Born: Fayette County, Indiana, October 20, 1837.
Died: 1905.

The subject of this sketch was born in Fayette County, Indiana, October 20, 1837. In early life his parents were poor, his father earning the living for the entire family at farming and wagon-making. Louis received such learning as the common school afforded, and in early manhood taught school during the winter, and farmed during the summer.

In his eighteenth year he obeyed the gospel under the preaching of S. K. Hoshour, at Bentonville, Indiana , his father being immersed at the same time. His mother was a Methodist, but, learning the way of the Lord more perfectly, she became a member of the Church of Christ. He was married to Miss Sarah W. Treadway, daughter of Judge Treadway, of Bentonville, Indiana, Dec. 29, 1859. The following spring he moved to Fairview, Indiana, and followed farming until the war broke out, when he enlisted in the Third Indiana Cavalry, and was first lieutenant, quarter-master and ordnance officer, operating with the Army of the Potomac. Was in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg; passed through the wilderness with Grant, and was in the famous Wilson raid in the rear of Richmond. Was a prisoner in Libby and on Belle Island. After three years' hard service he returned home.

In the autumn of 1871, he removed to Iowa City, Iowa. A stranger in a strange land, he sought for places to preach, believing that the best way to begin preaching was to begin. He found warm friends in the persons of John C. Hay, J. Mad. Williams and J. C. White. His first preaching was at Solon, fifteen miles from Iowa City, whither he went on foot, to and from his appointments. Removing to Brighton, Iowa , in the spring of 1872, he preached there part of his time for nine consecutive years. At the same time he preached for Pleasant Hill, CoIumbus City, Le Claire, and was district evangelist in the South-east District of the State. In all these fields, his labors were successful, and hundreds of friends remember him kindly to this day. In the spring of 1897, he was, as he thought, compelled by force of circumstances to move to Arkansas. It was a very unfortunate move. He counts it time lost. The spirits were not congenial.

He is the author of several books and tracts. "The History of Sprinkling" is a very popular little work. His last work, "A Great Cloud of Witnesses," is destined to be equally popular when it comes to be known. He has in course of preparation a book of skeleton sermons and outlines, with incidents and illustrations, gathered from an active ministry of thirty years. His home is at Elwood, Indiana, where he is spending his time in writing and preaching in adjacent neighborhoods. He says the "latchstring is out."