H. Louis Dousman

Deceased Person

1848 – 1886

75

Who was H. Louis Dousman?

Hercules Louis Dousman II, better known as Louis Dousman, was the son of Wisconsin millionaire Hercules Louis Dousman I. After inheriting his father's wealth, Dousman became a prominent Midwestern socialite and art collector.

Louis Dousman was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, the son of Hercules and Jane Dousman. As a child he received private tutoring, and he later attended a preparatory school in Madison, Wisconsin. Louis's education was cut short by the death of his father in 1868, an event which forced Louis to return to Prairie du Chien to take care of his father's estate. In 1870, two years after the death of his father, Dousman began using his inheritance, dismantling the house of his childhood and replacing it with a more modern home. This house, which would be come to be called Villa Louis in later decades, was designed in the Italianate style by E. Townsend Mix, but did not function as Louis's home for long. In 1872, Dousman moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota, leaving his mother to occupy the Prairie du Chien estate. Owing to his wealth and his father's previous association with Henry Hastings Sibley, who had earlier served as Governor of Minnesota, Dousman rose quickly in St. Paul's society. In 1873 he married Nina Sturgis, and the couple moved to St. Louis, Missouri, eventually having five children: Violet, Virginia, Nina, Louis, and Judith.

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Born
Apr 3, 1848
Nationality
  • United States of America
Lived in
  • Wisconsin
Died
Jan 13, 1886

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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