widow of the late Elisha W. Fassett, of Lamoille, was born in Hatfield, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, May 21, 1823, a daughter of Cotton and Nancy H. (Herrick) Morton, also natives of the Bay State. The Morton family is of Scotch extraction, and for many generations have made their home at Hatfield, Massachusetts. Mrs. Fassett traces her ancestry back to Richard and Ruth Morton, both of whom lived to a ripe old age, the former dying April 3, 1710, and the latter December 31, 17 14. Soon after their marriage, in about 1668 or 1669, they removed to Hatfield, Massachusetts, where, for many generations, the family have resided, but the only one now living there is Silas Porter, a cousin of our subject, who is unmarried.
From Richard and Ruth Morton, tracing toward the present time and omitting several generations, we find the honored names of Lieutenant Jonathan Morton, and his wife Sarah, the latter of whom died October 5, 1760, at the age of seventy-three years. In some of the early wars, probably the French and Indian, the former gained his title. Jonathan Morton, the son of this worthy couple, married Eunice Smith, and their only child of whom we have any knowledge is William, who married Hannah Chambers June 23, 1783. He died November 12, 1837, and his wife passed away February 25, 1838.
Cotton Morton, the father of Mrs. Fassett, was one of their family of twelve children. His death occurred February 19, 1845, At the age of forty-nine years and ten months, and his wife departed this life in 1886, at the age of eighty-six years, her birth occurring November 30, 1800. Mrs. Fassett is the oldest in their family of seven children, the others being as follows: Plina F. married Eleanor Garmon, of New Jersey, who died in October, 1895, and he now resides in California. Caroline M. was married in 1856 to George Brush, who died March 12, 1888, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and she is now making her home in Lamoille. Harriet N. is the wife of William Burnside, a resident of Riverside, a suburb of Chicago. Andrew J. wedded Mary Cook, and died while on a visit to Chicago, Illinois. Nancy C. is the wife of Isaac Harkmess, of Bloomington, Illinois. Martin V. B. married Mary Adamson, and is now living in Princeton. All of the children were born in Hatfield, Massachusetts.
On the 7th of December, 1842, was celebrated the marriage of Elisha W. Fassett and Miss Parmelia W. B. Morton, and soon afterward they came to Lamoille, where the latter has longer resided than any of its inhabitants, having now lived there for fifty-four years. She is widely known and has the love and respect of all. Since 1838 she has made her home in Bureau covmty, having accompanied her parents on their removal to Princeton in that year. She is therefore numbered among the honored pioneers, has witnessed the complete development of this region, and can relate many interesting incidents of frontier life.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fassett, as follows: Hattie L. P. is the wife of J. R. Woods, a banker of Lamoille, and they have three children — Parmelia F., Riley F. and Lydia M. Fannie died at the age of fourteen years; Charles W. married Sarah B. Rambeau, now deceased. They had one son, Claude V. His second wife was Emma V. Boroff, by whom he has two children — Edith V. and Kittie H. Frank married Amanda Long and has two daughters, Florence Vienna and Lillian. Florence Vienna, the fifth child of our subject, died at the age of twenty months. EHsha Pearl, a resident of Chicago, married Jennie Penfield, of Quincy, Illinois, and they have three children — Leon Penfield, Elisha W. and Charles.
Mr. Fassett was a native of Cheshire county, Xew Hampshire, born June 23, 1823, and was a son of Elisha and Lovina (Angier) Fassett, whose birth occurred at Fitzwilliam, that state. His father was born October 20, 1792, and died in Cannon City, Colorado, November 17, 1884, while his wife passed away in Lamoille August 1, 1837. In their family were three children — Nancy, Rosilla and Elisha. The parents were also old settlers of this state, where they arrived in June, 1835, locating in wdiat was then Putnam, but is now Bureau, county. They bravely endured all the privations incident to pioneer life, which was a decided change from what they had been accustomed to, as they did not have all the comforts and environments of their lovely eastern home.
Mr. Fassett was a man of more than ordinary ability, sagacious and far-sighted in business, and for many years was a successful merchant of Lamoille. He was also prominent in public affairs, and did much toward securing the Allen school building, the pride and beauty of the village. His death there occurred October 17, 1891, and was mourned by many friends as well as his immediate family. He was a consistent member of the Baptist church, to which his wife also belongs, and did all in his power for the betterment of mankind and for the welfare of the community, with whose interests he was so closely identified for many years.
Source: The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois published in 1896, page 344.
| Bureau |  |
LaSalle |
| Marshall |
