Louisa Sewell
African-American woman
About Louisa Sewell
Lived 1848 – 1893 (aged 44–45).
Louisa Sewell (1848-1893) was born in Richmond, Virginia. She was one of the first Black Oregonians in Grant County, alongside her husband, Columbus Sewell, and her sons, Thomas and Joseph.
Life Louisa was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1848. She moved to Canyon City, Oregon after marrying her husband, Columbus Sewell, at nineteen. She and Columbus had three sons. Thomas and Joseph survived into adulthood.
When she first got to Canyon City, she worked as a cook before transitioning to taking care of the homestead while Columbus traveled for his “teamster”/freight hauling business. Within her community, she was well-known for her homemade ice cream and the croquet court used when visitors came to the Sewell homestead . One notable guest included the Paiute writer Sarah Winnemucca. Louisa helped Sarah leave town when a white woman wanted to kill Sarah after a Paiute warrior killed her husband.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Louisa Sewell's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Louisa Sewell's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Louisa Sewell?
african-American woman
When was Louisa Sewell born?
Louisa Sewell was born in 1848.
When did Louisa Sewell die?
Louisa Sewell died in 1893.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Louisa Sewell. https://biography.guide/louisa-sewell/
MLA: "Louisa Sewell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/louisa-sewell/.
Chicago: "Louisa Sewell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/louisa-sewell/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:23 UTC