Randolph County, Indiana
Biographies
George McDowell Bascom
Among those who know George McDowell Bascom best he bears a reputation of a man who exercises sound judgment and who has pronounced views and has always kept himself well informed upon all matters pertaining to the public weal or woe and always exercises the duties of citizenship in a conscientious manner. He formerly engaged in farming in Randolph county and has held several offices of trust in the same, including that of deputy sheriff and postmaster at Lynn, but is now living retired, spending his autumn years in quiet. He is one of our honored veterans of the great Civil War and is a descendant of a sterling old family.
Mr. Bascom was born at Richmond, Indiana, December 3, 1846. He is a son of Erastus K. and Sarah J. (Stettler) Bascom. The father of our subject was born August 13, 1825, in Darke county, Ohio, He was the son of Linus and Mrs. Jane (Gray) Bascom. He was a lawyer at Bluffton, Indiana. In 1850 he was elected delegate, from Wells and Adams counties, to assist in revising the state constitution. During one session of the legislature he was assistant clerk, later was prosecuting attorney of Wells county. He married Jane Stettler August 14, 1845. She was a native of Richmond, Indiana. His death occurred at Bluffton October 23, 1852. Linus Bascom was born April 4, 1785, in Western, Massachusetts. From 1812 to 1815 he lived in Montgomery county, Indiana. He went to Darke county, Ohio, as a trader in 1816, and in 1818 helped organize that county, and was first clerk of the court there, was also prominent in the Presbyterian church, He married Mrs. Jane (Devor) Gray April 10, 1817, at Greenville, and there his death occurred July 16, 1861. She died September 17, 1829. Moses Bascom, father of Linus Bascom, was born in Western, Massachusetts, April 5, 1745 and he lived there until 1790 when he moved to Brimfield and then Milton, Vermont. He died at Stillwater, New York, March 31, 1812. He married Eunice Reed May 4, 1769, and her death occurred at Milton, Vermont. Lieut. Samuel Bascom, Jr., father of Moses Bascom, was born at Northampton, Massachusetts, June 13, 1723. He purchased one hundred and ten acres at Western, Massachusetts, and was farmer, tanner and currier, and there his death occurred September 11, 1779. Samuel Bascom was born at Northampton, January 27, 1692, was an etxensive farmer on the Connecticut river. He died November 22, 1765. He married Experience Parsons May 10, 1722. She was born in Northampton and died November 20, 1740, at the age of fifty-seven years. Thomas Bascom, the third, father of Samuel Bascom, mentioned above, was born in Northampton, in 1668 and there his death occurred February 3, 1714. He married Hannah Catlin, whose death occurred January, 1747. They became the parents of eleven children. Thomas Bascom, Jr., father of Thomas Bascom, the third, was born at Windsor, Connecticut, February 20, either 1641 or 1642. He married Mary Newell, and his death occurred September 11, 1689. Thomas Bascom, the first, was the emigrant, coming to America in 1634 and settling at Dorchester, Massachusetts, removing in 1639 to Windsor, Connecticut, later to Northampton Massachusetts. In 1666, he was elected town constable of Northampton, was made a freeman in May, 1670, and took the oath of allegiance February 8, 1678. His death occurred there May 9, 1682. His wife, Avis Bascom, died February 3, 1676. He was one of the first settlers in Northampton. The family is of French origin and in earlier times held high positions under the French government.
George M. Bascom, our subject, received a common school education, and he lived with his grandfather Stettler during his boyhood, the grandfather having conducted a hotel where Fowler's restaurant is now located in Lynn. On August 21, 1863 Mr. Bascom enlisted in Company K, Seventh Indiana Cavalry under Col. J. P. C. Shanks. He saw service along the Mississippi and in Texas, taking part in a number of engagements. He was with the troops that pursued General Price in Missouri. He fought guerillas almost constantly, much of the time along the Missouri Pacific Railway, and he did considerable service in Tennessee and Mississippi. He was honorably discharged February 28, 1866, after which he returned to Lynn, Indiana, and started to school. Learning the painter's trade he followed that for a number of years, then worked in a general store. He was appointed deputy sheriff in 1884 and served two years, and was appointed to the same office in 1890, serving until 1894, giving eminent satisfaction as a public servant. He then moved to a farm in Washington township which he operated six years, was then appointed postmaster at Lynn and held that position for four years, discharging his duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of the people and the department. Since then he has lived in retirement. Politically he is a Republican, and in religious matters is a member of the Methodist church. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of the township advisory board.
Mr. Bascom was married April 4, 1868 to Arminda J. Price, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, July 22, 1851. To this union six children were born, two of whom died in infancy; the others were named as follows: Charles E., who lives in Topeka, Kansas, is passenger agent for the Rock Island Railroad Company; Oliver M. is at home; Herbert F., who lives in Wichita, Kansas, is city agent for the Frisco Railroad; James E., of Lynn, this county, is a rural mail carrier. The wife and mother passed away February 22, 1904. Mr. Bascom was again married on April 25, 1906, to Clara B. Woods, who was born near Cincinnati, Ohio.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson