The Home Of Sion Bass, Civil War Hero

The Home Of Sion Bass, Civil War Hero. . John Grimes constructed a house on this lot in 1842, and on March 13, 1854, he sold the place to Sion S. Bass and his wife, Eliza. Sion Bass had come to Fort Wayne in 1848 from Salem, Kentucky, and worked for the Ewing fur-trading enterprise. He was joined by his younger brother, John, in 1853. They founded an iron works company, which they eventually sold to the railroad and then founded a second iron and machine works. This company, under the direction of John Bass, became the great Bass Foundry that dominated Fort Wayne industry until after the turn of the century., When the Civil War broke out, Sion Bass volunteered and helped organize the 30th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers - "The Bloody Thirtieth". Bass was elected Colonel and commanding officer by the men. In the Regiment's first action, at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee in April 1862, Sion Bass led his men in several charges during the bloody second day of fighting. He was severely wounded and died several days later. His body was returned to Fort Wayne where a state funeral was held to honor the city's first fallen hero. Bass's widow lived in the house until her death in 1878., (caption) Col. Sion Bass. Photograph of 1862. (Allen County - Fort Wayne Historical Society). , Presented by the Journal-Gazette Foundation , For more information, contact: Arch an organization for historic preservation