One of the best things about this project is the sheer amount of digging and research that goes into finding more about some of these infinitely obscure politicians. The man profiled today, U.S. Representative and Judge Arphaxed Loomis, has been on the "Strangest Names In American Political History" list for over ten years, but all the while one thing was sorely lacking--a photograph of the man. While numerous other obscure politicians (such as Epaphroditus Champion and Ner Middleswarth) eventually had pictures of themselves come to light, one thing remained consistent...Loomis's apparent facelessness. Eventually, I came to terms with the fact that I'd probably never see a portrait of this oddly named man and chalked it up to the possibility that Loomis might have had an aversion to photography, hence why I hadn't found a picture of him yet.
That remained my firm belief until today when I decided it was time to write an article on the man, his unique name, and his numerous political accomplishments. In a last-ditch effort to find a portrait of Mr. Loomis, I culled through Google Books once more and stumbled across a book I couldn't remember looking through. The work in question was "Descendants of Joseph Loomis In America: And his Antecedents In the Old World", originally published in 1875, but revised in 1908.
After finding the name "Arphaxad Loomis" (you'll notice the spelling variation there) listed in the illustrations section at the beginning of this book, I promptly jumped five feet in the air and then did my best impression of Michael Jackson's famous "moonwalk." After years of searching, a picture has finally been found of this curiously named New York congressman, and it now adorns the top of the article you're now reading. With that lengthy introduction out of the way, we'll now take a look at the life and political exploits of Mr. Loomis.
Arphaxed Loomis was born in Winchester, Connecticut on April 9, 1798, one of ten children born to Thaddeus (1761-1839) and Lois Griswold Loomis (1769-1826). Bestowed the unusual name Arphaxed upon his birth, this name stems from the biblical name "Arphacshad" or "Arphaxad". This biblical figure was a grandson of Noah, and its translation can be read as "one who releases."Arphaxed moved to the town of Salisbury, New York with his family when he was three years old, spending the majority of his adolescence helping with the family farm. He would attend the Fairfield Academy and at age twenty he began the study of law, studying under William I Dodge of Johnstown. He continued studies in the office of Ford and Bucklin in Watertown, and after a period of tutelage under several other prominent attorneys was admitted to the state bar in 1822.
In 1825, Loomis moved to Little Falls, New York, and soon established a law practice. He married in October 1831 to Ms. Ann Todd (1807-1879), and this union eventually produced eight children. In 1831 Loomis was elected as President of the Village of Little Falls and was returned to this office in 1832, 1833, and 1836. In addition to his tenure as village president, Loomis was later appointed as Herkimer County judge in 1835, holding this position until 1840.
During his tenure as a judge, Loomis was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 1836, taking his seat in January of the next year. During his congressional service, he was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Patents and later sat on the Committee for Private Land Claims. He served in Congress until 1839 and wasn't a candidate for renomination. His tenure in the House of Representatives was Loomis's only service in government at the national level, and from 1840 onward the only political offices he held were those in his home state.
During his tenure as a judge, Loomis was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 1836, taking his seat in January of the next year. During his congressional service, he was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Patents and later sat on the Committee for Private Land Claims. He served in Congress until 1839 and wasn't a candidate for renomination. His tenure in the House of Representatives was Loomis's only service in government at the national level, and from 1840 onward the only political offices he held were those in his home state.
After returning to New York, Loomis was elected to the New York State Assembly from Herkimer County in 1841 and 1842 and chaired the judiciary committee during the latter session. He would win another assembly term in 1853. Loomis was also a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846, where he served as a member of the judiciary committee.
Loomis' name listed amongst fellow members of the NY State Assembly. Also listed is Othniel
Looker, who later became Governor of Ohio in 1814.
In one of his last acts of political service, Loomis was named as a delegate to the New York State Democratic conventions of 1861 and 1863. The "Descendants of Joseph Loomis in America" work mentioned earlier makes special note of the hearing problems that plagued Loomis from 1818 onward. It states that these problems "grew gradually so that his extreme deafness caused him to retire practically from public life in 1857." While this malady probably caused him some consternation, it did not curtail Loomis' lifespan, as he lived quite a long life by 19th-century standards, dying on September 15, 1885, at age 87. He was subsequently buried in the Church Street Cemetery in his hometown of Little Falls, New York. Memorialized as one of Herkimer County's standout lawyers and citizens, Loomis was:
"A model of public and private integrity. His public duties and trusts engaged his devoted an paramount attention. There was never a suggestion that he neglected any public duty. His eminent services in reforming the Constitution and laws, to which so much of his life was given, were preformed with as deep as sense of obligation as that which he felt in discharging the duties he owed to clients or the public in other capacities."
