The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-05-30
BUSY LIFE OF Mr.. BRO0KlNGS.
Financirr Had 10 Make His Own
Way Since Boyhood.

Robert $. Brooknrs was born mar the
noted Old Carter horn - al. - Walnut
Hills. Cecil County. Maryland, January -
ls5o lie is The son Of Doctor Richard anI
Mary Garter Rrookir@S. Both the Brook
lhSS AMI Carrier families WtT" represented
among the early CplDuistS f " .rylaua and
Pennsylvania. ana Ny Hrool;inSs's inImi-
grant ancs s;or. in the maternal lin-. was
jeremiah Garter, who. in i>,2. foEn': j
Carterrown. Pa. now par; q IN. city 5f
theStcr. II was at the original nome Of
Je't mi \ Carter. known as ''ESSeN House -
that William Penn was entertained imm"-
diateiy af;-r his first landing in PeunSyl-
sturdy character. sound morals and v;gor-
Gus mentality wrr- distinguishing charIg-
tc'istics Of the ancestors Of Nr Brook
lngs: and these qualities constituted his
chlef inh.rittnCe Uh.n h" turned his back
on the old homestead and began lie Tor
himself while still a boy. He was brought
" III Maryland. ana completed his c-luCs-
ior at West Nottingham Academy. his
course of study being abridged by uec.S-
sites which caused him to SEX r,nurn. =
#liE" employment h-fur, he was l. years
"lt. In 1861 he came tn -. Louis ana short
" aftrr"ariS found ,f1ulnyn. NJ with the
frin Of cuupleS a Marston, thus connect
ihS himself with the BUSINESS in which he
mas ever since been engaged and tn the
conduct ami mandg. mCnt # which h.
succeeded hy force Of his ability He heg1u
AS clerk. and as clerk he evidenced tu,.
fact that h. possessed that kind 4 genius
which Goethe declared "cOull alw:tvs be
hn"Wn by its doing iir-t the duty that was
At The "nd Of thr.c years term of
service IN a clerical capacity hi uscf,.in. s.
~ ! MS employers prompted them - max"
MIN partner in the E-f !,ii- hruprf which
then became Samuel Curfias & -. III
Ii,.,,,.. IiI., H., .'h,rEE' h-'H perceptions and
I.in}f- hrH'iV' grasp of business prob
~" II once began making their iuiII.==
t}-H the business and II "NrHu.:-l ra-,tsEv
NHW lines Of manufacture were sGt@e-r-
81. and before many years had elapsed th,v
tn.l -..sr
ana J"ht;rs "i wo"GruNare i'm th.. world
N" annual volume uf their trad, nq,!aIinE
.tl@- o1 az other WontruWaTe houses I'm
me Inil"! States confined L. Is. thi-
vast enterprise was incorporated ~ tho
Samuel 'uTries Woo lenware Cnmoanv, Mr.
Er.okings becoming vice president mi p.n-
eFdi manager, position which hr has cye-
since retained.
Mr. i5rookinss conceived the idea of 90
'."nHsh!nE the upPi'S station, central
depot Tor receiving ana collecting mcr-
chandse for Shipment. thus avoiding tho
expense and delay Incident to carrius
freight to and from tn" various freight
depots Of the city Mr.. f;rnmkings is yi~e
president Of the Union Trust Company. vice
president Of the 81. Louis StyiHEs Bank
of the State Bank Of St Louis For many
years he has been prominent lit movements
designed to pr"mpt. the cause IF popular
EDUCATION. He has also done much for ahar-
liable and benevolent Institutions Of the
city. He has been ON. Of the mast earnest
and helpful friends of The Mercantile Ii
of III" Library Board Of Directors. ana for
some years its president.
In November. lN'', Mr. BrOokinGs as
sumcd tn" presidency "f Washington Uni
vprsity, and Immediately pUr into effr.t
plans which h had previously conceived
Tor practically ref0Uuding the cnl'cg. auI
scientific school. 10y removing them tn a
tract Of land facing Forest Park Mr.
Krookings Is n lover "f music. and from!
1S>2 to 1s97 was president Of tho Choral
Symphony Society. II" was one OF The
founders Of the ST Louis Exposition. an,:
Music Hall Association.