Oscar T. Bassett

Oscar Thomas "O.T." Bassett
Born	1850 Rutland County, Vermont, U.S.
Died
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, businessman
Known for	Founding of Bassett, California; involvement in banking and real estate in El Paso, Texas

Oscar Thomas "O.T. "Bassett (1850 – January 3, 1898) was a distinguished entrepreneur based in El Paso, Texas. The city of Bassett, California bears his name in recognition.

Early life and career

Born in Rutland County, Vermont, Oscar T. Bassett was the child of Abner Snow and Betsey Bassett and became an orphan at a young age. By 1860, he resided in McHenry County, Illinois. Despite having limited formal schooling, he served sporadically in the military before establishing himself in Clinton, Indiana as a contractor and dealer in lumber. In 1879, he married Myrtle Alma Nebeker; a street in Clinton was later named to honor him.

El Paso, Texas

Bassett relocated to Fort Worth, Texas in 1879 where he launched a lumber enterprise. The following year, he arrived in El Paso, Texas to purchase real estate on behalf of the Texas and Pacific Railway and to investigate mining prospects in Arizona. After a brief return to Indiana for his son's birth and following the passing of his wife, Bassett returned to El Paso. During his journey back, he secured capital in St. Louis, Missouri that helped establish El Paso’s inaugural bank. He became both a shareholder and a board member of the First National Bank of El Paso (which later became State National Bank).

Bassett held significant land assets and banking stakes across Oklahoma, Los Angeles, and El Paso. He took on leadership roles including president of the El Paso school board in 1882 and served as a city councilman. His death occurred on January 3, 1898, at his office located above a lumberyard.

Charles Nebeker Bassett

Charles Nebeker Bassett (October 8, 1880 – June 10, 1944), the son of O.T. Bassett, was born and educated in Indiana and graduated from Wabash College in 1900. Following his father’s death, he moved to El Paso in 1901 to oversee the O.T. Bassett & Company lumber operations. In tribute to his father, Charles erected the 15-story O.T. Bassett Tower in 1929. He passed away in Santa Monica, California and was laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso.

Bassett, California

In 1895, O.T. Bassett purchased 814 acres from William Workman’s son within the boundaries of the Rancho La Puente, which led to the creation of the short-lived Bassett Township. A legal dispute arose in 1921 when Josephine Workman contested Charles N. Bassett’s claim on Rancho La Puente land; however, this ruling was overturned the following year.