Loomis, James Jolene

James Jolene Loomis (1830-1871), Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Minister, was born in Newark, New Jersey. He moved to Albion, Michigan as a child where he stayed until he finished college. Loomis then taught for one year in Missouri before moving to Columbus, Texas to take a position with the County Clerk's Office. He joined the 21st Texas Volunteer Infantry at the start of the Civil War as a Methodist Episcopal Church South chaplain. After the war he became a school teacher in Columbus, Texas until 1867 when his wife, Mary Elizabeth Loomis died. He then moved himself and his children to Galveston, Texas where he taught school at the local Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was ordained by Bishop William May Wightman, he appears to be a local ordained minister. In 1870 he moved to Goliad, Texas and became the headmaster of the Paine Female Institute, a Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Women's College. He was also a Freemason, belonging to the Caledonia Lodge in Columbus, Texas. His daughter, Luna M. Branch joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South as a missionary immediately after his death in 1871.