Here is a very interesting and one of only a very few surviving original printed copies of this song.  

With the sheet music is a valuable small newspaper clipping, pinned to the sheet music, which was the link that allowed me to find some family genealogical information about the composer, L. Louis, who was actually Lafayette Louis Lewis (1824-1869).  

I will include paper copies of the genealogical research I did.  Hopefully, some descendent of the Lewis / Hull family can be united with this musical memorabilia.   

• Title:  Departed Days or Voices of the Spirit World.  
• Nocturne.
• As Performed By The Brigade Serenade Band At Their Public Concerts.
• Composer:  L. Louis, actually Lafayette Lewis (1824-1869).  
• Date Published:  1856.
• Publisher/Printer:  Russell, Tolman:  291 Washington St., Boston, Mass.
• Copyright Notice:  "Entered According To Act of Congress AD 1856 by L Louis in the Clerks Office of the District at Mass."
• Condition:  Good Condition but with tears, chips, age darkening and spine separation.  
• Approximate Size: 10 1/2 by 13 7/8 inches.   
• Pages:  5, which includes the front cover.

The WorldCat lists a total of 46 works by this American composer, of which this is one.  Although Professor Lewis was obviously an early American musical composer, it is difficult to find him on any list of early American composers.

WorldCat only located three locations with copies of this particular sheet music, Departed Days.  

From the limited genealogy family information, I assumed that the sister he may be referring to in his dedication, would be a younger sister for whom there is no death date listed, whereas his other sisters have death dates after the year of this publication.  

Mr. Louis was born in Williamsville, NY, a Buffalo suburb.  He died in Florida on August 18, 1869, at the age of 45.  Besides his three sisters he appears to have had two brothers, one of whom was a doctor.   

Again, some information about Lafayette Louis Lewis 1824- 1869, he was the son of Daniel and Polly (Hull) Lewis, grandson of Warren and Polly Hull.  

Born in 1824 in Williamsville, New York, he died on September 14, 1869 in Jacksonville, Florida.  His job was as a musical composer.  Whatever else he may have done seems to have been lost.   He was evidently well-known as a musical composer who wrote many songs including  Departed Days, In Sunny Youth, La Consuelo, Republican Blues March. He also seems to have been an inventor.   He invented a musical device that attached to reed instruments and create a tremolo effect. He held a patent for this device. As a professor (he seems to have been known as "Prof Louis) he was a teacher of music in Boston, Massachusetts. He was also often known as “Professor Lewis.” I have been unable to locate any added specific information about any marriage, family, or children.  One website indicated that he may have used a quill pen and inkwell to write his music. 

Last, I cannot locate any information about when he relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, what he did while there, or any circumstances about his death other than the date.