Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-09
Obituary.

Samuel Cony Brooks born Feb 10, 1866,
died Sept. g. 1889
Samuel Coay. the second son ~ =. 3.
Brooks vas born in Augusta. When quite
Academy building which stood on
the site Of the present cony
High School. Entering the gram
mar school on the west aide in 1875. he
one elias. and by so doinghe completed his
work ia the grammar school in three years.
Al graduation he was chosen by the princi-
pal a. salu,atorisn Of his class. During his
fonr years in the high school he took the
classical course and in June, 1893 was hon
orabIy graduated. Through the Influence Of
one Of his classmates and the sdvice Of his
family he passed his first college year at
Colby, whore he made many friends among
the faculty AS well as among the students.
In s September. 1884. deeming II wise to
continue his studies at n larger college where
more lyantages would be offered him, he
entered Amherst college, preferring to class
himself with the first year men, although
with very little work he would have been
qualified To enter with the sophomores.
It was during this first year At Amherst
that the seriousness. of life hawned fully up
on him and ~ a result of his thoughtfalness
he became an active christian, shedding his
light up,n all who came in contact with him,
and by his knaiiness and sympathy winning
the heart. of class and college mates.
While pursuing the course Of oratory and
debate 10 his sophomore AMI junior years he
Developed into most ready wr ter ani q
much easirr speaker, having as his pryfe sor
once told ne. thai magnetism which riveted
the attention Of the audience upon the
speaker. IL was during the. latter part Of
February in his junior year that 1t was my
good fortune to be In New York with him
for a few days After much sight-'eeinz we
were about u iurn our faces college~ari,
when our attention was called by friend To
Munkascy's wonderful painting. Christ be
fore Plate which was on exhibition only a
few blocks away. We hastened to avail
ourselves of the opportunity and for half or
three quarters Of an hour we gsxed upoa that
pathetic piece Of realism. saw that ii made
a deep impression upon my companion. bu;
how deep knew only when upon returning
to college he chose that painting ~ tbs sub
iect of an Grafton which he was called upon
Ia, bot att vad thu s,ra
ton he was one Of several speakers in the
class. but not one of them touched the
audience or showed greater talent As Al orator
than did he. | mention this fact simply as
illustrating the hidden promise of usefulness
and greatness which those Of US who knew
him saw.
After being graduated from Amherst in
June. 1883. he entered the Divinity School,
at New Haven. His first year passed aus
piciously and satisfactorily, and he immed-
lately planned for summers work in Colo
RADIO. where he hoped not only to gain new
thought and new al for his life work. hut
also to scatter the seed of truth and teach
those fsr-otf Iwellers on the prairie the love
of Christ. The summer had beea u most
fruitful one AS it seemed. and as he labored
faithfully in planting Sunday schools the
time came for him to start for hs 4 lsseru
home With fond fareweiis and affeetionate
grasps of the hand, his rough, but tender
hearted transformers babe him goodbye, and
then tired and III with over-work. he made
his plans for a speedy journey home; but
"Man proposes while God disposes.
Wishing to see dear college friend in
Nebraska for fe~ days. and to persuade
him to Journey Esst. he stepped of at the
little town of Elgn. lie found his friend
only to BE- taken dangerously i'll with typhoid
fever. and ere three weeks had passed he
was called to the Home mot made with
hands. eternal in the heavens" None knew
him but to love him. and we feel sure thai
TODAY he is realizing in full Christs promise.
"rhers is no man that hath left house OF
brethren or sisters or father or mother OF
wife or children or lands. for my sake and
the gospels, but he shall receive an hun
drcdfold now. ia this time. and in the world
80 come eternal life. IL.