Colonel Loomis K. Bishop, postmaster of Grand Rapids and ex-register of deeds of Kent county, was born near Watertown, Jefferson County, N. Y., October 5, 1836, and is a son of John and Laura (Kellogg) Bishop. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and his mother of New York. When he was nine years old, in 1845, his parents settled in Cannon, Kent county, Mich., and were among its first inhabitants. Mr. Bishop attended the common schools of Cannon until sixteen years old, when he was sent to the select school at Fallasburg, and afterward to the high school at Grand Rapids. He engaged in teaching several terms, and at twenty one years of age went to Salt Lake City, during the time of the Mormon war, and served as clerk in the quartermaster’s department. He enlisted June 13, 1862, as first lieutenant of company H., Twenty-first Michigan infantry. The regiment was assigned to the army of the Cumberland, and served under Generals Rosecrans and Thomas. He participated in the battle of Stone River, Chickamauga (where he was wounded), and in the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, thence with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea, then through the Carolinas to Richmond, Va. thence to Washington, D. C., and participated in the grand review. He was promoted to the captaincy of the company February 3, 1863, and March 1, 1865, brevet-colonel of United States volunteers, and mustered out of service June 8, 1865, after which he engaged in mercantile pursuits in New York, returning to Michigan the following year. He bought the family homestead in Cannon, and lived on it until 1876, when he was elected to the office of register of deeds by the republican party. He was re-elected in 1878 and in 1880, he has always been active in politics, and was treasurer and supervisor of Cannon previous to holding the above office. His majority on election to the office of register in 1880 was about 4,600. In 1886 he was elected sheriff of Kent county and re-elected in 1888, after which for a few years he engaged in the fire insurance business, and in May, 1898, he was appointed postmaster of Grand Rapids by President McKinley, and assumed the duties of the office June 1^st, of that year. Fraternally, Col. Bishop is a Mason, having attained the degree of knight templar; is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. He was married May 8, 1862, to Ellen A., daughter of Harvey and Sarah (Belle) Smith, of Henderson, N. Y. They have one son and one daughter, viz: J. Clinton, who received a good education and has for seven years been in the employ of the Fourth National Bank, of Grand Rapids; the daughter, Laura Bell, is now the wife of Walter G. Tuttle, and they are residing in Salt Lake City, Utah. Politically Col. Bishop has for many years been recognized as one of the strong and influential republicans of this city and western Michigan. He has served as chairman of the county and congressional committees and his services were very potential in the recent presidential campaign.