Louis was born about 1861 in Denmark. He married Eveline Stephens (born 1866) in 1883 in New Zealand and became a naturalised citizen the same year. His profession was recorded as hairdresser. A son Thomas was born in 1885 and daughter Annie in 1889.
He was an active participant in the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association and the Wellington Scandinavian Society. He was also an amateur photographer, and whose photos give us a glimpse into his domestic life.
In 1901 Louis went to Australia where he was engaged as a ladies’ hairdresser during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York. And then in 1902 he travelled to Paris to further his studies in the latest styles of “postiche” and the most up to date fashions in ladies hairdressings. He was away for about 10 months and on his return invited “ladies who are admirers of pretty hair and who for fashion, convenience or necessity require some additional hair of any kind to call and inspect our Artistic Fringes of Natural Curled Human Hair on invisible foundations”.
“Wigs on the Green”. In 1906 Louis sued Albert Mould for £3 that he claimed was owing for the price of a “scalp” supplied by him to Albert defendant. “A scalp” was described as “something like a wig, only it is rather less than a wig”. It was claimed the “scalp” was a loan until the permanent one was supplied and when it was returned it was useless. Louis won the case.
From at least 1893 until his death, Louis lived with both his wife Eveline and a woman named Priscilla Page (born 1870). On the Electoral Rolls, Priscilla is only described as a spinster so we have no clue as to their relationship. At his death, Louis left half of his estate to his wife, and half “to my friend Priscilla”. His total estate was worth £54,000 which has the buying power of £1.3mil today. All three died the same year and all three are interred in the same unmarked grave. Priscilla died in June, aged 86; Louis in July, age 92 and Eveline in Ocotber aged 87.
Plot: Public 3/H/541
