My Genealogy Hound

Joseph P. Bassham, farmer and mechanic, is a son of Jonathan and Delilah (Payne) Bassham, both of whom were born in Franklin County, Va. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a cabinet-maker by trade, and in connection with this calling followed the occupation of farming. After his marriage he moved to West Virginia, where he made his home until 1839, when he came to Johnson County, Ark., and here he and wife spent the remainder of their lives, dying in 1848, at the age of fifty-two, and 1857, at the age of fifty-five, respectively. Three of their eleven children are living, Joseph P. being the fifth of the family. He was born in Tazewell, West Va., May 12, 1827, and while growing to manhood was engaged in farming and learning the cabinet-maker’s trade. He received quite an extensive education for his day, and in 1847 was married to Sarah A. Bell, a daughter of Henry P. and Susan (Holmes) Bell, and by her became the father of eight children: Elizabeth E., Henry J., Luretha A., William O., Donana A., Minnie L., Katie and James. Mrs. Bassham was born in Tennessee, and died in Little Rock, Ark., in 1865. Mr. Bassham was married the following year to Miss Emily Redding, by whom he has one child, Samuel. This wife died in 1868, and he took for his next wife Mrs. Mary J. Rachels, nee Morris, a daughter of Ira L. Morris. They have a family of ten children: Thomas L., Sarah D., Nannie B., Mary L., James A., Jesse I., Martha A., C. B., Alice C. and an infant. His son, William O., is a Methodist minister, and his wives has been members of that church. In 1849 he came to Sebastian County, and in 1852 went to California and engaged in mining and farming for about two years. He then returned to Arkansas, and he and a brother opened a cabinet shop in Clarksville, which they managed until 1857. Mr. Bassham then returned to Sebastian County, and October 8, 1863, enlisted in Company F, Second Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, United States Army, and was appointed orderly. He was made second lieutenant February 25, 1864, and was promoted to first lieutenant July 6, of the same year, which position he held until mustered out of service at the close of the war. He was at Jenkins’ Ferry and Prairie De Hand. In December, 1866, he returned to Sebastian County, where he has since made his home, and has been engaged in farming. He owns 157 acres of land, with about seventy acres under cultivation, and is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.