William Bass was born in Boone County, Missouri on the first of January, 1836 to Eli and Margaret Bass. William grew up on the family plantation being surrounded by the finest horses and cattle.

He was married to Irene Hickman (born October 4, 1836) and their first child Everet was born in September 1859[1].  By 1880 William and Irene had eight children: Everet 20, Thaddeus 19, Robert 15, William G 13, Laura 11, James 6, Laurence 3, and H.G. 2.[2] 

It is generally agreed that Tom Bass was born to William Bass and Cornelia Grey.  Cornelia was one of the Eli Bass’ slaves, a daughter of Presley and Eliza Grey.  Tom’s birth was not well documented so the exact date of his birth is unknown.  Although Tom stated that he was born in 1859, it is believed he was born several years before Everet.

William’s father, Eli, was very knowledgeable livestock breeder.  He raised large herds of fine animals and amassed a fortune.  Eli was also an exhibitor of Thoroughbreds and Saddle Horses that were of top quality.[3] By 1870 William Bass owned a large amount of land south of Columbia located in township 47N, range 12W. This was the same land his grandfather Peter owned many years earlier. [4]  William and his brother Ed carried on the family's reputation and became breeders, dealers, and exhibitors as young men.[5]  William Bass became a prominent jack and mule breeder[6] as well as a noted prizewinner with his Shorthorn cattle. It was said that he made frequent trips to Kentucky to buy the Shorthorns.[7]  William owned several great show horses such as: Orlando, Bill Anderson, and Helen McGregor.[8]  In the 1873 St. Louis Fair, William was a winner for the best saddle horse, mare or gelding with a mare named Fanny.[9] When William became the largest dealer of saddle horses in Missouri, he began going into Kentucky to buy horses by the train car load to be auctioned off at his farm.  Then in the 1870’s William teamed up with James Kimbrough and Ben Anderson to form the company of Bass, Anderson, and Kimbrough.  It was said that no family or firm did more to popularize the American Saddle Horse throughout the Mississippi Valley and the Pacific Coast than this family and firm.[10]

William Bass died March 30, 1892 at the age of 56 and was buried in the Columbia, Missouri Cemetery.  Irene Hickman Bass died December 18, 1911 at the age of 85 and was buried next to William in the Columbia Cemetery.

Photo Credits:

• Irwin Photo

This page was designed by Chad Lilienkamp under direction of Dr. Lyndon Irwin