Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-08-14
Death OGLeWiS Brooks.


The Rochester Democrat has the following
10 connection with the announcement Of the
death in that city, on Thursday, of Mr. Lewis
Brooks :-"Our readers will remember the curl
osiy awakened not long since upon the announce
mcnt that liberal gentleman of Rochester had
bestowed 1920, 600 upon the University Of Vir
einia, at Monticello, had erected new buildings,
endowed the university with large fund, and
provided it with museum selected by Prot.
Ward 10 European tour. That liberal gentle
mau was Lewis Brooks. twill also be remem.
bered that $40, 900 was given last year to the
Rochester City Hospital. The donor was Lewis
Brooks St. Mary's Hospital also received $lo,'
900 from friend whose name was not made pub
lie. The donor was Lewis Brooks. The Industrial
School and the Rochester Female Charitable
Society were each presented with $4,000 in a
similar manner. The donor of both these gifts
to enterprises sadly 10 need Of funds was Lewis
Brooks, the man who last evening, after life
of ST years duration, passed from earth to his
rest and reward.
Lewis Brooks was peculiar man, and one
of his peculiaritcs was his unwilIingness to say
anything about himself. lie was exceedingly
modest and retiring 10 his disposition, and
rarely confded anything to any oGe lilo had
90 family and no relatives in this city, and
hence very little regarding his life can be given.
About forty years ago he retired from busi-
| ness, and since that time has engaged merely
| in investing his money and caring fer the real
estate he owned. Wise, prudent and ecUnomi-
| cal, ho amas5cd very large property. and hav-
| ing no children with whom to leave it. he very
| naturally sought to do good by donating por-
| ton Of it TO charitable and educational purpo-
| ses lie never married, but lived all his life
alone, and during the astsixteen years boarded
at the Osburn House. lie had Two brothers
living in this vicinity one, Garry Brooks, re-.
siding at Fairport, and the other, Samuel
Brooks, at Churchvie. Both Of these gentle
| men have families.
He made no new acqusintsnces, except ST rare
! intervals, but to his Old friends and associates
| he WAS as true as steel; and by all who knew
| him his doath will DO sincerely and unfeignedly
| mourned About week ago he was taken ill.,
| but up 10 Wednesday afternoon his sickness did
not conGne him TO his room. II then assumed a
| more serious form, and last evening, suddenly
calmly dropped away. There was no relative
with him, but few Of his warm friends were by
his side in the last hour. Large es have boon
the donations the deceased mado to public in
stituLions, they are by no means all.
To those belonging 10 his own blood and to
Lhoss IN Wnom NO had no personal interest," save
that Of sympathy, he has given freely and large
Is. To the needy and suffering his liberality
has been opon- handed and almost unstinted,
and no worthy object Of assistance was ever 81.
lowed to leave his presence unaided. The hos
pitfalls and other charitable institutions of this
city have received large benefits from his hands,
not only through the donations mentioned above,
but in many lesser amounts given at various
times. It was the intention Of the deceased, as
his friends state TO bestow goodly sum upon
every charitable enterprise in the city. but
whether his arrangements were perfected or not
is not known. There is an immense property
left, but as 10 its disposition nothing 10 known"