Representative Arphaxed Loomis

Arphaxed Loomis (April 9, 1798 – September 15, 1885) was an American lawyer, judge, and Democratic politician who represented New York’s 16th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives during the Twenty-fifth Congress from 1837 to 1839. A member of the Democratic Party, he contributed to the legislative process during one term in office. His unusual first name derives from a character in the Bible, a grandson of Noah named Arphaxad (rendered in some sources as Arphacshad).

Loomis was born in Winsted, Connecticut, on April 9, 1798. In 1801 he moved with his parents to New York, where the family settled on a farm in the town of Salisbury in Herkimer County. He was educated in the common schools and later attended Fairfield Academy in Fairfield, New York, receiving the classical and preparatory training typical of aspiring professionals of the period.

After his schooling, Loomis studied law and was admitted to the bar at Albany in 1822. He immediately commenced the practice of law at Sackets Harbor, New York, the same year. In 1825 he returned to Salisbury, but later that year he moved to Little Falls, New York, where he continued the practice of his profession and established himself as a prominent attorney in Herkimer County.

Loomis’s judicial and local public service began with his appointment as surrogate of Herkimer County, a position he held from 1828 to 1836. In 1834 he served as a commissioner to investigate the state prisons of New York, reflecting his growing involvement in state affairs and legal reform. He was appointed county judge of Herkimer County, serving from 1835 to 1840, during which time he presided over local courts and helped administer justice in the region.

In national politics, Loomis was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839, as the representative of New York’s 16th district. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history marked by economic and political turmoil following the Panic of 1837. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents. During his term he served as chairman of the Committee on Patents, where he played a role in overseeing legislation related to intellectual property and technological innovation. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1838 and returned to his legal and judicial pursuits after leaving Congress.

Following his congressional service, Loomis remained active in New York state politics and law. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1841 and 1842, contributing to state legislation during a period of institutional and legal change. In 1846 he was a member of the New York State constitutional convention, participating in the revision of the state’s fundamental law. The following year, in 1847, he served as a member of the commission to revise, abridge, and simplify pleadings and proceedings in civil actions, an important effort to modernize and streamline New York’s civil procedure. He again served in the New York State Assembly in 1853 and 1854, underscoring his continued influence in state legislative affairs.

Loomis remained aligned with the Democratic Party throughout his career and continued to take part in party activities later in life. He served as a delegate to the Democratic State conventions in 1861 and 1863, years marked by the Civil War and intense political debate within New York and the nation. His long public career reflected a sustained engagement with both legal reform and Democratic politics at the county, state, and national levels.

Arphaxed Loomis died in Little Falls, New York, on September 15, 1885. He was interred in Church Street Cemetery in Little Falls. His career as a lawyer, judge, state legislator, constitutional reformer, and one-term member of Congress illustrates the path of a nineteenth-century legal professional who combined local judicial service with significant roles in state and national governance.