Helen L. Bostwick (, Barron; after first marriage, Bostwick; after second marriage, Bird; January 5, 1826 – December 20, 1907) was an American author and poet. ''Buds, Blossoms, and Berries'', stories for children, was published in 1863. Some of her poems are included in a volume entitled ''Four O'Clocks'', published in 1888. Nearly all of her literary work was done in Ohio, where her contemporaries included

Alice Williams Brotherton Alice Williams Brotherton (, Williams; April 4, 1848 – February 9, 1930) was an American author of poetry, essays, reviews, children's stories, and lyrics. Though she hailed from Indiana, she lived most of her life in Cincinnati, Ohio, serving ...

and

Kate Brownlee Sherwood Kate Brownlee Sherwood (, Brownlee; September 24, 1841 – February 15, 1914) was an American poet, journalist, translator and story writer of the long nineteenth century, as well as a philanthropist, and patron of the arts and literature. Sherw ...

. Bird died in 1907.

Biography

Helen Louisa Barron, a daughter of Dr. Putnam Barron, was born January 5, 1826, at North Charlestown, New Hampshire, where the first twelve years of her girlhood were passed. Here she received an elementary common-school education, which was supplemented by special private tuition under Rev.

Alonzo Ames Miner Alonzo Ames Miner (August 17, 1814 – June 14, 1895) was a Universalist minister. He was the second president of Tufts University. Origins Born in Lempster, New Hampshire, he was the second of five children and only son of Benajah Ames a ...

, of Boston. In 1838, she removed with her parents to a farm near Ravenna, Ohio, where, in 1844, at the age of eighteen, she married Edwin Bostwick; he died September 9, 1860. Their daughter, Florence, died at the age of fifteen, and daughter, Marion, died at the age of thirty. Bostwick & Eastburn, How the Gates Came Ajar

Bostwick & Eastburn, How the Gates Came Ajar

Bird began writing for the press at the age of eighteen. Nearly all of her literary work was done in Ohio, chiefly within the period of her first widowhood. For many years, she was a valued contributor to various newspapers and magazines, including '' The National Era'', the ''

New York Independent ''The Independent'' was a weekly magazine published in New York City between 1848 and 1928. It was founded in order to promote Congregationalism and was also an important voice in support of abolitionism and women's suffrage. In 1924 it moved to Bo ...

'', the '' Home Monthly'', '' The Ohio Farmer'', the ''

Ladies' Home Journal ''Ladies' Home Journal'' was an American magazine last published by the Meredith Corporation. It was first published on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States. In 18 ...

'', '' The Saturday Evening Post'', and the ''

Atlantic Monthly ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher. It features articles in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 1857 in Boston, ...

''. Bird's best poems, most of which were produced subsequently to the publication of Coggeshall's pioneer collection (''Poets and Poetry of the West with Biographical and Critical Notices. '', 1880), were contained in a volume entitled ''Four O'Clocks'', which was issued in Philadelphia in 1888. She also wrote for children. "How the Gates Came Ajar" (1869) was composed by Bird, with music by Eastburn. In 1875, she married Dr. John F. Bird, and removed with him to Philadelphia, where he died January 20, 1904, and where she continued to reside during the remainder of her life. She died December 20, 1907.

Selected works

As Helen L. Bostwick

* ''Buds, Blossoms, and Berries'', 1863 * "How the Gates Came Ajar", 1869 (lyrics)

As Helen Barron Bostwick

* ''Four O'Clocks'', 1888

References

Attribution

* * *

Bibliography

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bostwick, Helen L. 1826 births 1907 deaths 19th-century American poets 19th-century American women writers People from Charlestown, New Hampshire American women poets