In 1857, his family headed west, where his father founded the town of Mount Adams on the White River in Arkansas.

[5] Bascom regularly contributed a column called "Uncle Silas" in which he shared his own musings, like "Most of the skyscrapers in the cities have farmer boys as tenants.

The complex roof, asymmetric gables and bays fall within the Queen Anne architectural style that was popular at the time.

[2] Inside was dark woodwork, a brick fireplace, and bookcases with Prairie Style leaded-glass doors.

In 1980 his house was added to the NRHP as an early design of Claude and Starck and as home of one of Madison's leading citizens.