Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 3
Gender: Male
Age at election: 64
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 9/25/1832
City: Newcastle, ME
County: Lincoln County, ME
Country: US
Death
Date: 1/16/1907
City: Grand Rapids, MI
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial: interred
Burial
Date:
City: Grand Rapids, MI
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Oak Hill Cemetery
Marital Information:
married to Emily Maria Goodhue on 7/10/1856; children: 4, Jennie S., William H., Emma S. and Alice F.
Number of Children: 4
Background
Religion: Baptist
Military Service:
Occupation: entrepreneur, philanthropist, businessman
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
Boston public schools
Biographical Sketch:
His parents moved to Boston in 1838. When he was young, went to sea with his father who was a sea captain. Mr. Loomis subsequently moved to Washington, D.C, and was engaged in mercantile business in that city from 1862-66. He moved to Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI, and engaged in the boot and shoe business. In 1881, he established the firm of R. B. Loomis and Co., fire insurance. He was elected Supervisor from the second ward of the city of Grand Rapids on 1877, and served in that office until 1896; was chairman of the County Board 2 terms; was several times a member of the State Board of Equalization from Kent, and was chairman of the building committee in charge of the erection of the county court house. He developed pleurisy followed by fatal pneumonia after an accidental fall.
Notable Facts:
He was a deacon in the Fountain Street Baptist church for forty years and was known as the "father of the Rescue Mission." Called Deacon throughout the state.
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Cities and Villages , Insurance , Normal School at Marquette , Religious and Benevolent Societies , Normal College , Mining Interests , State Prison , Supplies and Expenses
Postions Held: President Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Asylums for Insane at Pontiac and Newberry, Executive Business , Insurance , Normal Schools, State Library , Taxation
Postions Held: President Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
District Description: Kent County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Asylum for Criminal Insane, Asylums for Insane at Kalamazoo and Traverse City, Cities and Villages , Normal Schools, Public Buildings , Religious and Benevolent Societies
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
District Description: Wards 1 through 9 and ward 12 of the city of Grand Rapids
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Bibliography:
Manual 1899, p.622; Find-a-Grave.com, includes obit and portrait; MIBiog 2:35; Grand Rapids Press 1/16/1907; Manual 1897 p.631-32
