Mary Ellen Bassinger

Mary Ellen Bassinger's parents were Alexander and Elizabeth (Myers) Morgan. Originally from Kentucky, the Morgans moved to the Burlington, Des Moines Co., IA area by covered wagon in 1838. They later moved to and settled in a homestead east of the Eddyville, Ia.

OBITUARY:

Mrs. Mary Bassinger passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs John Arnold, near Cedar, at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, January 8, 1911, after a short illness from pneumonia, aged 78 years, 1 month and 28 days.

Mary Morgan, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Morgan, was born in the state of Kentucky on November 12, 1832. She came with her parents to Iowa in her sixth year, settling first in Des Moines County.

On March 6, 1850, she was married to Jacob Bassinger. To this union was born four children: Mrs. Olivia Young, and Alma, wife of Anton Mayer, of this vicinity; Florence, wife of John Arnold, of Cedar, and F.E. Bassinger, of this vicinity. She is also survived by one brother and one sister, Richard Morgan, whose residence is unknown, and Amanda, wife of Amos Gray, of Eddyville.

Aside from the four children, she leaves as her descendants ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grand-child, she being at the head of the five generations.

Mr. and Mrs. Bassinger were married 47 years; the greater part of their married life was spent on a farm one mile east of Eddyville. Everybody knew Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bassinger. Here they were successful and accumulated considerable property. They retired from the farm in 1888. The last days of her life were spent with her children.

In her girlhood days she joined the Christian Church at Eddyville and had been a member of the same church for more than sixty years, dying in the hope and faith of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Her memory was excellent, and in her declining years she could tell many an interesting tale of pioneer days. She had lived in Iowa for 72 years and was one of the oldest settlers in the state.

The funeral services were conducted at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Arnold, Tuesday afternoon, January 10, 1911, Elder W.C. Ross, of the Christian Church, officiating. A large concourse of sorrowing friends were present to pay their last respects to this estimable old settler. The remains were consigned to their last resting place in Highland Cemetery.

The many friends who had known her for years attest to the high esteem in which she was held. The Tribune joins the friends in offering sympathy to the sorrowing members of the family in their time of grief.

Eddyville Tribune, January 13th, 1911 Taken From Find-A-Grave Story