Arphaxed Loomis Explained

Arphaxed Loomis
State:New York
Term Start:March 4, 1837
Term End:March 3, 1839
Predecessor:Abijah Mann Jr.
Successor:Andrew W. Doig
State Assembly1:New York
District1:Herkimer 1st
Term Start1:1853
Term End1:1854
Predecessor1:John Hoover
Successor1:Gardner Hinkley
Party:Democratic
Birth Date:9 April 1798
Birth Place:Winsted, Connecticut, U.S.
Death Place:Little Falls, New York, U.S.
Restingplace:Church Street Cemetery

Arphaxed Loomis (April 9, 1798September 15, 1885) was an American lawyer and judge. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York's 16th district during the 25th Congress (1837 - 1839). His unusual first name is from a character in the Bible, a grandson of Noah named Arphacshad.[1]

Early career

Born in Winsted, Connecticut, Loomis moved to New York in 1801 with his parents, who settled upon a farm in the town of Salisbury, Herkimer County.

He attended the common schools and Fairfield Academy, Fairfield, New York. He studied law, was admitted to the bar at Albany in 1822 and commenced practice at Sackets Harbor, New York, the same year.

Career

He returned to Salisbury in 1825, but later in that year moved to Little Falls, New York, and continued the practice of his profession. He was surrogate of Herkimer County from 1828 to 1836, and as commissioner to investigate the State prisons in 1834. He was county judge of Herkimer County in 1835–1840.

Congress

Loomis was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839).He served as chairman of the Committee on Patents (Twenty-fifth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1838.

Later career

He served as member of the New York State Assembly in 1841 and 1842. He served as a member of the State constitutional convention in 1846. He served as a member of the commission to revise, abridge, and simplify pleadings and proceedings in civil actions in 1847. He was again a member of the New York State Assembly in 1853 and 1854. He served as a delegate to the Democratic State conventions in 1861 and 1863.

Death and burial

He died at Little Falls, New York, September 15, 1885. He was interred in the Church Street Cemetery.

References and sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Osterdahl . Andy . 2011-07-21 . The Strangest Names In American Political History : Arphaxed Loomis (1798-1885) . 2022-10-21 . The Strangest Names In American Political History.