Known far and near without boundary is the August BASSE Jewelry Store, an extensive dealer in all high class makes of jewelry, watches, clocks, diamonds, eye glasses, cut glass, etc. Mr. BASSE makes a specialty of repairing jewelry and resetting gems. This firm was established in 1857 at 518 Maine St., being one of the first establishments of its kind in the city. He has four capable and courteous clerks and a floor space of 1800 square feet is occupied. Mr. August BASSE was born in Germany in 1840 and educated there. He has always been in the jewelry business and is an old pioneer of Quincy.

QUINCY, PAST AND PRESENT, PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY. Freeman Publishing Company, 1905. p. 7.

William August Basse is my GGG Grandfather, his daughter Augusta Basse Sellner my GG Grandmother.

I believe that Augusta had a brother, August, born 1840 in Germany. His oldest son, August H. was briefly married to my great aunt, Bidelia Tully. They moved to Denver abt 1900 and she remarried after that. Do you know anything more about this family?
Lois

Hi Lois, yes Augusta had a brother, August born 1840 in Germany. I will do some digging for exact sources for you but briefly can tell you some things, my record are not where I am at the moment. August Sr., Wife Lizetta, August Jr., and Augusta came to America June 1855. They first went to Philadelphia (?, I will get the details) then traveled to and settled in Quincy Illinois. In 1856 August Sr. started a jewelry business with brother-in-law Henry Huelsmann. The business lasted many years. First August died, then Henry, then Lizette. Son August, born 1840 took over the business, and after he died it went to I forgot who, will check it out for you. William August Basse Sr. and Lizette, my GGG grandparents are in my father's mother's line. I have a family tree, the Huelsmann family tree that was handed down thru Grandma's family that I got after Grandma died. It traces the family back to 1698 in Germany. Unfortunately it ended when Grandma died as I didn't know about the cousins and second cousins it lists. It is interesting. One man in the family was guard to the Prince of Armenia. And one lady was listed as having no children. I felt sorry for her because the people for generations before and after her had a habit of populating the area. My 7G Grandfather had a wife who gave him 12 children, she died, then he married another lady and she had about that many. My 6G Grandfather came from the 2nd wife, and he did the same thing. Seems strange doesn't it. But that was what they did. So when I read about that lady without children I felt sorry for her, and thought, that's me too. I will get some specific information for you, and get it to you. It's great to hear from you.

I notice your last name is Terwelp, are you from Qcy?

Your info will be great to add to my folder on him. August Basse, the son, wasn't a very good man. He married my g-aunt in 1890, then by 1910 was married to another woman (I think). I found all kinds of news clippings about him with all kinds of legal problems. He moved to Colorado and opened a jewelry store, but that didn't last long and he was chased back to Qcy by the Denver police. My aunt remarried after they divorced? Evidently his brother really took over the jewelry bs in Qcy after their dad died.
You can contact me at lois_heath@yahoo.com

I have a desk clock with A. Basse, jeweler, Quincy, Ill. on the face. It still works.

Hi, August Basse Sr was my GGG Grandfather and I have been looking for his work. His son August Jr, and grandson August L were all in the same trade. Can you tell when the clock was made or have any information, like a label or something that can be researched. Or a picture of it? Regardless of who made it, I think it is remarkable that it still exists today and still works. I'm glad you wrote about the clock.

I need to correct the name of the grandson of August Basse Sr. His name was August H Basse not August L. Typing error.