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.
John Balmer Showers (1879-1962) was an Evangelical United Brethren Church bishop and church leader. He was born near Paris, Ontario, Canada, son of the Reverend Joseph and Margaret Showers. His childhood was spent in the small towns and open country of Onotario Province where his father served as pastor of United Brethren churches. John Showers was educated in Canada at an early age. He obtained a license to preach in United Brethren church at eighteen. Showers graduated from Lebanon Valley College (B.A., 1907) and Bronebrake (now United) Theological Seminary (B.D., 1910). He did graduate study at Chicago University (1910-1911) and Berlin University (1911-1912). A research trip was taken to the Far East in 1922. Showers married Justina Lorenz in April 1911.
He was licensed to preach by a local church in 1898 and by the Ontario Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ in 1899. In 1902 he was ordained by the Erie Conference. Showers served several pastorates including Dechard circuit (1900-1903) and Bradford Station (1903-1904) in Pennsylvania. He was at Westfield College (1906-1907) in Illinois and Belmont Mission in Ohio (1908-1910). From 1910 to 1926 Showers was professor of New Testament Literature and Interpretation at Bonebrake Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. In 1926, Showers became the associate editor of the "Religious Telescope." He remained in that position until 1933. From 1931-1933 he was an associate publishing agent for the denomination. In 1933, he became publisher of "The Otterbein Press," a position he held until 1945. The General Conference of 1945 elected John Showers to the episcopacy and he was assigned to be bishop in the Eastern Area. He was later assigned to supervise the North Central Area. In 1954, Showers retired as emeritus bishop. From 1954 to 1962, he lived in Dayton, Ohio. He died on September 25, 1962 and was buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Dayton Ohio.
In 1933, he became publisher of "The Otterbein Press," a position he held until 1945.
John Dreisbach (1789-1871) was an Evangelical Association minister and co-laborer of Jacob Albright. He was born in Buffalo Valley, Union County, Pennsylvania in 1789. He married Catherine Eyer and, after Catherine died, married her sister, Fanny. There were thirteen natural children and one adopted child in the Dreisbach household.
Dreisbach was the first presiding elder of the Evangelical Association, and served as an itinerant preacher until his health forced him to locate in local congregations. He was instrumental in setting up the publishing interests for the Association in New Berlin, Pennsylvania. Dreisbach served as editor of the Evangelical Messanger.
By 1827, Driesbach had moved to Ohio to oversee the Association's work in what was known then as the Western Conference. He died on August 20, 1871 and was buried near Circleville, Ohio.