![Residence and Dairy Ranch of G. Bassi, Rockbridge [Lotus P.0.] El Dorado county CAL.](http://www.inedc.com/23/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/G-Bassi.webp)
Georgetown Divide, Calif. (November 25, 2023) – Giovanni Bassi, born to Antonio and Orsula Bassi in the serene town of Valle, Switzerland, on May 18, 1840, embarked on a remarkable journey that intertwined his fate with the evolving tapestry of California’s history. Raised in a modest household with limited means, young Bassi, facing constrained educational opportunities, embraced a life herding cattle on the picturesque hillsides of his native land.
At the age of eighteen, fueled by dreams of fortune and prosperity, G. Bassi set his sights on California. His odyssey began in San Francisco on January 29, 1859, marking the commencement of a transformative chapter in his life. Over the next five years, he toiled in the mines, tended dairy ranches in Garden Valley, Forest Hill, and Dutch Flat, and even worked in a store at Greenwood.
![Grizzly Flat [ca. 1851-1852]](http://www.inedc.com/23/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GrizzlyFlats-1851-1852-120x86.webp)
In 1864, driven by an adventurous spirit, Bassi traversed the mountains, exploring the vast expanse of Nevada before returning in the fall. He invested in the dairy at Rock Bridge, gradually securing full ownership by 1870. This ranch along the South Fork of the American River stood as a testament to his enduring success, where around eighty cows graze during winter, and the summers are spent in the lofty altitudes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, specifically on Big Silver Creek.
On January 6, 1878, G. Bassi entered into matrimony with Miss Virginia Forni, the daughter of Samuel Forni from Georgetown. Their union brought forth three children — Daniel M. (born January 2, 1879), Josephine V. (born August 19, 1880), and Kitty Angelina (born March 9, 1882). Bassi had a large land holding on the South Fork of the American River where he kept their large herds of dairy cattle and raised their children.
Beyond his agricultural pursuits, G. Bassi found community engagement. He became a proud member of Sutter’s Mill Grange, demonstrating his commitment to local agricultural associations. Additionally, he delved into the realms of Masonic fraternity, achieving the status of a chapter Freemason and assuming various roles within his lodge and chapter.
“Bassi Road” gets its name from G. Bassi. As does 109′ tall “Bassi Falls” waterfall to the west of Lake Tahoe.
![Grizzly Flat [ca. 1851-1852]](http://www.inedc.com/23/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GrizzlyFlats-1851-1852-350x250.webp)
