Few details are known to help elucidate the life of Louis Mann. Bornin Lübeck, in Schleswig-Holstein, Louis settled with three brothersin Pottsville, Pennsylvania around 1840. Roughly two decades later,found Louis, accompanied by two of his brothers—Simon andIsidore—settled in Laurens, South Carolina, some eighty milesnorthwest of Columbia. The brothers seem to have run a dry goodsbusiness, and seem to have profited handsomely even through the CivilWar, an era that was economically difficult for many. Unknown as wellis the date of his wedding, or even the name of his wifedepicted in the accompanying portrait.