The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-04-22
Charles Luther Brooke.
IN MEMORIAM.


Charles Luther Brooke, son {
Oliver and Eliza Jane Brooke, wa
born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Nov
10th, 1860, and died at Phoenix, Ari
zona, April 18th, 1897, aged thirty
six years, four months and twenty
FIVE days.
His parents having moved to Log
an during his early boyhood, Charlie
attended the public schools here
graduating from the High School in
1880. During the following year, il
company with some fellow students
he continued his studies, adding ,
years work to his High School course
Being an eager student, and deprived
of the advantages of a collegiate
education, he was thrown upon hi,
own resources for the accomplishment
of his ambition to attain eminence in
the legal profession; and to that end
early in the year 1881 Charles left
Logan for Chicago, that being the
city which promised to him broad
field of action and the frultion of bis
hopes. He entered Chicago, stran-
ger and with but meager means Of
support, beyond fixed purpose, n
indomitable will, and sterling man.
hood. He first took service as Office
boy with lawyer at three dollars
per week and was glad to have even
this oppor tnnity of working along
the line of his chosen profession.
From this beginning he worked his
way up through difficulties almost
unconquerable, bettering his salary
by change of employer whenever
opportunity offered and adding to his
meager wages as Office boy by oper-
ating newspaper route in the city.
After two years of struggle and study
be was enabled to enter the Union
Law School from which be graduated
in the class Of 1883, among his class
mates being W. j. Bryan, the recent
democratic candidate for the presi-
dency.
Upon his graduation be entered
actively into the practice of law in
the city, becoming partner with
Judge Lyman Trumbull in the law
firm of Trumbqll. Robbins, Willis,
Trumbull and Brooke. But after sew.
eral years of very successful practice
bis health failed and be was forced
to abandon his profession to battle
for his life. He left Chicago for the
mountains, spending his time in Col
orado, California, Arizona and New
Mexico. He acquired interest in min
ing claims at Cripple Greek, COL,
and here centered most of the busl-
ness of the last years of his life. On
July 18th, 1896, he was married to
Mary Edith Cover who survives him.
This short sketch can but poorly
set forth the story of his life. Conscious
from early manhood of his failing
physique, endeavoring to conserve
his powers, impelled by an extraor-
binary intellectual activity, sustained
by a courageous will, protected by a
manhood and strict moral
ty, be has striven we'll and prolong-
ID bis life ten years beyond the fond
sst hopes of his friends.
BY the failure of his health he
was taught that his ambition
was thwarted and the dearest pur-
poses of bis life must be set aside.
To one of his temperament, this was
\ dispe nsation hardly to be borne.
Yet the true man that he was.
with his usual fortitude, compelling
service from adverse circumstances,
ne accepted the situation. and bent
MS energies to making the most of
he life that remained to him in new
ields of action. To those who were
with Charles Brooke, it is
Known how severe trial was this
abandonment of his hopes, and the
allure of power to strive for the goal
# his ambition. The hope of years,
he hardships of his earlier life. the
,ictories won, must be ignored, and
lew plans, new strivings, new victor
es, henceforth must occupy him.
And while as seen through the cloud
If disappointment, it may once
,ave seemed that his life was fail
ire, vet in his last years, he was able
% say "My life has not been wasted;
have accomplished good; l have
lot failed"
We ask no charity to shield his
aults. We who knew him best loved
,im most. But to everyone with whom