Rollo Stewart Bassett is a lumberman of wide and thorough experience in both the manufacturing and business ends of the industry, and for the past ten years has been district manager of the Alexander Lumber Company, with headquarters at Champaign.
Mr. Bassett was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 9, 1872, a son of Charles F. and Bertha (Stewart) Bassett. His father was born in Cincinnati and his mother in Newport, Kentucky. His father is an old time lumberman, is an honored veteran of the Civil War, having served three years in the armies of Burnside, and is still living at Cincinnati, being connected with the National Flag Company of that city. His wife died at the age of forty-two. There were four children: Rollo S.; Edna, deceased; Newton, of El Paso, Texas; and Ferris, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Rollo S. Bassett attended local schools at Cincinnati, and at the age of sixteen began working with his father in the lumber business. Later he attended high school and also the Art and Mechanical Institute of Cincinnati, where he perfected himself in mechanical designing and illustrating. Mr. Bassett at the age of twenty-two went to Chicago and was connected with a wholesale milling concern in that city until 1908. In that year he came to Champaign as his headquarters, and as district manager for the Alexander Lumber Company his territory covers Rantoul, Villa Grove, Penfield, Royal, Mansfield, Sidell, Champaign and Decatur.
Mr. Bassett was married September 13, 1893, to Miss Ethel Sibley Benham, of Cincinnati. Their two children are Stewart Sibley and Margaret Benham. Mr. Bassett is an accomplished musician, and while in Chicago he served as organist for the First Congregational Church. He is now deacon in the First Congregational Church of Champaign. Mr. Bassett is a Knight Templar Mason and in politics is a Republican.