Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-06-20
From the Montgomery Mail.
Hon. Preston y. Brooke.

The notoriety which recent act of this gem
tleman has given will mike 1t desirable 10 know
something cf him. As have known him since
wasa boy. and have been one Of his consti,u-
! enis aud especial friends VIII give you brlef
history Of his life.
He l. the eldest son If Whitfield Brooks. a
prominen, citizen Edgefeld District South Ga
3 rolina who was u candidate for Congress in 1871
against the Hon. A. Burt. VIII" wns elected and
/ served until 1852, In 1912. while he youth
Of 10 years Of age. in the South Carolina College,
his father was challenged to fight duel by Louis
r. Wgfall, now If Texas. In consequence Of
his age the father declined the challenge. and
was posted by Col. Wigfnll at Edgefeld Court
House. A young man by the name Of Bird,
nephew Of the elder Brooks. tore down the post
ing and was killed by Wigfall in the fight that
onsued L. s. then 10 years old as rs he
heard Of it, hastened home and challenged Wig
fall. They fought and both were dangerously
wounded-Wigfall having both thighs shot
through and one broken, from which he is lame
to ,his day. Brooks was shot through at the top
# the thigh and his spine was graZed and his
life long considered doubtful.
lie is lawyer. but having an easy fortune. be
never pursued his profession, but became sci
entifc aud successful planter
In 1876 he raised. in Edgefeld District, Of
the companies that composed the Palmetto Reg
iment, and served rs captain through the Mexi-
can war In 1853 vacancy occurred in his
Congressional district by the retirement Of Mr..
Burt, and he entered the field asa candidate
There were three other candidates, one of whom
was Francis w. Pickens, former representative
from the same district, and popular and distin-
guished man. Notwithstanding the greatest dis
advantages arising from having distinguished
petiiors-baving competitor, Mr.. Pickens.
IN his own country having taken little part
in politics public life before that time, he
elected by majority of over six hundred over
his highest competitor.
The readiness Of his wit, the briliancy and
point of his conversation, and tho Willingness
OF his manners, delighted and won the hearts of
the people. have never known II man whose
tact and intutive knowledge of mankind was
equal to his. | have seen him thrown unexpeot
eddy in crowd of n half dozen persons OF differ
ent characters, none of whom be ever saw be-
fore. rapid glance at them assured him Of each
mans character. ind in five minutes he has
struck the right chord upon each mans heart,
and he has gained six votes in five minutes. To
this was owing his triumphant and TO those who
did not know his powers, astounding success.
Knowing him well. and his capacitH was
certain of his success. and caused consdera-
BILE depletion of the pockets off those Of different
faith.
In 1854 he was again elected by more than
30OD majority over an able competitor. He now
has his seat secure, and will not have opposition
again.
In person he is tall and commanding, standing
six feet in his stockings, is brunett, and re-
markably handsome. He is very elegant and
polite, and is nm immense fuvoriie with the la
dies. In defamation he is dgnifed earnest
and emphatic, speaks rapidly and with ANNA
ton. recent speech of his in Congress in be-
hall of Mrs Iiman has recently been extensively
Published as n model of beauty an touching elo