Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-01-22
OBITUARY.

DrEo, at his residence, Roselands. in Edge
field District, on the 2Slh ultimo, Mr.. WHITFIELD
BRooks, in the 62nd year Of his age.
For many years, the deceased had been in i'll
health, laburing under disease both of the
lungs and stomach. Within the few last years
of his life, Mr.. Il. ceased to look upon death as
an indefinite event, but regarded it as certainty
that might come at any moment. He conten-
plated this awful change Of existence with mcd-
ta:ive firmn.ss, pious resignation, and christian
preparation.
The writer Of this obituary notice parted with
his friend few weeks since, under circumstan-
ccs tha; made a deep impression on his mind,
and at the time cxrrtctl silent influence on his
feelings To which he would have been afraid to
give expression in words He saw that ;es Of a
long cherished association on his earth were to
be dissolved, and that friends would part never
to meet again this side Of TIE grave. He re-
members well the quivering voice with which
his hand was pressed when lis departed friend
pronounced these words: F." Cop DI.Ess YoU!"
In his conversations the deceased often alluded
to his approaching death, and said he was pre-
pared for it at any moment, with the hope that
he might perform his duties while here. Ono
remark escaped him with feeling expression.
which was, that when he was gone he hoped it
could be- said of MIN that " he had passed through
life with an enGcavor to perform its duties from
upright motives and to the best of his ability.n
His whole department exhibited unaffected
chcerfulness, affection, and religious resignation
There arc few mems characters that could have
been more sai,ly trnslsd to the scales than that
of Mr.. Brooks. The writer Of this does rot
undertake 70 say that he had higher sense of
right, or better standard of justice than others
But he can say, that the deceased performed his
duties from pure motives. inspired by a love Of
truth, and directed BY tho dictates of al en-
Shlened conscience. He was a member of the
Episcopal Charch. His piety had nothing of
bigotry or cant in its composition. 1t was, that
the medi!ations Of the heart might be accepta-
BILE to GoD.n The deceased left this world with
a good reputation, and with the cheering pros
poet and hope Of entering on higher and 4
better existence beyond the grave. In his last
moments he exhibited noble serenity and COM
posure. When the clock in bis chamber struck
the hour of 4 u. Nj. h. pointed towards itfecbly,
rs il recognizing in its tones the announcement
that his hour was come. Whilst his eldest son
supported him in his arms and ailxiously noted
the ebb:ng of his pulse, now faint and fast re-
ceding, ho asked with perfect calnness, has it
stopped" No father, but it is very ferble,'
was the answer. s"Tlcn let me be composed"
were his last worda, and folding his hands upon
his breast he expired.
Mr.. Brooks was native of Ncwbcrrv Dis
trict, and was the only son of-thc late Colonel
Z. S. Brooks, and his first wife, Elizabeth But
Ter, tic sister Of the late General William Butler
At The time Of the death of his excellent and
proud spirited mother, Whitfield was about 10
years of age. BY this sad event he and his
three sisters sustained an irrcparable loss. In
their surviving father they found one earnestly
and afitc;inMatcly devoted to their interest and
welfare. The writer of this has often heard his
friends say, that whilst his father gave him all
tho opportunity and advantages Of education and
fortune in life-and no parent labored more for
his cllldren-he and his sisters were under an
abiding debt Of gratitude to neighboring aunt,
who had given them the advice of parental
guardian.
Young Whitfield commenced his education at
what are commonly called cold field schnols.''
where he learned arithmetic and acquired the
art Of writing an excellent hand. At the age of
fifteen or sixteen he commenced the study of the
classics, at Mount Bethel Academy, under the
instruction of successive teachers, Mr.. Smith
and Mr.. Hammond. Before he prepared him.
self for College he left that institution, and for
year wrote in the Office of his uncle, Staiimorc
Butler, then Clerk of FdGcHcld. Ills desire TO
acquire classical and collegiate education be-