Louisa Kirkman Stanton was born on this day in 1853, in Guilford County, to Leven and Rachel Gardner Kirkman.
Louisa came to Winston-Salem in 1880, and was married to Julius Stanton in 1884.
Louisa’s sister, Mattie Reed, was in the millinery business, and Louisa took over her business about 1885. She was located in the 200 block of North Main Street and employed six to eight workers, depending on the season.
According to a 1910 article on the millinery business, Mrs. Stanton carried a full line of trimmings that could be applied to the millinery creations, making her designs comparable to those found in the largest cities in the United States. She also carried mourning goods, such as veils and appropriate hats for those occasions.
Her business was listed in the 1918 publication, “Winston-Salem, City of Industry,” as a “Millinery and Fancy Goods Emporium.” The article mentions that Mrs. Stanton goes to New York twice a year, makes an exhaustive study of the latest fashions, and buys from the very best dealers. Also, she does not overstock, thus no out-of-date or shopworn items fill the shelves.
Louisa was a member of Centenary Methodist Church. She passed away in 1947.
The ad shown above was published in the 1913 Winston-Salem City Directory.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
