Born in Maryland and a veteran of the Civil War, Rev. Frederick Lomack had moved to Iowa by 1891. He started a church in Ottumwa which the Ottumwa Semi Weekly Courier called “Lomack’s Tabernacle.” In 1896, the Iowa State Bystander reported he was pastor of Ottumwa’s First African Church of Christ.

Rev. Lomack would move to Des Moines in about 1896. He was listed as minister for First African Baptist Church. He started a short lived newspaper titled The Iowa Baptist Standard in 1897. The exact number of editions is not known. Rev. Lomack was involved in several legal disputes, especially from 1904 -1908, including a case of libel. In that time it was noted he had also created a home for elderly Black residents of central Iowa.

The church suffered wind damage to its steeple in 1909. Rev. Lomack lost title to the church property and filed suit to regain control. He also ran for city council in early 1910. He continued in some religious functions through 1910. He died on April 1, 1911 in Oskaloosa and is buried in Glendale Cemetery.