Circa 1863 Jonathan Bass was born January 30, 1837, in Jefferson County. His father arrived in Jefferson County in 1816, and Jonathan was a life-long resident. Although the Bass House was under construction as early as 1863, Jonathan left the farm to join the Confederate Army in 1861. He finished the front two rooms when he returned from the war. Ruteria Watson married Jonathan on December 6, 1865. They built their home and left their descendants an uncommon example of architecture with unusual decorative elements of wood graining in the front parlors and stenciling on the ceiling of the Great Hall. The painted ceiling design in the Men's Parlor that depicts a billiard table is a rare feature in American architecture, unique for its time and place.