The Bassham house was commenced in the summer of 1875, by B. U. Bassham, the present proprietor. It is 40x60 feet in ground area, two stories in height, with an L 28x34, the whole surmounted with a hipped roof. It is built of frame, and is surrounded on two sides by porches. It presents a fine appearance, which is borne out by the manner in which it is furnished throughout, and by an irreproachable cuisine. A first class livery is also run in connection with the house. This house is located near the depot.

BENJAMIN U. BASSHAM, proprietor of both the Bassham house, and also of the Tremont House, at Greenfield, is a native of Jackson county, Tenn., born Nov. 4, 1842. He is a son of Meredith A. and Elizabeth A. (Fox) Bassham, the father a native of Virginia, born Nov. 24, 1805, the mother a native of Tennessee, born Nov. 23, 1810. They were married in Tennessee, Nov. 2, 1826. His father followed farming, and was also engaged as a blacksmith and wagon maker. They came to Illinois, Nov. 20, 1852, making the trip with teams, and settled in Madison county, where they remained for two years, death taking away two of their children while there. They then removed to Jersey county, and after remaining there 10 years, they again pulled up stakes and moved to Macoupin county, where Meredith purchased a farm on which he lived until the fall of 1873. He sold out there and removed to Greenfield, where he lived until his death, April 2, 1875. Mrs. Bassham survives her husband, and is still a resident of Greenfield. They were the parents of nine children - Parizetta F., born Sept. 15, 1827; Parilee J., born May 24, 1829; Sarah A. , born May 15, 1832; Rhoda L. E., born April 3, 1834; Cynthia A. T., born Oct. 29, 1836; William D., born Feb. 20, 1838; Benjamin U., born Nov. 4, 1841; Elvira E., born Aug. 29, 1844, and John B. R., born Dec. 28, 1846. Benjamin, the subject of this sketch, remained at home until he was 15 years of age, and he then went to work on neighboring farms, continuing until he was about 20 years of age, at first receiving but $12 per month for his labor, but when he quit was getting $22. With the money which he had saved form those earnings he purchased a team. He was married, in April, 1865, to Louisa V. McBride, a native of Macoupin county, born June 14, 1848, and by that marriage there were four children - John H., born Jan. 12, 1866; Eva M., born May 1, 1868; Altha A., born Sept. 14, 1870, and Laura E., born Feb. 1, 1873. Mrs. Bassham departed this life March 11, 1873, and after her death he remained on the farm until Oct. 11, of that year, when he came to Greenfield and engaged in the livery business. In 1875 he built the Bassham House, of which he is still proprietor. He rented the Tremont House, Aug. 18, 1884, and is also proprietor of that. Mr. Bassham was again married, June 22, 1876, to Elizabeth Crouch Chinoweth, a native of Washington County, Tenn. Mr. Bassham is one of the most enterprising business men of Greenfield and has met with merited success.