Daughter of William DeZeng Houghteling and Marcia Elizabeth Stockbridge. Fiancee of Gifford Pinchot, who would eventually become governor of Pennsylvania and a major figure in the conservation movement.
Gifford loved Laura deeply, and although she died of tuberculosis in 1894, he carried on a secret spiritual love affair with her for twenty years after that. He did wear mourning clothes for two years, but after seeing an apparition of her shortly after her death, he told his parents that Laura's passing was "nothing more than a temporary separation". He meticulously recorded his interaction with her in his diaries. "My lady is very near" (March 18, 1894) and "My darling is with me and I know it already" (April 3, 1894). His diary entries never mentioned Laura's death but only her closeness to him. He wrote that he "could hardly help expecting to see her" (May 16, 1895) and that she was "beautifully near him" (June 16, 1899). Two months after her death, he "sat with Miss Houghteling in the church at Biltmore". He felt she was with him at Grey Towers, on a train in Frankfurt Germany, shared meals with him, and often visited him at night. In January 1895, eleven months after her death, Laura "spoke to me, saying she wanted to be with me as much as I want to be with her".
Later, Gifford moved in with the Houghteling family in North Carolina. Laura's mother also believed that Laura had not really died and the two of them would sit in Laura's room and converse, trying to contact Laura amid her possessions.
Gifford often lingered outside the house in Washington DC where Laura died. In April, 1896 he spiritually "married" her during a late night visit to this house, writing in his journal, "In God's sight my Lady and I are husband and wife". After this date, he stopped wearing mourning clothes.
Gifford believed Laura was eternally with him, though her appearance was erratic. He often consulted mediums, psychics and attended seances. His mother was unhappy with his "mystical wife" -- although he was handsome and popular and to all appearances an eligible bachelor, Gifford lived with his parents in Washington, content with his spiritual life with Laura. He continued to build the US Forest Service, and preach conservation.
Through all his trials, he continued to sense Laura's presence. In fact, according to his diaries, Gifford was actively pursuing an intense spiritual quest, trying to unite with Laura on some other plane. It is not clear how he thought this would happen.
Meanwhile, Gifford's mother's last wish was to see the family line continue. An engagement was announced between 49-year-old Gifford and 33-year-old Cornelia Bryce, a strong-minded New York heiress who would eventually help him a great deal in his political career. The marriage hurriedly took place nine days before Gifford's mother died in 1914. Gifford's last diary entrance about Laura was written 14 days before his marriage. He continued to keep all her letters and photos at Grey Towers.
Eventually, he and Cornelia had a son, and were married for 32 years. Laura is not mentioned in the diaries after his marriage to Cornelia. After Gifford's death in 1946, his family donated his papers to the Library of Congress, but withheld Laura's letters, and Gifford's diary for 1893, the year Laura and Gifford were courting. It is not known if these papers still exist.
Gifford loved Laura deeply, and although she died of tuberculosis in 1894, he carried on a secret spiritual love affair with her for twenty years after that. He did wear mourning clothes for two years, but after seeing an apparition of her shortly after her death, he told his parents that Laura's passing was "nothing more than a temporary separation". He meticulously recorded his interaction with her in his diaries. "My lady is very near" (March 18, 1894) and "My darling is with me and I know it already" (April 3, 1894). His diary entries never mentioned Laura's death but only her closeness to him. He wrote that he "could hardly help expecting to see her" (May 16, 1895) and that she was "beautifully near him" (June 16, 1899). Two months after her death, he "sat with Miss Houghteling in the church at Biltmore". He felt she was with him at Grey Towers, on a train in Frankfurt Germany, shared meals with him, and often visited him at night. In January 1895, eleven months after her death, Laura "spoke to me, saying she wanted to be with me as much as I want to be with her".
Later, Gifford moved in with the Houghteling family in North Carolina. Laura's mother also believed that Laura had not really died and the two of them would sit in Laura's room and converse, trying to contact Laura amid her possessions.
Gifford often lingered outside the house in Washington DC where Laura died. In April, 1896 he spiritually "married" her during a late night visit to this house, writing in his journal, "In God's sight my Lady and I are husband and wife". After this date, he stopped wearing mourning clothes.
Gifford believed Laura was eternally with him, though her appearance was erratic. He often consulted mediums, psychics and attended seances. His mother was unhappy with his "mystical wife" -- although he was handsome and popular and to all appearances an eligible bachelor, Gifford lived with his parents in Washington, content with his spiritual life with Laura. He continued to build the US Forest Service, and preach conservation.
Through all his trials, he continued to sense Laura's presence. In fact, according to his diaries, Gifford was actively pursuing an intense spiritual quest, trying to unite with Laura on some other plane. It is not clear how he thought this would happen.
Meanwhile, Gifford's mother's last wish was to see the family line continue. An engagement was announced between 49-year-old Gifford and 33-year-old Cornelia Bryce, a strong-minded New York heiress who would eventually help him a great deal in his political career. The marriage hurriedly took place nine days before Gifford's mother died in 1914. Gifford's last diary entrance about Laura was written 14 days before his marriage. He continued to keep all her letters and photos at Grey Towers.
Eventually, he and Cornelia had a son, and were married for 32 years. Laura is not mentioned in the diaries after his marriage to Cornelia. After Gifford's death in 1946, his family donated his papers to the Library of Congress, but withheld Laura's letters, and Gifford's diary for 1893, the year Laura and Gifford were courting. It is not known if these papers still exist.
Daughter of William DeZeng Houghteling and Marcia Elizabeth Stockbridge. Fiancee of Gifford Pinchot, who would eventually become governor of Pennsylvania and a major figure in the conservation movement.
Gifford loved Laura deeply, and although she died of tuberculosis in 1894, he carried on a secret spiritual love affair with her for twenty years after that. He did wear mourning clothes for two years, but after seeing an apparition of her shortly after her death, he told his parents that Laura's passing was "nothing more than a temporary separation". He meticulously recorded his interaction with her in his diaries. "My lady is very near" (March 18, 1894) and "My darling is with me and I know it already" (April 3, 1894). His diary entries never mentioned Laura's death but only her closeness to him. He wrote that he "could hardly help expecting to see her" (May 16, 1895) and that she was "beautifully near him" (June 16, 1899). Two months after her death, he "sat with Miss Houghteling in the church at Biltmore". He felt she was with him at Grey Towers, on a train in Frankfurt Germany, shared meals with him, and often visited him at night. In January 1895, eleven months after her death, Laura "spoke to me, saying she wanted to be with me as much as I want to be with her".
Later, Gifford moved in with the Houghteling family in North Carolina. Laura's mother also believed that Laura had not really died and the two of them would sit in Laura's room and converse, trying to contact Laura amid her possessions.
Gifford often lingered outside the house in Washington DC where Laura died. In April, 1896 he spiritually "married" her during a late night visit to this house, writing in his journal, "In God's sight my Lady and I are husband and wife". After this date, he stopped wearing mourning clothes.
Gifford believed Laura was eternally with him, though her appearance was erratic. He often consulted mediums, psychics and attended seances. His mother was unhappy with his "mystical wife" -- although he was handsome and popular and to all appearances an eligible bachelor, Gifford lived with his parents in Washington, content with his spiritual life with Laura. He continued to build the US Forest Service, and preach conservation.
Through all his trials, he continued to sense Laura's presence. In fact, according to his diaries, Gifford was actively pursuing an intense spiritual quest, trying to unite with Laura on some other plane. It is not clear how he thought this would happen.
Meanwhile, Gifford's mother's last wish was to see the family line continue. An engagement was announced between 49-year-old Gifford and 33-year-old Cornelia Bryce, a strong-minded New York heiress who would eventually help him a great deal in his political career. The marriage hurriedly took place nine days before Gifford's mother died in 1914. Gifford's last diary entrance about Laura was written 14 days before his marriage. He continued to keep all her letters and photos at Grey Towers.
Eventually, he and Cornelia had a son, and were married for 32 years. Laura is not mentioned in the diaries after his marriage to Cornelia. After Gifford's death in 1946, his family donated his papers to the Library of Congress, but withheld Laura's letters, and Gifford's diary for 1893, the year Laura and Gifford were courting. It is not known if these papers still exist.
Gifford loved Laura deeply, and although she died of tuberculosis in 1894, he carried on a secret spiritual love affair with her for twenty years after that. He did wear mourning clothes for two years, but after seeing an apparition of her shortly after her death, he told his parents that Laura's passing was "nothing more than a temporary separation". He meticulously recorded his interaction with her in his diaries. "My lady is very near" (March 18, 1894) and "My darling is with me and I know it already" (April 3, 1894). His diary entries never mentioned Laura's death but only her closeness to him. He wrote that he "could hardly help expecting to see her" (May 16, 1895) and that she was "beautifully near him" (June 16, 1899). Two months after her death, he "sat with Miss Houghteling in the church at Biltmore". He felt she was with him at Grey Towers, on a train in Frankfurt Germany, shared meals with him, and often visited him at night. In January 1895, eleven months after her death, Laura "spoke to me, saying she wanted to be with me as much as I want to be with her".
Later, Gifford moved in with the Houghteling family in North Carolina. Laura's mother also believed that Laura had not really died and the two of them would sit in Laura's room and converse, trying to contact Laura amid her possessions.
Gifford often lingered outside the house in Washington DC where Laura died. In April, 1896 he spiritually "married" her during a late night visit to this house, writing in his journal, "In God's sight my Lady and I are husband and wife". After this date, he stopped wearing mourning clothes.
Gifford believed Laura was eternally with him, though her appearance was erratic. He often consulted mediums, psychics and attended seances. His mother was unhappy with his "mystical wife" -- although he was handsome and popular and to all appearances an eligible bachelor, Gifford lived with his parents in Washington, content with his spiritual life with Laura. He continued to build the US Forest Service, and preach conservation.
Through all his trials, he continued to sense Laura's presence. In fact, according to his diaries, Gifford was actively pursuing an intense spiritual quest, trying to unite with Laura on some other plane. It is not clear how he thought this would happen.
Meanwhile, Gifford's mother's last wish was to see the family line continue. An engagement was announced between 49-year-old Gifford and 33-year-old Cornelia Bryce, a strong-minded New York heiress who would eventually help him a great deal in his political career. The marriage hurriedly took place nine days before Gifford's mother died in 1914. Gifford's last diary entrance about Laura was written 14 days before his marriage. He continued to keep all her letters and photos at Grey Towers.
Eventually, he and Cornelia had a son, and were married for 32 years. Laura is not mentioned in the diaries after his marriage to Cornelia. After Gifford's death in 1946, his family donated his papers to the Library of Congress, but withheld Laura's letters, and Gifford's diary for 1893, the year Laura and Gifford were courting. It is not known if these papers still exist.
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