Widow of Late Gen. Lauman Passed to Eternal Rest Last Night.

Was Formerly a Prominent Member of Burlington Church and Social Circles – Has Suffered From Consumption For a Year – Moved to Chicago In '73.

Mrs. Louisa D. Lauman, the widow of General Jacob Gardner Lauman, died at her home in Chicago last night. Her death was the inevitable end of a long period of suffering from consumption.

Mrs. Lauman was born in Valley Falls, N.Y. With her husband, J.G. Lauman, she came to Burlington in the year 1844. General Lauman was engaged in a number of business enterprises in Burlington and was a leading and progressive citizen and, he had an able second in his wife in all of the episodes of his public life. She was fully as prominent among her sex in the city as was her husband among his. She was an active member and worker in Christ Episcopal church, and stood with prominence in that class of wives and mothers whose labors and influence are accountable almost wholly for the formation and maintentnce [sic] of churches, schools and other orgaizations which have developed Burlington to her present high standard of culture and knowledge.

Her husband, General Lauman, engaged in business of a general character during the first four years of his residence here, and in the year 1848 he formed a partnership with his brother under the firm name of J.G. Lauman & Bro., continuing in business until 1858, when he sold out, and in connection with Mr. Thomas Hedge, formed the banking house of Lauman, Hedge & CO., which they continued until the outbreak of the rebellion, when he was tendered the colonelcy of the 7th Iowa infantry and accepted in July, 1861. His gallant conduct in the engagement in the Belmount expedition gave him and his regiment early popularity in the war's history. In this engagement he was severely wounded in the thigh and thus disabled for some time. Having recovered from his wound he rejoined his regiment, and at Ft. Donelson he was placed in command of a brigade, and for gallantry and bravery was promoted to brigadier-general and assigned a command in Gen. Hurlburt's division, which fought in the left wing of Grant's army at Shiloh. He continued in command at different engagements until July, 1863, when he was relieved by Gen. Ord and ordered to report to Grant at Vicksburg. This was a result of jealousy and the ill feeling of Gen. Ord for him. He was sent by Gen. Grant to an eastern department and assigned a command in northern Virginia, but before his arrival the command was given to another, and he wsa ordered to his home in Burlington to await further orders, which never came. He made frequent efforts to find the cause of his treatment, but without success.

He was a sufferer from paralysis, which finally caused his death on Feb. 9th, 1867.

As a military leader he was brave to a fault and was very popular with officers and men. As a citizen he was always held in the highest esteem and was noted for his kindheartedness and liberality.

In the year 1873 Mrs. Lauman, with her two sons, moved to Chicago, where she has since resided. She was very widely known in Burlington and was always held in the highest esteem by acquaintances of both sexes.

She was related to Mrs. J. T. Remey and Miss Rorer, of this city, as first cousin, and during the quarter of a century since her removal has kept up the acquaintance of her many old friends here. She was a woman of strong characteristics and of a kind and engaging disposition. Her illness began about a year ago and quickly developed into consumption.

She is survived by two sons, Charles N. and George V. Lauman, who are partners at law in Chicago, and prominent in their profession in that city. Mr. George V. Lauman led the first Illinois regiment at Santiago as its lieutenant-colonel during the late American-Spanish war, and was later promoted to a colonelcy. He is very prominent in military circles, and both he and his brother are becoming widely known in that city. Her brother-in-law, George C. Lauman, who was her husband's business partner in Burlington, died about ten years ago, and his widow is now in California.

During the residence of General and Mrs. Lauman at Burlington, their home was on Valley street, between Fourth and Fifth, which was then the choice residence portion of the city, and their brick homestead was torn down but a few years ago.

The remains of Mrs. Lauman will be brought to Burlington next Wednesday morning, and the funeral will be held at ten o'clock from Christ Episcopal church, on High street, of which she was, for many years, a member.

Source: Burlington Evening Gazette, 5 Feb 1900, page 5.
-Added at the request of pmfrench (#47453952)