From the moment of his arrival in Kansas Territory from his former Iowa home, Owen Abbot Basset’s course was directed in support of the free-state cause.

He was a witness to the 1856 Sack of Lawrence, Kan., by proslavery militia, an experience that led him to take up arms in the defense of freedom. He was commissioned Lt. Col. Bassett, riding at the head of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry in the campaign to drive the Confederate Army out of Missouri, also seeing action in Arkansas and Indian Territory.

In all soldierly concerns and engagements, Bassett considered every detail of military operations based in the intellectual foundation instilled by his mother at a young age. His authoritative knowledge of military matters laid the groundwork for the profession that awaited at the close of the war.

Returning to Lawrence, Bassett resumed his law practice, prosecuting claims against the government resulting from wartime events. After a few short years Bassett was elected district judge in 1868, whereupon he customarily became known as Judge Bassett. In 1876 he served as the first presiding officer of the Kansas Judicial Association.

Bassett had been a Mason since 1864. In 1873 he was elected Grand Master of the Masons for Kansas.

Bassett moved to Salina to represent Crippen, Lawrence and Company in the loan business. Through both his legal and Masonic connections Bassett gradually became associated with affairs in Ellsworth, Kan. When construction of the Ellsworth Masonic Temple was begun on Dec. 23, 1887, it was Judge Bassett that laid the cornerstone. By June 1, 1894, he moved into a new office in the basement of Ellsworth’s Central National Bank.

Judge Bassett barely had time to get used to his new surroundings when Ellsworth was struck by a terrible storm the afternoon of June 18, 1894.

For more than 30 minutes a strong north wind drove rain and hail through the town. Hailstones measured six to seven inches in circumference. Rushing waters carried barns, chicken coops, sidewalks and out buildings of every description from the higher elevations above town into a grove of trees on the school grounds. Hundreds of dead chickens were among the debris.

From Third Street to the lower end of town water stood from one to four feet deep. Cellars and basement offices were completely inundated. Two large stone buildings at the corner of Second and Douglas collapsed. At the Central National Bank, Judge Bassett’s office was completely inundated. His “fine library and all his papers,” including his very first case was lost.

The unfortunate loss couldn’t keep the Judge from making his appointed rounds. In the coming weeks the papers of Ellsworth, Salina and Topeka carried notices of his travels in regard to his Masonic responsibilities. As one would expect, in spite of his loss, Judge Bassett carried on with his usual sunny outlook on life.

Bassett’s gregarious nature was evident July 16, 1895, when his wife honored her husband with a 61st birthday party. Celebrations were often great affairs in those days. Invitations stated that guests were expected at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Ballou House, a local hotel. Supper was to be served at 7:30 p.m. Guests were expected for breakfast at 9 a.m. the next morning. Besides a large number of local callers, visiting guests included friends from Salina and Kansas City.

Five months later, intense foot pain plagued the Judge to such a degree that his condition made the Dec. 5, 1895, edition of the Ellsworth Reporter. By Dec. 26, his brother, Dr. Charles Bassett of Chicago, felt compelled to come to Ellsworth.

Along with Drs. Hissem and O’Donnell, it was decided that due to the spread of gangrene, the only hope of prolonging the Judge’s life was that of amputation. The surgery was performed at Christ’s Hospital at Topeka on Dec. 3.

By Feb. 16, 1896, he was welcomed home to Ellsworth “and tenderly assisted ... to his residence.” He rallied quickly and soon resumed work, but suffered a setback when his good leg became “similarly afflicted.” Doctors decided not to operate. Even so, Judge Bassett traveled to Topeka for a pending case before a U. S. court in Leavenworth.

Sunday, July 19, 1896, the Judge and his wife enjoyed the morning sitting on their front porch. Just before noon, Mrs. Bassett left him for about 15 minutes. When she returned she found that he had quietly passed away. Only days before Judge Basset had just celebrated his 62nd birthday. His body was ceremonially taken to Lawrence by train. The Masonic orders of the city and the local members of the bar were present when the train came in. There were so many friends of the family present that short services were held at the depot, after which the remains were taken to Oak Hill Cemetery.

The Lawrence Daily Journal recorded, “Judge Bassett was possessed of bold and masterful traits of character, as was widely known in the brave and stirring days of Kansas life and history.”

Men like Judge Owen Abbott Basset made Kansas what it became, and Kansas made men like Bassett the best that they could be on The Way West.

“The Cowboy,” Jim Gray can be reached at 220 21st RD, Geneseo, KS. Phone (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.