Camille Pichon

Madame Anatole Cousin, (my second great grandmothers sister) the former Camille Pichon, built a brick church for her family and the family slaves on the Cousin property on Bayou Bonfouca. 

After the French Revolution, the Cousin family, who were refugees, settled on a large piece of land stretching between Bonfouca and Mandeville. In 1852–1853, Madame Anatole Cousin, formerly Camille Pichon, constructed a brick church on the Cousin property along Bayou Bonfouca. This church, dedicated to St. Genevieve in memory of Madame Cousin’s mother, Genevieve Dubuisson, served both the family and their enslaved individuals.

Anatole Cousin’s nephew, Abbé Adrian Rouquette, ordained in New Orleans in 1845, became the first native Creole priest after the Louisiana Purchase. Despite their close ages, Anatole and Adrian shared literary interests, leading Father Rouquette and his poet-brother, Dominique, to frequent the Cousin household in Bonfouca. Following the completion of the Chapel of St. Genevieve, Father Rouquette often conducted Mass there, along with other priests from nearby areas like Mandeville, Madisonville, or Covington.

Adjacent to the Chapel, Mrs. Cousin constructed a rectory for visiting priests’ convenience and comfort. Over the years, various priests officiated there, including Father J. Outendriek until 1854, followed by Father C. M. Dubuis, Father Lamy, Father C. M. Giraud in the early 1860s, then Father Lecozic. Between 1864 and 1872, Father Manoritta served, succeeded by Father Beges and Father Gratz.