Josiah Bass, Vernon Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Jane P. McManus
Date: November 1, 2008

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Bass, Josiah
Josiah Bass was born April 1827 LA and died 1923 Vernon Parish LA. He was 
the son of James Bass and Emily Groves. He married ca 1844 in LA to Mary 
Elizabeth Nash who was born 1830 LA and died 1893 Vernon LA, daughter of 
Thomas Nash and Sarah Celestine Drake. They had twelve children.  

Josiah Bass lived in Rapides Parish before 1850 and it was not until the 
1890’s that he was shown in Vernon Parish. In the 1880 Vernon Parish Census, 
his wife Mary (Nash) Bass (or Elizabeth as she was listed) was living with 
her daughter Lydia (Bass) James. She listed herself as a widow at this 
time, however in the 1880 Rapides Parish Census, Josiah (or Joseph as he 
was listed) was living alone in Rapides, Ward 5. In 1900, Josiah/Joseph 
Bass was listed as a widow living with his daughters, and Elizabeth was 
head of the household that contained 2 of her sisters, an adopted girl, 
her father, and two grandsons.  

Josiah Bas was a member of the Laurel Hill Baptist Church in Leander LA, 
having moved his letter from the Gravel Hill Baptist Church in Pitkin LA 
in 1890.  

The issue of Josiah Bass & Mary Nash:  Martha (1845); Mary Ann (30 July 
1847) who married Henry W. Fitzgerald; William Tillman (6 September 1849/
29 Jan 1916 LA) who married Sarah J. Powell; Elizabeth C. (November 1852) 
never married; Sidney Ann (1 Feb 1853) who married Martin VanBuren Johnson; 
Lysander (9 May 1856/24 March 1926) who married Elizabeth Johnson; Lydia Ann 
(13 June 1859/1 April 1932) who married David E. James; Sarah A. (3 August 
1862/1 Oct 1946); Thomas J. (13 August 1864/6 Sep 1907) who married Eliza A. 
?; Ida Virginia. (4 November 1866/29 August 1958) who married Monroe J. James; 
Frances Matilda (August 1868); and James Roy Bass (1871 LA / 6 Oct 1906) who 
married Mary Ellen Johnson.

Josiah Bass is buried in an unmarked grave in Blue Branch Cemetery, Pitkin 
(Vernon) LA.  Mary (Nash) Bass is buried in Wisby Cemetery, Pitkin LA.  

References:
McManus, Jane P., A Backward Glance, Parker Enterprises, Ball, Louisiana, 
1986, pg. 53.

McManus, Jane P. & Parker, Essie T., Laurel Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 
Vernon Parish, Louisiana 1869 – 1920, Its People and Its History, Parker 
Enterprises, Englewood, CO, 1988.  

1850 US Population Schedules, LA (Rapides) # 498
1860 US Population Schedules, LA (Rapides) # 550
1870 US Population Schedules, LA (Rapides) # 1242
1880 US Population Schedules, LA (Rapides), Ward 5
1880 US Population Schedules, LA (Vernon), # 240
1900 US Population Schedules, LA, Vernon Parish, Ward 5, #40/40.

Martin, Syble, Family Data Sheets, DeRidder LA (2000)
McFatter, Faye, Family Data Sheets, LA (1990)