He lived at home until about the age of 14, attending the district school; he then worked on neighboring farms for a few years. At the age of 17, he secured employment at the Taylor Chair Company of Bedford and remained in their employ three years. He left there to accept the position of fireman at the State Hospital at Newburgh, Ohio, also for three years.
Settling in Newburgh, Ohio after his marriage, Louis was employed as a stationary engineer at a stone saw mill operated by W. H. Caine. He continued at this work for forty years or until the mill was abandoned. Later, the Metropolitan Brick Company of Cleveland needed the services of an engineer so he accepted a position there as night engineer. He walked to and from work, a distance of five miles, each day; after the installation of motor-driven fans, his services were no longer needed. His last place of employment was with a Cleveland company as foreman of their car barns for five years.