The Bass family came from England to this country some time in the seventeenth century, and settled in Massachusetts. From there the different branches scattered; Our subject being a descendant of a family which located in Connecticut, where for 150 years the old farm in Windham County has been owned by some one of the Bass name. Edwin Bass, Sr. was born in Windham, Windham Co., Conn., January 28, 1816. His father Ebenezer Bass was born July 4, 1784, and died February 28, 1875. His wife, Sarah McCurdy, was a native of Nova Scotia, born May 9, 1789, and died September 24, 1850. In early life she removed to Connecticut and was there married. They were the parents of seven sons and five daughters, all of whom are living except two sons and two daughters, but are scattered through Missouri, Kansas, Connecticut and Illinois.
Edwin Bass was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native State, afterward teaching several terms. At the age of twenty-one he began working by the month and in three years saved $400. April 13, 1840, he started for this county, and after three weeks on the way, by the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, he landed at Hennepin. He then invested the reminder of his $400 in ninety acres of land in Berlin Township, and for three years worked by the month, teaching school, etc.
April 27, 1843, he was married to Emeline J. Stanard, born May 6, 1824, in Madison County, N. Y. She is the daughter of Lebins and Luceba (Fay) Stanard. the father was a native of Vermont, near Montpelier, the mother of Connecticut. They came to the county in the fall of 1840, and lived in Lamoille for some time. Mr. Stanard died in Clarion Township in October, 1858, and his wife died January 3, 1842.
Mr. and Mrs. Bass are the parents of eleven children, six of whom are living: Caroline L., born August 28, 1844, died February 6, 1873, wife of Thomas L. Phillips; Lucian, born March 26, 1847, lives in Walnut Township, Bureau County (he was in the Civil war for one year); Luther G., born July 25, 1848, is a physician in Roseland, Ill.; Sidney B., born March 18, 1850, died October 26, 1853; Oscar S., born May 19, 1854, an attorney by profession; Edwin, Jr., born April 23, 1856, a farmer in Berlin Township; Heber and Howard, born February 15, 1858 (Howard died September 15, 1858, Heber died September 25, 1858); Wallace, born March 12, 1860, a farmer in Lee County, Ill.; Alonzo C., April 12, 1862.
After marriage Mr. Bass remained on the farm he first bought until February, 1851, when he came to his present farm in the corporation of Malden. Mr. Bass has been successful in his business career, and now owns as the result of his labor 1, 432 acres of land in this and Lee Counties, besides other property. He has been a Republican in politics since the party was first organized. Mr. Bass and wife are members of the Baptist Church of Dover.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885