iowa.