Loomis, William S. (1840 - July 10, 1914)

William S. Loomis (1840 - July 10, 1914) was an American publisher and businessman. Born in Granville, Massachusetts, Loomis moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts as a young boy. He graduated from Holyoke High School and worked in his father's store. When the American Civil War broke out, Loomis enlisted in B Company, 46th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry and was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant in January 1863 by Governor John A. Andrews. After the war, Loomis was elected Holyoke town clerk and held the position for a number of years. Loomis bought a share of the Holyoke Transcript, the town's weekly newspaper, from Charles M. Lyman, and began publishing the paper with Edwin L. Kirtland unde the name Loomis and Kirtland. Kirtland sold his shares to William G. Dwight in 1881, and Loomis and Dwight began working on converting the paper from a weekly to a daily. Loomis, however, sold his share of the paper in 1888 to devote himself to the Holyoke Street Railway Company, which he owned. He soon had a street railway line operating in Elmwood as well, and not long after organized the Mt. Tom Railway Company. Loomis resigned as general manager of the Holyoke Street Railway Company in 1912, but retained the presidency. He also was still serving as president of the Mt. Tom Railway COmpany, vice-president of the Holyoke Savings Bank, vice-president of the Holyoke Library Association, and president of the Forestdale Cemetery Association when he died.