James Richard Bassham 
James Richard was born on December 18th, 1854 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee.1 James Richard's father was James Monroe, Jr. Bassham and his mother was Tempa Malinda Bassham. His paternal grandparents were James Monroe Bassham and Arta M. Holloway; his maternal grandparents were Richard Basham and Pheebee Pinnicuff. He had two brothers and a sister, named Hiram C., Levi Johnson and Martha Elizabeth. He was the youngest of the four children. He had four half-brothers and a half-sister, named Rufus Lycurgus, Aramantha, Felix Edward, Warren Poindexter and Berah Celesta (Bessie). He died at the age of 65 on April 5th, 1920 in Moko, Fulton Co., Arkansas.1 General Notes
[basham.ged]
1860 Census Lawrence County Tennessee Page 411 Family 376
1870 Census Lawrence County Tennessee Page 12 Family 167
1880 Census Lawrence County Tennessee E D 106 Family 16
1900 Census Lawrence County Tennessee E D 51 Sheet 7
1910 Census Fulton County Arkansas E D 20/3
1920 Census Fulton County Arkansas; E D 20, Sheet 2
Family Group Sheet From Helen Bassham Correspondence
Family Group Sheet From Roy Forbes Correspondence
The Basshams were not the first settlers in Lawrence County, Tenn b
ut th ey were among the earliest settlers. It is believed that they arr
iv ed in the Third Civil District of Lawrence County, Tennessee in the la
te 1 820's and settled in what is now known as the Mt. Zion church area ne
ar t he Giles County, Tennessee border. It is not clear how all\ the ear
ly Bas sham families are interrelated. However, it is believed that t
wo or thr ee unrelated families migrated to the area from Virginia and Ken
tucky.
James Richard Bassham, the principal of this paper, descended from t
wo se parate lines of Basshams. His paternal grandfather, James Bassham w
as bo rn about 1787 in Virginia and his maternal grandfather, Richard Bass
ham, w as born also in Virginia about 1790. James Richard Bassham's fathe
r, Jam es Monroe Bassham, was born in Tennessee in 1817 and his mother, Te
mpa Mal inda Bassham, was also born in Tennessee in 1823. It is believ
ed that Jam es Monroe and Tempa were born in Lawrence County, Tennessee, b
ut the re is no proof of this.
James Richard Bassham severed his deep roots with Lawrence County, Tenn
es see in 1902 and moved his family to Fulton County, Arkansas. It is pos
sib le that the actual move took place in late 1902 after the harve
st of th at year. In any event, he is known to have received mail the
re in Janua ry 1903. The reason for this move was not clearly understoo
d. It seems s trange that he would take such a step since he had no clo
se relatives livi ng in Arkansas. However, relatives who corresponded wi
th him after the mo ve said he never mentioned any regret in his letter
s. James Richard Bassh am never revisited his old home again. From docume
nt written by Johnny Clo pton King in April 1988 Document stored with John
ny C King letters.
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Ancestor Pedigree Chart
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*There are earlier generations for the ancestor(s) indicated. See their page(s) for details (click name)
- b.1722 d.23 May 1768 in Cumberland Co., Virginia
- b.~ 1746 in Virginia d.> 1830 in Probably Scioto County Ohio
- b.1710 d.> 1768 in Cumberland Co, Virginia
- b.01 Sep 1761 in Bedford Co., Virginia d.~ 1841 in Giles Co., Tennessee
- b.Bet 1720 and 1743 d.Bet 1754 and 1831
- b.09 Sep 1787 in Virginia d.13 Mar 1872 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee
- b.~ 1764 d.> 1840 in Giles Co., Tennessee
- b.12 Aug 1817 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee d.02 Sep 1889 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee
- b.~ 1787 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee d.~Jul 1859 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee
- b.18 Dec 1854 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee d.05 Apr 1920 in Moko, Fulton Co., Arkansas
- b.1722 d.23 May 1768 in Cumberland Co., Virginia
- b.~ 1746 in Virginia d.> 1830 in Probably Scioto County Ohio
- b.1710 d.> 1768 in Cumberland Co, Virginia
- b.01 Sep 1761 in Bedford Co., Virginia d.~ 1841 in Giles Co., Tennessee
- b.Bet 1720 and 1743 d.Bet 1754 and 1831
- b.~ 1789 in Bedford Co., Virginia d.17 Mar 1854 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee
- b.~ 1764 d.> 1840 in Giles Co., Tennessee
- b.~ 1823 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee d.18 Nov 1857 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee
- b.~ 1787 in Virginia Or Kentucky d.1860
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James Richard and Louise Josephine (Lou) were married in a religious ceremony on March 6th, 1884 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee.1 They had four sons and four daughters, named Robert Clinton, Jay Felix, James Calvin, Cecil Irving, Ada Bell, Maryanna F., Ella May and Beulah Irene.
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Children
Ada Bell Bassham
Ada Bell was born on August 17th, 1885 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee.1 She died at the age of 17 on April 25th, 1903 in Moko, Fulton Co., Arkansas.1
Robert Clinton Bassham
Robert Clinton was born on December 14th, 1887 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee.1 He died about 1957 in Springfield, Greene Co., Missouri.1
Maryanna F. Bassham
Maryanna F. was born on May 30th, 1890 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee.1 She died at 10 months old on April 20th, 1891 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee.1
Jay Felix Bassham
Jay Felix was born on December 2nd, 1891 in Lawrenceburg, Lawrence Co., Tenn.1 He died at the age of 83 on December 29th, 1974 in Salem, Fulton Co., Arkansas.1
James Calvin Bassham
James Calvin was born on August 8th, 1893 in Mockesin, Lawrence Co., Tennessee.1 He died at the age of 72 on June 15th, 1966 in Springfield, Greene Co., Missouri.1
Cecil Irving Bassham
Cecil Irving was born on August 25th, 1895 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee.1 He died at the age of 53 on July 24th, 1949 in Moko, Fulton Co., Arkansas.1
Ella May Bassham
Ella May was born on December 20th, 1896 in Lawrence Co., Tennessee.1 She died at the age of 89 on June 28th, 1986 in West Plains, Howell Co., Missouri.1
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