Mrs. Mary M. Collins Bassett (Special to The Telegram) Rice Lake, Wis.  -  Mrs. Mary M. Bassett passed away Monday noon at her home in this city after a short illness at the age of 78 yrs. The deceased was a member of the Eastern Star order & also of the Woman's Relief corps, being a charter member of the latter.  A few years ago Mr. & Mrs. E.  Bassett celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, Mr. Bassett being a Civil War Veteran who passed away early last spring. Mrs. Bassett is survived by three children: Fred of Minneapolis, Mrs. J. B. McElroy of Augusta & Mrs. Nellie Link of Chicago. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon from the home & also at the Masonic Temple where the Eastern Star will have charge of the services.  Interment will take place at Nora Cemetery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Obit for Ebenezer Lord BASSETT: RICE LAKE LOSES AGED PIONEER E. L. Bassett Built City's 1st School & Brick Building ------------------------- Was Civil War Vet, Prominent Mason. and Former City Official Rice Lake lost one of its oldest & most highly respected citizens in the death on Monday noon of Ebenezer Lord Bassett. Mr. Bassett was born at Bradford, NY on Aug. 14, 1841, & reached the age of 81 yrs., 8 mos., & 9 days.  When 3 yrs. of age he removed with his parents to Hampshire, IL, where he grew up & at the age of 20 enlisted in Co. B, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, serving three years in the Army of the Potomac.  Upon expiration of this term of serving he enlisted in Co. A, 2nd US Veteran Inf., Hancock Corps, for one year & was finally discharged on Feb. 6, 1866. The same year he was married to Mary M. Collins, & they removed to Kirksville, MO, in 1868, where he engaged in the copper business.  They removed to Eau Claire in 1872 & two years later took a homestead in the town of Cedar Lake, Barron County, where the family lived for 6 yrs., then removed to Rice Lake. During that 6 yrs. Mr. Bassett was engaged in general building in Rice Lake, having the distinction of laying the 1st sidewalk & building the 1st school house which now is used as a woodhouse.  He also built the first brick structure in this city, the 1st ward school house in 1880, before the coming of the railroad, making the doors and windows himself.  In 1890 he engaged in the furniture & undertaking business, soon dropping the furniture part & continuing as an undertaker for several years. He served the city one year as an alderman, 3 years as city clerk, 1 year as assessor, & for 20 yrs. was chairman of the Soldiers' Relief committee for this county. Mr. Bassett received the first degrees in Masonry at Hampshire, Ill., becoming a master mason on Jan. 20, 1866.  The following year he dimitted to A. J. Willing lodge, under the dispensation, at Burlington, Ill.  A year later he dimitted to Kirksville lodge at Kirksville, MO.  In 1872 he dimitted to the West Eau Claire lodge & in 1887 became a charter member of...... {I'm sorry the very end is missing.} Please attach copy of message to your reply. Thank You.