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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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FRANCIS LOOMIS, a lifelong resident and a thrifty and enterprising farmer of Williamsburg, Mass., was born on the place that he now owns, April 6, 1833. He is son of William and Lucinda (Thayer) Loomis, and grandson of Jonathan and Zilpha (Field) Loomis.

Grandfather Loomis was a resident farmer of Whately, Mass. He served in the Revolutionary War, and during the last years of his life was in receipt of a pension from the government. He and his wife, Zilpha Field, were the parents of five children: Jonathan, Leonard, Luther, Sally, and William. William Loomis, father of Francis, was born in Whately. In his early manhood he learned the trade of a carpenter and bridge builder; and examples of his work may now be seen in Chicopee Falls, Miller’s Falls, and West Springfield, Mass. He first established a home for himself in Whately; but about the year 1822 he purchased in Williamsburg a farm of eighty acres, on which he erected new barns, besides remodelling the house. While he supervised the work of his farm, his attention was chiefly devoted to his trade, at which he met with good success. He was a communicant of the Congregational church and in political affiliation a Whig. He died in 1853, at the age of sixty-four years. His first marriage was to Miss Mary Waite, who died, leaving him with three children; namely, Luther, Maria, and Jane. His second and last union was with Miss Lucinda Thayer, who died in 1872, at seventy -seven years of age, leaving five children: Rebecca, Mary, Leonard, Francis, and Elizabeth. His son Luther, now dead, kept the Haydenville House, and had two children, one of whom survives.

Francis Loomis remained with his parents and cared for them during their old age. At their decease he purchased the farm, which then had very little cultivated land. Having cleared away the bushes, timber, and stone with which it was encumbered, he has in it now one of the best-cared-for farms in the town. He has also set out a nice variety of fruit-trees, and made improvements in the house and barns. Besides he carries on general farming, raising good crops of grain and tobacco; and he keeps a dairy of choice cows. On June 1, 1853, he was joined in marriage with Miss Sarah Hillman, a daughter of John Hillman, of Charlemont; and they have reared four of the six children born of their union. The two who died in childhood were Wilbur and Hattie, and the others are: Henry, born September 23, 1854; David C., who married Miss Fanny Rhood, lives in Haydenville, and has two children, Ethel and Charles; George F., married to Miss Helen Rivard, having one child, Edward F., and residing at home; and William G., born October 16, 1877, also living at home. Mr. Loomis casts his vote with the Republican party. He is a member of Hampshire Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; and he and his wife and family are active and influential members of the Congregational church.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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