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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
ROBERT BASS resides upon section 31, Monroe Township, and is numbered among the earliest settlers of Mahaska County. He is the son of W. L. and Margaret (Roberts) Bass, and was born in Boone County, Ky., May 9, 1827. The family moved to Indiana when Robert was but a year old, where they remained till 1843. They then came to Iowa and located in Van Buren County, whence in 1847, they came to Mahaska County, where the mother died in 1883 and the father in 1885. Robert Bass, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon a farm, receiving his education in the pioneer schools of Indiana and Iowa. he cane to Mahaska County in 1845, some two years before his parents, and for almost half a century has been an honored citizen here. Mr. Bass has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary A. Roberts, a daughter of James L. and Rebecca (Coulson) Roberts. Of this union there are four children: Rosa R., the wife of W. E. Stringer, and John A. are residents of Kansas; Eldora and Eva are deceased. The mother of these children died in 1863. The second wife of our subject was Martha Allgood, a native of Indiana, born in 1838. They were united in marriage July 4, 1865, and became the parents of seven children-Mary, Charley, Frank, Nellie (deceased), Robert, Agnes and Paul. The living children by his present wife reside at home. Politically Mr. Bass is a member of the National Greenback party, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace several terms. He came to this county at the time the lands of the New Purchase were placed upon the market, and for a period of six years worked by the month for Mr. John White, now deceased, receiving for his first year's services, wages at the rate of $8.33 1/3 per month. Those were trying times for men, married or single, and rigid economy was the order of the day. Adapting himself to the situation, Mr. Bass worked hard, early and late, saved his money and bought land, which he cultivated, improved, and added to as his means would permit, until he is now the owner of 480 broad acres, with the best class of improvements. He has prospered, and his savings are the result of tireless industry and excellent management. As a citizen, none enjoy more fully the confidence and esteem of their fellow-men, and certainly none are more deserving of it than the subject of this sketch.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy