Biography of Gilbert Looman, Sebastian Co, AR

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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Gilbert Looman, proprietor of a livery, and feed stable at Greenwood, was born
in Madison County, Ill., in 1829,  and is the son of Thomas and Charity
(Heddie) Looman. Thomas Looman was born in the State of Tennessee,  and was a
farmer by occupation. When young he went to Madison County, Ill., married and
located there. He  was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and died soon
afterward. After his death his widow married John T.  Norton, who moved to
Dallas County in 1835. Mrs. Norton was born in Kentucky, and died in 1862. She
was  the mother of four children by Mr. Looman, Gilbert Looman being the second
child in order of birth. He was  quite small when his father died, and lived
with his mother until sixteen years of age. He traveled about for four  or five
years, visited the “Lone Star State,” and then returned to Sebastian County in
1844. In 1853 he married  Miss Margaret Byram, who was born in Kentucky in
1831, and seven children were the fruits of this union:  Thomas, Mary E. (wife
of Virgil McClain), John, Sarah (wife of William Hindman), Ida (wife of William
Newsam), Katie and Emma. After marriage Mr. Looman located six miles north of
the county seat, where he  owned 200 acres of land. In 1885 he moved to
Greenwood and established a livery and feed stable; was also  proprietor of the
Capital Hotel until October, 1888. He keeps six horses, three buggies, a hack,
and is the oldest  liveryman in Greenwood. He is a Republican in politics, is a
Master Mason, and his wife is a member of the  Free-Will Baptist Church. In
1863 Mr. Looman enlisted in Company E, First Arkansas Infantry, United States
Army, and was in service eight months, being discharged on account of
disability.