Emma C. Laugenour

Emma C. Laugenour ( Watkins; 1842-1919) was an American philanthropist and social reformer associated with temperance and suffrage movements in northern California. She founded a newspaper and served as its benefactor. She served as president of the Mary's Cemetery Association (Yolo County) and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) of Woodland. Laugenour was a pioneer suffragist. Early life Emma Christene Watkins was born in New Philadelphia, Ohio, May 12, 1842.

Career Since widowhood, she carried out philanthropy and business plans which she thought would have interested her husband. She did so in order for those who could not go to the city churches might have a place to worship, as well as to provide accommodations for funeral corteges from the outlying districts of Yolo county. She also organized the Mary's Cemetery Association, serving as president about fifteen years, and it was during this time that Mary's Chapel was built.