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John D. Bassett
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John D. Bassett
John David Bassett, Sr. (July 14, 1866 – February 26, 1965) was a noted American industrialist who formed the Bassett Furniture Company in 1902. During the late 1960s, the Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc., was the largest manufacturer of wooden furniture in the world, with sales of over $118 million in 1968.
"Here this man of initiative and administrative talent was born July 14, 1866, a son of John H. and Nancy J. (Spencer) Bassett, the former of whom was born near Preston, Virginia in Henry County, and the latter in Patrick County, Virginia, both families having early been founded in Virginia." He was also the grandson of Alexander Hunter Bassett.
His father, John Henry Bassett, had lived as a simple farmer for most of his life. When the American Civil War broke out, John Henry was in the required age of service and joined in the effort in service with the Confederate States of America. After the war, John Henry Bassett continued his farming, and later John D. Bassett was born.
Among the foothills in that part of rural Virginia, John Bassett made a minimal existence as a farmer, working as a tobacco pinholder[check spelling], store keeper, sawmill operator, and lumberman. His fortunes improved after he was able to convince the Roanoke Southern Railway to come through his family farm in 1889. With this opportunity, he and his family were able to become the sole suppliers of railroad ties for the company, which was leasing and developing lines for the Norfolk and Western Railway. The railway workers frequented his growing general store, and as he gained clout he was able to convince Norfolk and Western Railway to construct a train station near the general store. This was soon followed by a hotel, a theater, and numerous other businesses.
He married Pocahontas "Pokey" Hundley (November 21, 1862 - January 11, 1953), and together they had four children: William McKinley Bassett (1894-1960) married Lela Gladys Clark and built Eltham Manor in 1936; Blanche E. Bassett, who married Taylor George Vaughan; Ann Pocahontas Bassett married Thomas B. Stanley; John Douglas Bassett (1901-1966).
At the age of 35, John D. Bassett and his brothers, Samuel Henry Bassett and Charles Columbus Bassett, and his brother-in-law, Reed Lewis Stone, along with the capital funds of $11,000, organized the Bassett Furniture Company.
John D. Bassett was an early adopter of Florida as a vacation resort, and would retreat there during the fall and winter months. In 1921, he partnered with Robert Osborne and took over the Hartsfield Wholesale Grocer company in West Palm Beach, Florida. The new company, with Bassett's brother C. C. as secretary, was named the Hartsfield-Osborne-Bassett Wholesale Grocery Company, which remained in operation for several years.
He helped found and startup Bassett Mirror Company, Hooker Furniture, Stanley Furniture, and Vaughan-Bassett Furniture. All of these companies were operated by people who were related to John D. Bassett in some way.
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John D. Bassett
John David Bassett, Sr. (July 14, 1866 – February 26, 1965) was a noted American industrialist who formed the Bassett Furniture Company in 1902. During the late 1960s, the Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc., was the largest manufacturer of wooden furniture in the world, with sales of over $118 million in 1968.
"Here this man of initiative and administrative talent was born July 14, 1866, a son of John H. and Nancy J. (Spencer) Bassett, the former of whom was born near Preston, Virginia in Henry County, and the latter in Patrick County, Virginia, both families having early been founded in Virginia." He was also the grandson of Alexander Hunter Bassett.
His father, John Henry Bassett, had lived as a simple farmer for most of his life. When the American Civil War broke out, John Henry was in the required age of service and joined in the effort in service with the Confederate States of America. After the war, John Henry Bassett continued his farming, and later John D. Bassett was born.
Among the foothills in that part of rural Virginia, John Bassett made a minimal existence as a farmer, working as a tobacco pinholder[check spelling], store keeper, sawmill operator, and lumberman. His fortunes improved after he was able to convince the Roanoke Southern Railway to come through his family farm in 1889. With this opportunity, he and his family were able to become the sole suppliers of railroad ties for the company, which was leasing and developing lines for the Norfolk and Western Railway. The railway workers frequented his growing general store, and as he gained clout he was able to convince Norfolk and Western Railway to construct a train station near the general store. This was soon followed by a hotel, a theater, and numerous other businesses.
He married Pocahontas "Pokey" Hundley (November 21, 1862 - January 11, 1953), and together they had four children: William McKinley Bassett (1894-1960) married Lela Gladys Clark and built Eltham Manor in 1936; Blanche E. Bassett, who married Taylor George Vaughan; Ann Pocahontas Bassett married Thomas B. Stanley; John Douglas Bassett (1901-1966).
At the age of 35, John D. Bassett and his brothers, Samuel Henry Bassett and Charles Columbus Bassett, and his brother-in-law, Reed Lewis Stone, along with the capital funds of $11,000, organized the Bassett Furniture Company.
John D. Bassett was an early adopter of Florida as a vacation resort, and would retreat there during the fall and winter months. In 1921, he partnered with Robert Osborne and took over the Hartsfield Wholesale Grocer company in West Palm Beach, Florida. The new company, with Bassett's brother C. C. as secretary, was named the Hartsfield-Osborne-Bassett Wholesale Grocery Company, which remained in operation for several years.
He helped found and startup Bassett Mirror Company, Hooker Furniture, Stanley Furniture, and Vaughan-Bassett Furniture. All of these companies were operated by people who were related to John D. Bassett in some way.
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