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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 327-328
OSCAR M. LOOMIS is a representative citizen of Grant county, and a veteran of the Civil war. His birth took place in Cattaraugus county, N.Y., in 1834, his parents being John and Mehitabel (HADLEY) LOOMIS, the former a native of Boston, Mass., a son of a Revolutionary soldier; the mother was of Scottish descent. The parents of Mr. LOOMIS moved from New York when Oscar M. was one year old, settling in Ohio, where they remained for nine years, and removing then to the Territory of Wisconsin, locating near Madison. Some years later they removed into Grant county, where their last days were spent, in the town of Mount Hope.
Oscar M. LOOMIS was one of a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and four of the sons served their country during the Civil war, Benjamin, Joseph and Oscar M. being members of the 43d Wis. V.I. Benjamin is now a resident of Bassett, Neb.; Edwin, of Boscobel, Grant county; while Oscar M., after his army service and several changes, has become one of the solid men of Fennimore, Grant county. It was in 1854 that Mr. LOOMIS entered into agricultural pursuits at Mount Hope, and there married Jane TUMBERRY, a lady of English descent.
In 1864 Mr. LOOMIS enlisted, at Woodman, Grant county, was enrolled at Madison Sept. 16 as a member of the 43d Wis. V.I., and served until the close of the war, his health necessitating some three months' detention in the hospital. After his return home Mr. LOOMIS again resumed farming, some time later removing to the town of Woodman, where he continued that pursuit. Like many others, Mr. LOOMIS found that the hardships of army life had seriously impaired his health, and he finally decided to make a change in his occupation, with this end in view removing to Werley, Grant county, where he engaged in merchandising for a period of nine years, and was station agent at that place. The next four years he spent in South Dakota, since which time he has been a resident of Fennimore, with the exception of one winter which he spent in the south in search of health.
Mr. LOOMIS lost his first wife Oct. 28, 1877, she leaving a family of six children: Joseph, Daniel, John, Mary, Nellie and Bessie. Mr. LOOMIS was married later to Mary EATON, and he and his estimable wife are valued members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. LOOMIS is also a member of Sam Monteith Post, G.A.R. at Fennimore, and enjoys the esteem of his associates. They can sympathize with him on account of his poor health, as their army experience is responsible for the breaking down of many an old soldier.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck