Baron Dettmar Basse (1762-1836), a German of culture, held a diplomatic post in Paris during the Napoleonic wars. With changes that occurred after that war and the death of his wife, he decided to come to the New World. After considerable travel, in 1802 he purchased 10,000 acres at 25 cents each, in what is now known as the Zelienople-Harmony area. He planned a town and named it after his eldest daughter, Zelie. In anticipation of building his home, establishing an iron foundry business, and bringing his children here Basse sold 4,000 acres to Johann George Rapp who, in turn, established what is now the town of Harmony. He returned to Germany to bring Zelie and her brother to their new home. When he arrived there, Zelie was betrothed to Philipp Louis Passavant; they were married in June 1807. Extensive preparations were made to establish their new home and town in America where they arrived in September 1807. The Zelienople Historical Society maintains a museum in Passavant House of many of the original
articles brought by Zelie.