Helen Campbell Bass

Helen Campbell Bass

Helen Campbell Bass Menard Bostwick, 1838-1896

• Father: Charles L. Bass b. say 1812
• Mother: Rebecca Mary Fluker b. circa 1820, d. 9 July 1869

• Helen Campbell Bass was born on 9 April 1838 in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia.
• She was known as Helen Menard for her step-father Michel Branamour Menard.
• Charles L. Bass and Rebecca Mary Fluker appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1840 in Crawford County, Georgia. Other (counted but unnamed) members of the household apparently included Helen Campbell Bass.
• Michel Branamour Menard and Rebecca Mary Fluker appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Galveston, Texas. Other members of the household included Helen Campbell Bass, Clara C. Bass and Michel Doswell Menard. The household actually was enumerated on 16 April 1851. It appears that the enumerator ignored the "as of 1 June 1860" instruction, and included young Doswell, aged 3 months.
• She and John Robert Bostwick obtained a marriage license on 27 May 1858 in Galveston County, Texas.
• She married John Robert Bostwick circa May 1858.
• On Saturday, 6 April 1861, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mr. & Mrs. Bostwick of Galveston came today," and on Friday, the 26th, "Mr. Bostwick & Family left for Galveston."
• The following is a summary record of a letter written 13 January 1865 from New York by Rebecca Menard Thrasher to Archbishop John Mary Odin in New Orleans:
       Mrs. Thrasher came North last September with consent of the Sec(retary) of War at Richmond. Poor Doswell (Ménard) has been for 4 years an epileptic. The past summer she was again ordered from her home in Atlanta, Georgia. Dosie has grown quite tall and says he feels better. She writes about the child of Colonel Ménard, Odin's friend, a man who did good all the day long. Mrs. Thrasher saw her daughter Clara (Thrasher) at Mobile. Clara died September 24 in the Catholic faith. Mr. Thrasher went to Texas to send her means. She has not heard a word from him. Her means are limited and her health failing. (T.W.) Pierce has advanced her some money. She is possessed with the belief that her husband is dead. She asks Odin to write to Mr. Leclerc not to let any of her Galveston property be sold. Leclerc was Colonel Ménard's most trusted friend. In the midst of this her skeptical mind begins to give way to the yearnings of years that she may believe and that she may die in the faith of Colonel Ménard and her Clara. Does Odin think some money could be raised through E.J. Hart of New Orleans by mortgaging some of her property in Galveston? Her address is care of J.R. Bostwick, Bridgeport, Connecticut." [University of Notre Dame Archives]
• Rebecca Menard Thrasher's letter written to the Archbishop the following day (14 January 1865) is summarized as follows:
       She wrote again to the Archbishop on the following day: Since writing a few days ago she received a letter from a house in Havana telling her they heard from her husband November 26, Houston, and that funds are in their hands subject to her order. Odin will therefore not trouble to see (E.J.) Hart. Her only friend has been T.W. Pierce of Boston. Her prayers for him and Mother Thrasher come easily to her. She prays that Doswell (Ménard) may become worthy of his Father. Dosie is now with another doctor; he believes he will cure him; that is a good thing for epilepsy. She finds it hard to bear the loss of her child Clara (Thrasher). If Sister St. Agnes is in New Orleans, Odin is to tell her that her school pet has passed away. She asks Odin to point out a course of reading on the proofs from the Bible of tenets of the Catholic Church. Her address is care of J.R. Bostwick, Bridgeport, Connecticut. [University of Notre Dame Archives]
• John Robert Bostwick and Helen Campbell Bass appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia. Other members of the household included Charles Bostwick, Mary Menard Bostwick, John Orleans Bostwick and Maude Helen Bostwick.
• The Bostwick family -- Mr. Jno. R, Mrs. Helen C. (Minard), Charles (age 18), Mar Minard (age 15), John Orleans (age 11), Helen Maude (age 7) -- were entered in the St. Mark's Episcopal church register about 1877, based upon the ages of the children.
• John Robert Bostwick and Helen Campbell Bass appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia. Other members of the household included Charles Bostwick, Mary Menard Bostwick, John Orleans Bostwick and Maude Helen Bostwick.
• Helen Campbell Bass became a widow at the 4 April 1890 death of her husband John Robert Bostwick.
• Helen Campbell Bass died on 8 October 1896 at age 58 in Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia, at Union Street at the home of her son-in-law J. W. Wood.
• She was interred at Oak Grove Cemetery, Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.
• The following appeared on 8 October 1896 in the Brunswick Times: Mrs. Helen C. Bostwick died this morning at 9:45 o'clock, at the residence of her son-in-law, Capt. J.W. Wood, on Union street.
       A woman of many perfect gifts, of charming personality, whose life is crowned with doing of good deeds. Mrs. Bostwick's death will be sad news indeed to many who knew and admired her. Coming to the city from her northern home, she lived here many years, lending her efforts to every movement for the betterment of humanity. Of late years, Mrs. Bostwick lived in New York, but returned to Brunswick not many months ago for the benefit of her health. A sufferer from paralysis, she gradually grew worse, and, this morning, surrounded by relatives and friends, passed from life into eternity.
       Mrs. Bostwick was the widow of the late John R. Bostwick, who, during his life in Brunswick, filled many important positions. Three children survive her, Mrs. John R. Wood, Miss Maud Bostwick, and Mr. Ollie Bostwick.
       Under the nom de plume, "Yellow Jesamine," Mrs. Bostwick was a contributor to many periodicals and did some excellent literary work.
       The funeral will occur tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock from St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

• Last Edited: 4 Jan 2013

• Charts: Descendants of CAMPBELL Archibald & Rebecca Kirk