My Genealogy Hound

James E. Loafman, M. D., was born in Allen County, Ky., September 7, 1834, his parents being William P. and Ellen (Pulliam) Loafman, both of whom were reared in Kentucky, and were members of the Baptist Church. When our subject was eleven years of age his father died; his mother still lives. James E., the eldest of six children, had a liberal education, receiving most of it at home under his father, but also attended the public schools. Having farmed and taught till twenty-three years of age, he began the study of medicine under Prof. Joseph W. Benson, and took his first course of lectures in the medical department of the University at Louisville, Ky., in 1859-60. In the spring of 1860 he came to Polk County, and entered upon the practice of his profession. April 14, 1860, he married Dulcena Vaughn, of Barren County, Ky., by whom he had six children, Fannie E., Mary P., Virginia F., James R., Lizzie G. and Alice V., the last two having died. His wife died in 1878, and in 1887 he married Arpha J. Delaplain, a native of this county, and by her has had one child, Grace Y. In 1862 he moved to Dallas County, but returned in 1865, and has since lived in this county, being occupied in practice until 1869, when he took a second course of lectures in the St. Louis School of Medicine, graduating in the spring of 1870. He and both wives were Baptists. He is interested in farming, having 120 acres of land. During the war he was appointed examining surgeon for Dallas County. He is now, and for six years has been, treasurer of the Board of Trustees of Southwest Baptist College. He is a member of the Southwest Missouri Medical Society, and of the Missouri Medical Association; and is president of the Board of Examining Surgeons for the Pension Department; a Mason, and a Republican.