The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-30
A PIONEER CALLED HOME.
William E. Brooks
Obeys the Final Summons, Surrounded
by his Loved OHes..- An Ac.
tive Life.
A PIONEER GONE.

PIONEER GONE.
Again has death, in its relentless
march, entered our midst and laid its
blighting hand on one of Rock Island S
early settlers and most prominent citi>
zens. A noble and generous heart has
ceased to beat. a loving husband and
father has been taken away, a well known
face is missed on the streets -William T.,
Brooks is dead. Wherever he was known
this announcement will carry with it pain
and sadness, for he was universally
liked. He was noted for his generosity
| and benevolencc, and adhered to the
maxim that IAN honest man is the noblest
work of God" To the grief-stricken wife
and children the sympathy of the entire
| community goes out. But they can
| console themselves in measure in the
the heavenly land that lie discharged his
| obligations to the world faithfully and
WE'LL that his life was manly and straight-
forward, and in his death Il community
mourns with them.
Mr.. Brooks died from congestion of the
lungs which followed Il severe cold con-
Sinnct, one of his lite>long friends His
condition was SO alarming yesterday
morning that his physician, DR.. Gregg.
called Dr. Gait in consultation. who ut
once pronounced him beyond human aid,
and that he would not live "A hours. His
words were too true, AS the chill of death,
which settled on him few hours before,
frightened its clasp, and at p. m. his
soul took its flight for the spirit land e.
Besides a wife the survivors are William,
Charles, Harry g., Matte and Josh.
| Three children died Deceased was united
in marriage at Aurora, on Dec, ~ 1852,
to Miss Eia. NJ Drane, u native of Can
ada
HIS CAPEEE
William +. Brook. was hpru in Coos
county, Il, ii July 5, 1919 Iii. parents
were natives of New England aud uace
their ancestry back to the pilgrim fathers
| William + Spent his boyhood days about
his fathers vineyard, with accidental al
tendance at the public school. He moved
with his parents to Rock Island county in
| 1885, upon tract of hand which was
owned and occupied by deceased tor a
great number of years, aud known as
Brooks addition to the city ot Rock
| Island" At the time he novel here the
city of Rock Island consisted OF iess than
twelve houses principally log cabins, and
| the land whereon now stands two cities,
| Moline and Rock Island, was covered by
almost an unbroken forest Mr. Brooks
was therefore one of the earliest OF the
early settlers of the county, His father
died at the homestead ia 1854, aged about
| 81 years, and his mother follow ed a year
later in the 6oth year of her age
The first four or five Years succeeding
his arrival at Rock Island Mr. Brooks
ctrked in mercantile establishment, but
| the principal part of his life has been de
voted to the Improvement of his old
homestead His first addition to the city
was laid ont in 1872. his second in 1881
probation in TIN. value Of land purchased
| originally from the government at 81 %
per acre. netted him good income, and
he has always lived comfortably. He
r
was one of the original stockholders OF
the Moline & Rock Island Horse Railway
company, and was for many years one of
| with any church. he was n liberal donator
to all He gave one acre of land i'll the
| Seventh ward for school purposes, and
the exchequer of Augustana college was
| increased several hundred dollars by his
liberality, Many years ago he served on
the board of supervisors, and later on rep>
resented his ward as alderman He was
| respected member of the Old Settlers
society, and held the o;Ece Of president
for one term.
Age rested lightly on Mr.. Brooks
shoulders Although in his eth year, he
enjoyed good joke as well AS anybody,
and seemed to be always in good spirits.
He was great lover of the sport pisca>
| torlal, and would make a yearly visit to
the trout streams of New Hampshire to
engage in his favorite sport. He gener-
ally made an annual trip to Boston Bay
with party of friends, and Uncle" John
Warmers camp would not look natural
| unless Uncle" Brooks was on hand.
| Last fall he camped out for about week,
and enjoyed himself greatly.
The funeral will be held Saturday af-
| ternoon at 2 O'Clock.