C. L. Loos (1823–1912)

The early life of CHARLES, in France, was spent, after his fourth year, in attending the academy in his native place, until his departure for the United States, in 1834. His father, who was an enthusiastic Republican, left France for America, in 1832, to find a home for the family. The family followed in the fall of 1834, and, when they reached the United States, found the father sick at New Franklin, Starke County, Ohio, where, in a short time, he died.


While he was in France, CHARLES had been educated in both the French and German languages, and his knowledge of these enabled him soon to become acquainted with the English. His family belonged to the Lutheran Church, and he was trained religiously by a pious grandmother, in whose family he was reared. He has never ceased to recognize the blessed influence of his early religious training, and thinks he is largely indebted to it for becoming a preacher of the Gospel.

In the fall of 1837, he was confirmed in the Lutheran Church; in a few months afterward he became acquainted with the Disciples, of whom there was a Church at Minerva, five miles from his home. He at once began to examine their religious position, and, having become satisfied that it was in accordance with the teaching of the Word of God, in 1838, at a meeting held by J. WESLEY LANPHEARE, he was immersed by JOHN WHITACRE. This caused great bitterness and opposition among his Lutheran relatives; but he had taken the step under an earnest conviction of duty, and did not stop to consult with flesh and blood.

He taught school at sixteen years of age, and, at seventeen, began to preach in the vicinity of his home, and gave great promise of future usefulness.

In September, 1842, he entered Bethany College, where he graduated in 1846, and remained in the college three years, as a teacher in the primary department. He was married at Bethany, July 6, 1848, to ROSETTA E. KERR, daughter of Rev. JOHN KERR, a Presbyterian minister, of Newry, Ireland. She had been in America four years.

In 1849, he was ordained to the work of the ministry, and removed to Wellsburg, Virginia, and preached for the Church at that place one year. In October, 1850, he removed to Somerset, Pennsylvania, where he remained five years, and, while there, in addition to his pastoral labors, edited a monthly periodical, called "The Disciple," for two years, and was principal of an academy for the same length of time. In January, 1856, he took charge of the Church corner of Eighth and Walnut streets, Cincinnati, also assisting in editing the "Christian Age." Having been elected President of Eureka College, Illinois, he moved there in January, 1857, and remained till September, 1858, when he returned to Bethany College, having been elected to the Chair of Ancient Languages and Literature in that institution. He still occupies that position.