Captain Marion Brooks

BROOKS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/22/2010 at 20:10:39

Not only is Captain Marion Brooks one of the most prosperous landowners of Peoples township, Boone county, but he has participated n the public life of his district, having represented Boone county in the state legislature. Moreover, he has to his credit a military record which reflects great honor upon him. He was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, February 8, 1842, and is a son of Alphonso and Eliza Brooks, natives of New York, both of whom passed away in Peoples township, the former having attained the age of sixty years. In their family were five children, as follows: Franklin of Whiteside county, Illinois, Mrs Alice Shulters, of Boone, Iowa, Marion of this review, Mrs Elma Parks of Boone county, and Harriet who died at the age of eight years. All were born in Whiteside county, Illinois.
There Captain Brooks grew to manhood, attending the common schools and subsequently following farming. He enlisted in the Union army at Spring Hill, Illinois, September 20, 1861. As the Illinois regiments were complete at the time the members of his company were placed under the command of James Lane and were sent to fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Lane was securing men for an expedition to New Mexico and there were about fifteen hundred in his band. They proceeded as far as Fort Riley, where they were disabled, Captain Brooks’ company returning to Fort Leavenworth. Colonel Martin of that place was then organizing the Eighth Kansas Regiment, and the company joined it. This regiment was part of the Army of the Cumberland and also of the Central Army and was at different times under the commands of Generals Sherman, Grant and Thomas. Captain Brooks was present at the battles of Corinth and Chickamauga and in eastern Tennessee, participated in the fighting at Strawberry plain and Knoxville. His term of enlistment having expired, he again joined the army and saw active service at Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta. After the battles around Atlanta, he was sent to Nashville under the command of General Stanley. His company was then ordered to San Antonio, Texas, where the Captain was honorably discharged in February, 1886. He commanded his company from the first, although he did not receive his commission until after he had served about five months.
After he returned to the pursuits of private life in Illinois but came overland to Boone county March 7, 1867, and settled on section 16, Peoples township, acquiring land which he developed into a richly bearing farm. He has ever since given his attention to general agricultural pursuits and stock raising and has been one of the most successful auctioneers of his part of the state. He now owns 500 acres of choice land, upon which four sets of buildings are found. Such success has come to him is well merited, for he has attained prosperity entirely through his own efforts.
On March 23, 1864, in Whiteside county, Illinois, Captain Brooks married Miss Louisa Matson, who was born in Illinois, January 4, 1844, and attended the schools in that state, where she grew to womanhood. Her parents died while she was yet quite young. Captain and Mrs Brooks became the parents of five children as follows: Mrs Grant, of Rolfe, Iowa, C W of Wilton, North Dakota, Mrs Myrtle McFarland, of Peoples township, Bradford M, also of that township, and Mrs Loretta River deceased. All were born and reared in Peoples township.
The Captain has always been a stanch adherent of the republican party, thoroughly believing in its principles and ideals and loyally supporting its candidates He served as state representative of Boone county in the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth general assemblies, ably taking care of the interests of his constituents and participating in important legislation which affected not only his district but the whole state. He has also held several minor offices in Peoples township. Mrs Brooks is a member of the Baptist church, while her husband is connected with the Masons, being enrolled among the member of the peaceful Lodge, No 454, A f & A M of Woodward. The Captain is one of the most highly respected and esteemed residents of is community and has many fiends, all of whom speak most highly in regard to his achievements and those qualities of his character which have made possible his success.

1914 Boone County History Book