Kings County Biographies

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


 
MARK BASSETT
 
A native of England, Mark Bassett, who has achieved more than statewide 
reputation as a breeder of horses, cattle, hogs and poultry and whose ranch 
three miles north of Hanford is one of the show�places of that part of Kings 
county, was born August 1, 1848. He remained there until 1880, becoming a 
farmer, then came to Canada and located in Ontario, where he farmed eleven 
years, until he made his way across the continent to California. He came to 
Kings county in 1895 from Fresno county and bought one hundred and sixty acres 
of land two miles north of Hanford, one hundred and sixty acres four miles 
north, and eighty acres at Armona. His one hundred and sixty-acre homestead has 
one hundred acres in orchard and vineyard; the other one hundred and sixty acres 
is in alfalfa except forty acres which is given to fruit; and his eighty acres 
at Armona is devoted to the cultivation of fruits and grapes. He has a total of 
eighty acres in vineyard and one hundred and twenty acres in apricots and 
peaches. Soon after he came to the county he began raising thoroughbred 
Poland-China hogs. He imported his original stock and now has forty registered 
sows. During the past six years he exhibited hogs at various state fairs and it 
is of record that he took first prize at the Seattle Exposition in 1909. His 
hogs and chickens have taken hundreds of first prizes at fairs and exhibitions 
in Oregon, Washington and California, and are known for their excellence 
throughout the entire coast country. He also makes a specialty of Percheron 
horses and is the owner of a thoroughbred stallion and owns a share in another. 
His chickens are barred Plymouth Rocks and black Minorcas. His land is all well 
improved and his home is one of the most attractive in this vicinity.            

From time to time Mr. Bassett has very public spiritedly interested himself in 
numerous enterprises. He is a stockholder in the Lucerne Creamery, in the Armona 
Fruit and Raisin Packing Co. and in the Farmers and Merchants' Bank of Hanford, 
and is a member of the Kings County Chamber of Commerce.
In October, 1872, Mr. Bassett married Miss Helena Lander, a member of old 
English families, who has borne him twelve children, ten of whom are living: 
Helen, wife of J. Malott ; Mabel, who married Frank Pursell; William George; 
Mark, Jr.; John; Bertha, wife of John Day; Edith, who married Louis Nieson; 
Ernest ; Guy, and Archie.
 
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - 
Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 717-718