La Porte-Wayne County IN Archives Biographies.....Lomax, Joseph 
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Guy Potts http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00017.html#0004214 January 5, 2010, 8:19 pm

Source: National Cyclopedia of American Biography
Author: James T. White Co.

Joseph Lomax

Lawyer and journalist - was born in Stokes County, North Carolina, Dec. 19, 
1809, son of Abel and Elizabeth Smith (Ladd) Lomax, grandson of William 
Pemlott and Sarah (Knight) Lomax, and great-grandson of William and Ann (Coxe) 
Lomax. This William Lomax was a native of England and a minister of the Church 
of England, who came to the United States about 1700 and settled in Rockingham 
County, NC. Mr. Lomax's father was a prosperous farmer, prominent in the 
political and civic affairs of his community. He was a member of the Indiana 
legislature for nine years.

The son was educated in the public schools and after working on his father's 
farm until reaching manhood he learned the trade of millwright. His health 
having failed while working at his trade, and having inclinations towards a 
professional career, he resolved upon the study of law.

After having spent two years in traveling on horseback for the benefit of his 
health, he took up the study of law in the office of William C. Hannah, of La 
Porte, Ind., and was admitted to the bar in 1844, beginning the practice of 
his profession at Valparaiso, Ind. While studying at La Porte he was editor of 
the La Porte "Herald" of which he was owner, subsequently editing the "Marion 
Journal," the Kalamazoo (Mich.) "Gazette," and the Richmond (Ind.) "Press."

In 1855 he organized the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Co., and served as 
its president for eleven years. During his administration he secured the 
necessary action of the legislature from session to session to hold the land 
grant, and prepared the articles of association and completed the organization 
of the company. He traveled every mile of the road on foot on two occasions 
for the purpose of inspecting the land and appraising its value, which was 
estimated at $10,000,000.

Mr. Lomax was a member of the Knights Templar, a thirty-second degree Mason, 
and had an extended acquaintance among the prominent professional and 
political men of the states of Indiana and Michigan, including their early 
pioneers. He was always possessed of an abundance of energy, ambition and 
determination, and retained to old age the characteristic habits of study and 
investigation formed in his earlier years.

In politics Mr. Lomax was always a Democrat, and bears the distinction of 
having voted for every candidate of his party from Jackson in 1832 to Bryan in 
1908. Though loyal to party principles, he was broad and liberal in his views 
on all political questions and tolerant of the opinions of others of opposite 
political faith. He was personally acquainted with Pres. Jackson, whom he 
visited at the "Hermitage" in 1836, and for whom he always felt the highest 
admiration.

Mr. Lomax compiled and published "The Lomax Family" (1894), which is full of 
interest in connection with the history of England and the early history of 
this country. In this genealogy will be found five generations in England 
beginning with Laurent Lomax of Lancaster, born about 1427. The family came 
originally from France, with the name of Le Maux, and it has been traced into 
Lombardy, Italy, where the name was Lomazzo. In 1561 Laurent Lomax is recorded 
as having a coat of arms. 

Mr. Lomax was married Feb. 29, 1844 to Sarah A., daughter of Samuel K. Boyd of 
Wayne County, Ind., and had ten children: Martha Elizabeth, William King, Ann 
Eliza, Joanna, Mary Evaline, Sarah Ann, Joseph Abel, Belle, Jesse and Augusta 
J. Lomax.

Additional Comments:
Source:
The National Cyclopedia 
of American Biography
Volume XIV
1910

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