Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 91

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2 > Part 91

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On June 3, 1856, Mr. Long was married in Hollidaysburg, Pa., to Louisa Weish, born in Baltimore, Md., July 21, 1834. Her parents moved from Baltimore to Franklin County, Pa .. in 1841, and there remained until they dled. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Long: James B., engineer for the Wabash Railroad, ilving in Springfield; Ciara M., Superintendent of a refuge home in Hon- oiniu ; Liiiian, wife of Samuei Young, of Syra- cuse, N. Y .; Mary E., wife of Wlliiam Ammann, of Cordova, Ala .; George M., engineer inspector of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, living in Chicago; Ritta, living at home; Rebecca, wife of Ernest Taimage, of Syracuse, N. Y., and Wil- liam E., deceased. There are fifteen grand- children and one great grandchlid in the family. Mr. Long is widely respected by the many friends he has made during his residence in Springfield. He bas succeeded in his work and has influenced many for good during his asso- ciation with men.

LONG, Fred W., a life-long resident of Spring- field, Ill., is a seif-made young man, who is well-known and popular throughout Sangamon County. He is active in the councils of the Democratic party. He has served in va- rious public offices and has given the public efficient and satisfactory service in every case.

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Mr. Loug was born in Springfield, June 10, 1875, and is a son of Charles II. and Louisa Long, both natives of Germany, the former born De- cember 25, 1838, and the latter November 23, 1840. The father engaged in business in Spring- field as a grocer and seed-merchant, and built up a successful enterprise.

Fred W. Long passed his childhood in Spring- field and attended Trinity Lutheran Parochial School, and Trapp Public School, aud supple- mented his education with a course in Spring- field Business College. Upon leaving school he entered the employ of his father as clerk, later becoming bookkeeper for The John Bressmer Company. He afterwards became a traveling salesman in the employ of Frank Wiedlocher. a wholesale flour merchant, and displayed con- siderable business ability and enterprise, will- ning the confidence and approval of his em- ployers in each position and gaining valnable experience.

Mr. Long's public career began In December, 1898, when he became Deputy County Clerk, in which position he served eight years, and from December, 1906, to December, 1910, filled the office of Chief Deputy Sheriff. His pros- pects seem to be'very bright, as he is held in high esteem wherever known and has had a very fair opportunity of proving his fitness. He has always discharged his various duties with conscientious precision and care, and his honesty and integrity are unquestioned. Since January 1, 1911, Mr. Long has been Claim Ad- juster for the Springfield Consolidated Rail- way Company, the Springfield Gas Light Con- pany, and the Springfield Light, Heat and Power Company. Mr. Loug has always been a Democrat in politics, and is a member of Trin- ity Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Elks, Chamber of Commerce and Business Men's Association, and for five years served as Financial Secretary of the last-named organi- zation. He also served at one time as Delegate from the Retail Clerks' Union to the Federa- tion of Labor.

Mr. Long was married in Springfield, Sep- tember 15, 1896, to Miss Clara B. Keller, born in Jersey County, daughter of Amos W. and Emma Keller. Four children have blessed this union : Clara Anna, born October 24, 1897; Emma Louisa, November 1. 1898; Erma Eliza- beth, April 19, 1900; Catherine, August 30, 1904. Mr. Long owns some real estate in Springfield besides otber property.

LOOMIS, Webner E .- Forty-nine miles north- east of London, England, is the city of Brain- tree, and it has been the site successively of British and Roman people, laws, customs, re- ligious, etc. In the time of King John, Brain- tree had become a market place for woolen cloth. The early religious pilgrims halted there to rest. The persecuted Flemings, in the days of Queen Elizabeth, fled to and became residents of Braintree. Other people settled in the place; new ideas and thinkers developed,

so that with the Reformation, Braintree be- came a hotbed of dissent and non-conformity. Burning at the stake was often used as au "argument" against the alleged heretics. Fox's "Book of Martyrs" tells of John Loomis (then spelled Lomas), with four women, being burned at the stake, on the same day, at Cauterbury, "aud who, while the fire was flaming about their ears, did sing psalmus, whereat the good Knight, Sir John Norton, being there present, wept bitterly at the sight thereof."

Joseph Loomis, who is believed to have been a grand-nephew or some ncar relative of the foregoing John Loomis, fearing a like fate for himself and kin, left Braintree with his family aud those of his married sisters, for Londou, and from there, on April 11, 1638, they put to sea on the ship "Susan and Ellen," for North America, where they hoped to enjoy better re- ligious freedom, and arriving at Boston on the 17th day of the following July. In 1639 Joseph Loomis moved with his family and settled on land that he bought February 2, 1640, and known as an island during high water in the river at Windsor, Conn., and in the same year built on the land his dwelling house, which stauds today as the oldest homestead In Amer- ica in the perpetual possession of the descend- ants of its pioneer builders.

Joseph Loomis traced his ancestry back clearly to his great-grandfather, Thomas Lum- myas, who is shown by the church records to have died at Thaxted, England, in 1551. The Loomis name and ancestry is traced back to Bolton, County Lancashire, prior to the Nor- man Conquest, and is of Anglo-Saxon origin. Josephi Loomis was the father of eight chil- dren, whose descendants, as contained and named iu the latest genealogy of the family, are 13,000 different persons born a Loomis, besides 4,800 maternal ancestors were born of that name. Of these 1,000 had military records and many others were skillful scientists or profes- sionals. In 1868 Dr. Mahlon Loomis invented a machine with which he sent wireless messages betweeu stations eighteen miles apart, which in- volved the main principles later used by Mar- coni, and on which he secured a patent, July 30, 1872, but neither the United States Congress nor capitalists realized its utility and impor- tance before his death.

Webner E. Loomis traces his ancestry to Joseph Loomis through his fourth child, John, who was for fourteen years a member of the General Court (or legislature) of Connecticut, and beld other offices of public trust until his death September 1, 16SS ..

Among the descendants of the son of John Loomis, whose portraits appear in one of the illustrations of this volume, is the scientist, Prof. Ellas Loomis (No. 244), gradnate of Yale in 1830, its tutor in science 1833-35; pro- fessor in the Western Reserve College 1837-44, and of the University of New York, 1844-60; also employed by the United States Government 1840-45 in determining difference of longitude

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

between New York City and other citics. He was the first to ascertain the velocity of elec- tricity. Over 500,000 of his books were used in the schools and colleges of the United States aud also translated and taught in other coun- tries. By Prof. Loomis' continued effort he assisted in the establishment of the United States weather bureau, systematized its work and wrote its main guide book. Hls article on "Contributions to Meteorology," was published by the Government in 1886. He was professor of natural philosophy and astronomy of Yale Coi- lege from 1860 to August 15, 1889, when he died, bequeathing $300,000 to promote as- trouomy.

John Masou Loomls (No. 245), Colonel of Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, com- mander of the Fourth Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, died in October, 1900, leaving upwards of $1,000,000, to which his sister added $500,000, to be applied In founding the "Loomis Insti- tute," on the grounds of the old Loomis Home- stead at Windsor, Conn. Dr. Alfred L. Loomis (No. 246) was the first to use open-air treat- meut for certain diseases, was a professor in the University of New York, and physician to Bellevue Hospital. Gen. Cyrus O. Loomis, was comumander of the Loomis Battery in the War of 1861; Francis B. Loomis, was Assistant Sec- retary of State; Jarms and Erastus Loomis, were given medals by the United States Con- gress for heroism in the War of 1812; and Icha- bod Loomis was a soldier in the War of the Revolution.

Another descendant of John Loomis was the Hon. A. Loomis (No. 243) of Little Fails, N. Y. He wrote a portion of the State Constitution of New York (1846), and assisted in the prep- aration of the Code of Procedure as adopted by the Legislature of New York in 1847. He orig- inated and, after a struggle of thirty years, had adopted, an amendment to the New York Constitution requiring a vote of the people on expenditure of State moneys. He was Judge of different courts in New York, a member of the Legislature of that State, a member of the United States Congress, and filled with ability other offices of public concern. His brother, Horace Loomls, the grandfather of our subject, resided in Salisbury, Herklmer County, N. Y., where he married Julia Tuttle (No. 240), of which famlly arc Bishop Tuttle of St. Louis, Mo., James Tuttle, D. D., deceased, for many years a pastor in Minneapolis, Minu., and others.

Horace Loomis moved from Sallsbury, N. Y., in 1838. with his wife and childreu : Thaddeus Levi, William Burrill and Horace Julius. He purchased land and built his home in Section 1, Town 9 North, Range 3 West, which is about one and one-half miles east of the village of Chesterfield, Macoupin County, Ill., at the be- ginning of the south end of the then prairie, which extended from there, without the inter- vention of a tree or anything else other than the tall grasses in their season, to the present

site of the city of Chicago. Ife pursued dairy- ing, with 120 cows, and farming, hauling his products to St. Louis, Mo. Ile died December 20, 1850, his widow passing away in 1864; both lie buried in the Loomis Cemetery on a part of the original home farm. William B. Loomis (No. 236), father of Webner E., was born in Sallsbury, N. Y., Aprii 28, 1829. He married Mary A. Eldred (No. 237), who died October 5, 1854, daughter of William and Ruth (Brace) Eldred (No. 241). Her father and mother came from Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1822, and bought and located on a farm two and three- fourths miles west of Carrollton, Ill. The El- dreds trace their ancestors back to oue of the brothers of King Eldred, of England, who was known to be, successful iu his battles against the Danish intruders on English soil. The word Eldred means "terrible," and the part the members of the family have taken in the battles in England, in the Indian wars and the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812 and 1861-65, proves them to have been well named or prop- erly defined. The Eldreds and Braces came from England about 1640.

The Braces are usually educators and public- spirited men. Of John Brace of Litchfield, Conn., Harriet Beecher Stowe sald: "He ex- ceeded all teachers I ever knew in the faculty of teaching composition : much of the inspiration and trainlug of my early days consisted not in things I was supposed to be studyiug, but in hearing, while seated unnoticed at my desk, the conversation of Mr. Brace with the older classes." His son, Charles L. Brace, was celebrated for his great work of philanthropy among the children of the poor of New York City and in other countries, as well as a traveler and author of note. He died in Switzerland. The mother of Ruth (Brace) Eidred was a member of the Bushnell family, and a near relative of Horace Bushnell, the eminent theologlan of Litchfield, Conn. It was in honor of this family that the city of Bush- nell, Ill., was named.

To the marrlage of William B. Loomis and Mary A. Eldred there were born: Mary Lucy, who died in Infancy ; Webner E., born Novem- ber 11, 1851; and Leverett Wiibur, born Feb- ruary S, 1853. (Illustration.) At the center of the top of the cut is the Coat of Arms of the Loomis family; joining it on its left side and lower corner is the dwelling house where the brothers, Webner E. aud Leverett W., were born, together with the grounds and bulldings, which was their and their father's home until leaving it in. May, 1865, to reslde in Minne- apolis, Minn. Near above dwelling house was the quill (No. 21) iu which were ground corn and wheat, and also logs sawed Into lumber. No. 20 is the schoolhouse, as first attended by the brothers, ou Section 6 of above townshlp. The picture down to No. So tells much of what Leverett W. Loomis did to occupy his time from one year and nine months old to about eighteen years of age. At five years of age he was his

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father's steam engineer of the mill while saw- ing logs, aud, during that tinc, seeing that the expert engineer of the mill could not ascertain or repair an injury to the cylinder end of the piston, he pointed it out and directed its repair. About two weeks after he began to learu the jewcler's trade (1870) at Carrollton, III., notic- ing that the proprietor of the store (a jeweler) was unable to construct a double-faced business clock for a customer, Leverett W. made the clock and it reudered satisfactory service for over twenty-five years before requiring repair. He then made the works of a sinali watch, but such work proving too simple to iuterest him, he took up the making and mounting of lenses, also electricity, chemistry and other scientific studies as suited his purpose. His first lens was the main one used in a transcript instrument of his own make (No. 91), followed by a telescope with a 21%-inch lens (No. 93), and then that of 6-inch objective of Feil ma- terial-achromatic clock movement telescope (No. 98), valued at several thousand dollars, which he gave to Blackburn Coliege, at Carlinville, Ill., in 1885. He then made the objective of two different miscroscopes, the second one (No. 100) of which, being borrowed by a friend, was exhibited unknown to Mr. Loomis, before several miscroscopie bodies, including the Na- tional Miscroscopic Society, in Syracuse, N. Y., in 1885, and where it received the highest praise of any exhibit there.

While a pupil in a country school, near Carrollton, L. W. Loomis began to make electric machines to help illustrate lessons in philos- ophy. During the remainder of his life he made many different machines of the electric class. He began business in 1874 as a jeweler in Car- rollton, Ill., where he built up the largest busi- ness in that locality. A photograph of his store (1896) is No. 124 of the cut. He was a Democrat in politics and extremely liberal in religious views. He died April 6, 1896, leav- ing two daughters. Mabel (No. 238) and Myra (No. 239) as his only surviving children. His genius had been recognized in this country and in Europe, and it may be weil said that his death was a loss to the whole world.

Webner E. Loomis at six years of age began to work in the garden, mill and on his father's farm, attending school in its terms, and so con- tinued until moving to Minneapolis, Minn. Upon the death of his father in June, 1867, he returned to and became a member of the family of his uncle, Horace J. Loomis, then residing on his farm about one mile southeast of Ches- terfield. There Webner E. worked on the farm, attending the village schools during the fall and winter, and at every opportunity earnestiy studied histories, special works, encyclopedias, periodicals, and the best in newspapers as found at his uncle's, the village library, and at the neighbors' houses. He became a student in Blackburn University (now College) in 1870, and by carrying on extra studies, succeeded in graduating in June, 1873, with the degree of

Bachelor of Science, having earned his way by farm work and teaching. His uncles, Horace J. and Thaddeus L., persuaded him to study law, securing a place for him with the late U. S. Seuator, John M. Palmer, whose office in Springfield, he eutered in October, 1873, being admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court on January 8, 1876.

Mr. Loomis possesses uuusuai ability for dis- coveriug defects and construing the law or pro- cedure that come under his investigation. He showed in a legai hearing for his client that the city of Springfield had been imprisoning, without legal right, violators of certain ordi- nances, and new ones had to be enacted to cure the detects. He showed that the form of notice making nonresideut defendants parties to suits in chancery, as used in Sangamon County for some thirty-five years, was void, and his cor- rected form has been used ever since. He aiso discovered that the ordinances fixiug and col- iecting water taxes or rates were illegal and they were amended. He put a stop to prosecu- tious without trial by a jury under the Vaga- bond Act. Upon the failure of the Springfield Savings Bank, the terms of the special charter of the bank proved a puzzle in a demurrer to a bili in chancery brought by its creditors against the corporation and its stockholders, able members of the bar took part in the dis- cussion. Mr. Loomis waited and made the last argument to the court in the matter, in which he was fully sustained in an appeal of the case to the Superior Court. One of the members of an able firm of lawyers in an adjoining county came into Mr. Loomis' office and laid down au abstract of title to 1400 acres of land in Mis- souri, saying that the best lawyers in Kansas City, St. Joseph and St. Louis, Mo., had ex- amined the abstract and pronounced the title a good merchantable one, aud that he agreed with them; but Mr. Loomis found over sixty material flaws in the titie, some of which caused much time and expense in correcting.

Mr. Loouiis, as a trial lawyer, has accom- plished some remarkable successes, and is equally resourcefui in the control of civil suits, but never takes his client's case into court if it can by any manner be fairly adjusted with- out recourse to trial. Mr. Loomis has a large collection of works on parliamentary law, and, in a series of articies published in a periodical a few years ago, he gave definite and accurate definitions of "coustitution," "by-laws," "regu- lations," "rules," and other words and phrases.

Mr. Loomis has traveled extensively in this country and abroad, visiting England, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland and France. His store of knowledge enables him to do much as a critic, with word and peu, coneerning the works of the artist, teacher, law-writer and in- ventor. He steps higher, into the great prob- lems of astronomy, and has written instruct- ively on the subject. His articie entitled "Big Thought Fields," as published in the "Illinois State Register," December 24, 1911, has at-

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tracted wide attentiou and caused Mr. Loomuis to receive many flattering compliments, amoug which is that of President Davld Felmeley, say- ing: "I do not believe that I have seeu in equal space a more thorough-going article on the importance of the study of astronomy." He influenced his brother to give the telescope to Blackburn College in preference to others, and has built the Loomis Observatory at Springfield and placed therein the 71%-inch telescope. He recently placed the whole in trusteeship for the benefit of the publlc.

Mr. Loomis has been a member of different fraternal societies, but gives most attention to Masonry. He does not approve of the general effect of any ritual. Ile asserts that such has been used to retard civilization more than any other agency. He has never married, but re- sldes with his nieces, Misses Mable and Myra Loomis, iu the city of Springfield. He Is quiet and uupretentious, and is engaged so much with his labors in high and useful fields, that he is not as well aud favorabiy known as he de- serves, yet he has many friends who entertain for him the waruiest regard because of his per- sonal worth and his mental and professional accomplishments.

LOPER, Harry T., a successful business man of Springfield, Ill., has been a resident of the city for the past thirty years and has been identified with various enterprises there. At present he is the owner and proprietor of the Lyric Moving Picture Theater, located at 223-225 South Fifth Street, and In this connection has built up a profitable business. Mr. Loper was born in Greenfield, Greene County, Ill., September 24, 1860, son of John T. and Susau E. (McBride) Loper. The paternal ancestors were early set- tlers of Illinois and the father a well-kuown farmer of Macoupin County. The mother, a na- tive of Illinois. descended from an old Kentucky family. Harry T. was the only child of John T. Loper and his wife. After receiving a good common school education in lils native town, he learned the trade of painter, at which he worked for some time, and later became counected with preparing histories of various Illinois coun- ties.

About 1880 Mr. Loper located in Springfield, where his first business enterprise was conduct- ing a restaurant on Sixth Street, where the Pos- tal-Telegraph Company's office is now located. He subsequently removed his business to East Washington, between Sixth and Seventh Streets, where he was located five years, then moved to Dwight, Ill., and became proprietor of the Hotel "Mozon." In 1893 Mr. Loper opened a restaurant at his present address, which enterprise proved successful and was continued until the restau- rant was destroyed by riot August 14. 1908. When public sentiment was aroused against the colored prisoners, in 1908, lynching was agi- tated. The Sheriff Increased his force of depu- ties, but excitement grew. He then called upon Mr. Loper as owner of a large touring car, depu-

tizing him to take the prisouers out of the city, away from the excitement. As a loyal citizeu, believing it was best to avoid mob law, Mr. Loper complied with the Sheriff's request. This iu- furiated the mob aud rioting began. The mob first attacked Mr. Loper's place of business and then his automobile. The history of the events that followed is related in the general history of the county.

When Mr. Loper rebuilt his place he had It fitted suitably for a theater, having conducted the same siuce January, 1909. He has learned to understand what will please his patrons and has endeavored to give them the best value for their mouey he is able to secure. The productlous given are among the best in the city and the mauager has a reputation that is gratifying and wide-spread.

Mr. Loper was married in Springfield in 1886, to Mary J., daughter of Morris Power deceased. Four children have beeu boru of this uuion of . whom three survive: Marle; Russell P. is in the employ of the Appleton Company of New York City aud Henry A. Mr. Loper is much in- terested In public affairs and iu the welfare of the community, and is considered an upright, useful citlzeu. He is a Republican in political views and fraternally is a member of the Be- nevolent Protective Order of Elks, and has be- longed to the Illinols National Guard since 1888, now having rank of Major and Chief Commissary Second Brigade.

LORD, John Henry, a prominent citizen of Springfield, Ill., is well known In railroad cir- cles, having worked thirty-one years iu various lines of railroad work. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, May 27. 1860. son of Philander Augusta and Margaret Ann (Oliver) Lord. The father was born lu Bellefontaine, Ohio, and is now retired from active life. The mother was born in' Mechanicsburg. Ill., March 1, 1832.

John H. Lord received his education in the public schools of Mt. Pulaski, Ill., and after leaving school engaged in mechanical work. which he continued three years, then began working for a railroad company and filled vari- ous positions before securing his present one, that of District Passenger Ageut for the Illi- nols Ceutral Company. He is well qualified for the work under his charge, having been so long engaged in similar occupations, and understands thoroughly every detail of it. He has always been enterprising, industrious and energetic, making his own way in the world by ability and ambition. He is a Republican in politics, and for the past twenty years has been a member of the Kuights of Pythias. He Is not a member of any church, although a frequent attendant, and his parents attended the Christian Church.

Mr. Lord was marrled, at Chestuut, Ill., July 28, 1881, to Miss Laura. daughter of George W. and Carollne (Skeene) Harcourt, who was born at Indianapolis, Ind., June 9, 1857. Two children have blessed this union: Clara Idola, born October 26, 1882, and Vernon

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IIarcourt, born June 3, 1890. Mr. Lord owns the family home at 922 North Fourth street, Spring- field, as well as property in the State of Missis- sippı.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 91

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774