Walter Hiram Loomis (1869 - 1958)

Born 27 Jun 1869 in Iowa, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Lulu Sarah (Stone) Loomis — married 26 Jun 1895 in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Descendants

Died 22 Sep 1958 at age 89 in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sam Powers [send private message]

Biography

The Life of Walter Hiram Loomis and Lulu (Stone) Loomis

Walter H. Loomis was born in Luni, Iowa, on June 27, 1869. Walter’s father was Elliot Leander Loomis, 1840 – 1920 (or near), an independent astrophysicist and a veteran of the Civil War. Walter’s mother was Cemantha Alvira (Fleming) Loomis, (1849-1929) Walter had one brother who died at birth.

He also had one half-brother, Orlan, born about 1898, and two half-sisters, Vivian, born about 1901, and Venie, born about 1904, by his father’s second marriage. These children wrote letters to Bessie Loomis (Powers) in their school years. Their home was in Gibbon, Nebraska. There could be more children, but this is all I have record of. I believe Elliot’s wife’s maiden name was “Tague.” --- Roland D. Loomis

Lulu (Stone) Loomis was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Oct 1, 1872. Her father was John F. Stone. Her mother was Mary Elizabeth (Jones) Stone. Lulu was the sixth of nine children as follows:

Known by Name Married Name “Will” William H. Stone “Mannie” Mosey E. Stone John R. Stone “Lizzie” Elizabeth M. Stone (Sneath) “Dora” Idora M. Stone (Saul) Lulu S. Stone (Loomis) Laura Bessie Stone (Cain) “Joe” Joseph P. Stone “Charley” Charles S. Stone

Lulu’s mother died when the last child, Charley, was three weeks old, at the age of 41 years. Lulu was 6 years 11 ½ Months old when her mother died.

Her father, “John Stone”, wouldn’t keep his children. They were scattered in foster homes, Bessie being the only one adopted by a couple names Swartz in Chicago. The grandparents, on the mother’s side, kept the two youngest children. Lulu found a home with three old maids, who kept her until she was 16 years old. Lulu”s brother “Will”, had come “west” to Iowa, and when Lulu was 16, he went and got her. In Iowa, she made her home with a family named Hemsworth. Then she lived with a family named Lee while she attended business college. It was here she met Walter Loomis.

Walter’s mother and father were divorced when he was 14. Walter and his mother lived in California for awhile, then back to Iowa. His father re-married and had three children. His mother re-married to W.A. Mattocks. Later divorced and took her name of Loomis back. Walter taught school before his marriage.

Walter Hiram Loomis –age 26, and Lulu Sarah Stone – age 22, were married June 26, 1895 at Eagle Center, Iowa.

Before his marriage, Walter worked as a printer’s apprentice, and taught school. Then he went to Mt. Grove, Missouri, where he edited and published a weekly paper called “The Mountain Advertiser.” He corresponded with Lulu who was working in Iowa. In a short time he went back to Iowa, and they were married. He brought her to Mt. Grove, and they bought a home east of town. This is where Elmer was born in 1897.

After awhile he sold this place and bought the printing office on the square in Mt. Grove. It had a two story house in the back, where they lived. In March 1899, lightning started a fire which burned the north side of Mt. Grove square. Walter climbed to the roof of his house trying to save it with buckets of water from a bucket brigade. He slipped, and slid off the roof, landing feet first on the porch. He injured his feet so badly that they hurt him all of his life, but their house did not burn.

With the help of friends, he kept the paper going. He had a girl hired who did most of the work. A man came in the evening to help, and another girl was also hired at this time. Walter was able to walk on crutches in a few weeks. Lulu wasn’t well, as this all happened about three months before their daughter, Bessie was born in June 1899.

Lulu’s brother, Will Stone, and his family lived about one mile from Mt. Grove. Then her brother, Mosey Stone, came from Pennsylvania to visit. He spent most of a year there helping his brother “Will”, build a new house & barn.

Walter and Lulu lived in Mt. Grove until 1905. Then they moved to Bessie, Oklahoma. They moved by train, shipping their printing equipment, and all their belongings in a box car. In Bessie, Oklahoma he published a paper called “The Washita Breeze.” He was also Justice of the Peace, and sold real estate, and furniture in this small town. Lulu gave piano lessons, and had recitals for her pupils. Elmer started school here at the age of eight, and Bessie started one year later.

Sometime in 1906 the family moved to Oklahoma City. They bought a house 2 ½ miles from town. Walter built a room on the back of the house, where he put his printing presses and did job work. He also took a job in town working as a printer for the “Daily Oklahoman.” He rode the 2 ½ miles back and forth in a horse and buggy, or else rode his bicycle.

In December 1907, Walter and Lulu leased a photographic studio at 119 S. Harvey St., Oklahoma City. They moved into town, living in rooms back of the studio. However, they kept their home in the country. In January 1908, they bought the business, and both of them worked there. Then probably because of Lulu’s health, Walter took a partner, J. A. Fullerton, in March 1908. This partner moved into the rooms back of the studio, and Walter moved back to his country home. The business was called “The Souvenir Art Co.” Lulu continued to help in the studio until one day she became very ill while in the dark room developing pictures. She was bed-fast for four weeks, and not expected to live before Mabel was born in Sept 1908. Two Osteopaths, Dr. Barber, and Dr. Ross took care of her. One of them came each day to see her. Lulu was too sick to realize they came, or that her neighbor came in often to help with the work.

Having been converted at the age of sixteen, Lulu was a firm believer in the power of God. She belonged to the Holiness church at this time. She realized she might die, and she prayed that she could live to raise her children. God answered her prayer. She was also healed of malaria and heart trouble.

About 1910, Walter sold his photography business and moved the family to Shawnee, Oklahoma. He bought then acres about 2 ½ miles from town with a good house, and seven nice pecan trees. He worked in printing offices in Shawnee. Lulu sold eggs and raised a garden to help make a living. Walter’s aunt Arvilla’s husband “George,” in Central City, Nebraska, became very ill, and Walter went there to help take care of him. Arvilla was his father’s sister. Lulu joined him there, and they thought of moving to Central City, since Walter’s father lived in Gibbon, Nebraska. But in about three months his Uncle George died and they went back to their home near Shawnee. Mary Alvira was born in 1911. She died at birth and was buried under a tree in their back yard.

Walter traded his place in the country for a house in Shawnee at 20 Ferrel St. Lulu and the children attended the Nazarene church.

In Summer of 1912 they moved again. This time they traded their place in Shawnee for a house at 616 N. Chestnut St., in Iola, Kansas. They made the trip in a covered spring wagon, pulled by their pet pony Grace, and another horse he bought just for the trip.

They camped out along the road. Walter took pictures on the way with a minute camera, and sold them for ten cents each, to help pay their way. It took them about a month to get to Iola. They found the house they had traded for (sight unseen) wasn’t worth as much as the Shawnee place. This was very discouraging, so they sold it in a few months and bought a house at 607 S. Ohio St.

When they first came to Iola they started attending the Free Methodist Church. Bessie and Elmer went to the Salvation Army part of the time.

Walter worked in printing offices, and also a cement plant. While working here he caught his coat sleeve in the machinery and tore it off. He could have lost his arm.

Mabel started school while living on S. Ohio St. Rollin was born in 1915.

They had heard about the Pentecostal experience, and Lulu always anxious to know more of the Lord, took the children and attended the services. She was also their pianist. Walter didn’t believe for awhile, but soon was convinced because of Lulu’s life and testimony.

After Walter received the Holy Spirit, he wanted to work for the Lord, so he started a paper called “The Children and the Home.” It was printed once a month and sold for $1.00 a year, or ten cents a copy. He also printed a free paper called “The Home Builder.”

Their place on s. Ohio St. was located just ½ miles from Rock Creek, and also near two rivers. In August or September of 1915 they were in a big flood, and lost everything they had, including 150 chickens, and a piano which Lulu always wished she had given to the church. Walter happened to be staying with his mother, at 302 S. Fourth St., the night of the flood. He also had their pony, “Grace”, with him. Elmer was working away from home. A neighbor from a block away, up the hill, came in the night to see if Lulu and the children were alright. They were asleep, and the water was six inches deep on the floor. The water was coming up so fast they had to leave in their night clothes. Lulu carried Rollin and Bessie held Mabel’s hand. When they stepped out they found the small porch was washed away. Mabel went under the water and would have drowned, but Bessie held on to her. They struggled up the hill to a neighbor’s house. Not realizing the water was so deep, and strong, Lulu thought she would go back for some clothing. She might have lost her life, but God sent a man on horseback, from the other side of town, who rescued her. Before the water stopped rising it came up to one foot of the ceiling.

After the flood, the family move in with Walter’s mother, 302 S. Fourth St. The printing press must have been there, because Walter continued printing “The Children and the Home.” Their pony, “Grace”, died in September.

Walter could not make a living publishing his paper so Lulu and Elmer started a “Home Bakery,” which did well. Bessie was married to Ernie Powers in 1916.

Walter gave up his paper and went to Framingham, Massachusetts about the first of February 1918, to try out for a job working on a religious paper called “The Word and Work.” They wouldn’t pay him enough money for him to move his family there, so after three months he came home.

When World War I started, Elmer was drafted. The Home Bakery had to be closed.

In the summer of 1918 Walter went to Springfield, Missouri, to work in the Gospel Publishing House. Later, the same year, the family moved to Springfield. Elmer came to Springfield when he was discharged from the service.

At this time the Gospel Publishing House was located on the corner of Lyon and Pacific Streets. Walter rented a house directly back of it. Later they moved to a house in the 1900 block on Boonville Ave. Walter’s mother was still living in Iola but she sold her home there, and came to Springfield in 1919. She used the money from her place plus a little from Elmer, and bought the home at 2326 Boonville Ave., Which was put in Elmer’s name. Then the family all moved there. One year later Elmer bought the vacant lot next to his place.

Before very long Walter bought a lot across the street and built a small house. He and Lulu and Mabel and Rollin lived there. He enlarged the house in 1929, and then during the depression in 1931 he lost it. Walter’s mother had passed away in 1929, and Mabel was married to Ira Moses the same year. So Walter, Lulu and Rollin moved back to 2326 Boonville with Elmer. Walter was laid off his work in 1931, but Elmer was working at the M.F.A. and then as a mail carrier. Walter worked a few months at a time at two or three printing offices. The he bought a small press and did printing at home when he retired. Rollin married Evelyn Millegan in 1932, And Elmer marred Charlotte Glascock in 1938.

Walter and Lulu attended the “North Side Assembly of God” in their later years, but they also helped with the music in country churches, and anywhere they were needed, singing and playing. Lulu passed away at age 78, in 1950. Walter passed away at age 89, in 1958. They had 15 grandchildren.

Sources

Most of the story information from the bio was written by my Aunt Mabel (Loomis) Moses. I think it was given to my brother, Daniel Powers, who did extensive genealogy work for our family. The facts about Bessie (Loomis) Powers’ grandparents, Elliot Loomis and Cemantha (Fleming) Loomis, were sent to me by my Uncle Rollin Loomis.

-----Eldon Powers, grandson

• https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Loomis&GSfn=Walter&GSmn=Hiram&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=89661034&df=all&

Death Certificate: https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1958/1958_00032357.PDF