The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-16
obituary--A Good Man Departed this
Chief Quartermaster, ii. D..

Samuel 5. Brooks, ST., Esq, departed this
life, at his residence In this city, yesterday
morning, llth instant, about 10 O'clock
MIR. Brooks was one OF our oldest, most es-
teemed and worthy citizens. We presume
he was the Oldest practical printer in the
state. His exact age we do not know, but he
must have been In the neigh borhood of
seventy. During mis- career, be bore q con-
spicuOus and honorable part in the early his
tory OF Illinois and Missouri More than
forty years ago, if we are correctly informed
he established a newspaper in Edwardsville,
in this state, Of which he was both editor
and proprietor, and portion of the mechani-
cal work upon which, VAS performed by him
self. Some years later, ne went to St. Louis
and established Il newspaper in that, then,
lnconslderable CITY; and subsequently re
moved TO Springfield, In this state, where he
also became the editor and proprietor of
newspaper. At other and later periods, be
conducted, as editor and proprietor, news
papers IN Jacksonville Alton Lewiston and
Peoria; and was for time connected, as
editor, with the Quincy Herald, owned then
and subsequently in part, by his son, Austin
Breaks, Esq. At the time of his death, he
the clerk OF the circuit court for Adams
county, TO which responsible office he
elected, by the people, in November, 1864.
Those who knew him best concur in attest
ing that in the vigor of manhood, no one
welded keener or more pungent pen than
Samuel S. Brooks. Firmly pursuaded of
the truth and rectitnde of democratic princi'
pies, he never resorted to trimming eXpeuI-
ents: but boldly and energetically advoca-
ted his opinions, without waiting to inquire
as TO a mere ephemeral popularity. Sincere,
earnest and honest, he never compromised
with any of the forms OF error that obtained
hia worthv and pxamDlary life No
man in our community commanded or de-
served higher degree of respect, reverence
and esteem, whether as husband, father,
christian citizen, friend or public ofhcer.-
He was of that highest type OF manhood.
christian gentleman. How much must his
AGED widow feel the loss of such a husband
and how dear TO his children, now all at
wears of maturity, must be the memory of
such a father.
Thus, one by one, those worthy men and
bright intelleots, who assisted By their
patrietic efforts and noble example in
moulding and fashioning government and
society in this western world, are departing
to that undiscovered country, from whose
bourne no traveller returns" Shall we be
able to preserve and perpetuate the priceless
heritage of liberty and noble institutions
achieved by their illustrious virtues and ma
triotic energy? Not without we COPY their
illustrious example. Let us learn to do this,
and then we may die as happy q death, with
as bright hope, as the excellent and lanen-
ted Samuel s. Brooks
Mr.. Brooks leaves family, besides his
widow, consisting of four sons, nauelv
Austin Brookn, John P Brooks. Martin
Brooks and Samuel S. Brooks, Jr., who are
ell arrived at the period of manhood, and are
all useful members of soclety.-Quincy Her
aid Jan. r..
Another Quincy paper, the Issue, says:
AT the time of his death Mr. Brooks WAS
clerk of the circuit court of this county. TO
which office he had been elected more than
q year since by the votes of large maiority
OF his fellow citizens. In years past Samuel
D. Brooks, Sr., had been leading and influ-
entail democrat, and the editor of several
prominent democratic journals of this state.
de was generally known and universally re-
sspected throughout the state, and though he
bore conspicuous part in the political strifes
OF The country for nearly forty years, he has
departed this life without leaving personal |