The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-10-04
MORTUARY.
JOHN EDWARD BROOKS

JOHN EDWARD BROOKS
was bort in Toledo, Ohio, August s, 1866,
died at Leon, Iowa, Sept. 30, 1900, aged
81 years, month and q days.
He was the only son of John and
Mary Brooks, his father dying before he
was born, and his mother few years
later. His early life was spent at Smyr-
ma, Clarke county Iowa, where his first
education was obtained, and later he at.
tended school at Osceola. He came to
Leon in the spring of 1882 and for two
years attended the Leon public schools,
after which he entered Parsons College
| at Fairfield, but in short time had to
give up his studies on account of i'll
health and returned to Leon. He then
attended Moran's shorthand school at
Iowa City, from which he graduated III
the spring Of 1885, and on Jan. /, 1887
was appointed official court reporter by
Judge j. w. Harvey, one of the presid-
ing judges of the Sd Judicial District of
Iowa. AS court reporter he was an eff
ticient official and formed a large &C.
quaintance with the legal fraternity of
the district, being a favorite with all with
whom he came in contact. After serv.
ing as reporter for three years he resign
ed for the purpose of engaging in the law
as his chosen profession and entered the
law department of the State University
until May, 1891, when he passed very
successful examination before the Su-
preme Court and was admitted to the
bar. In the following June owing to
the failure OF w. S. Johnson's health,
Stookey & Brooks became proprietors of
the Decatur County journal, and
he was engaged in newspaper work
until January Is, 1893, after which
he located at Lamont in the practice
of law, remaining there little over
year after which he returned to Leon
and formed law partnership with N.
Z. Bullock under the firm name of Bull.
lock 4 Brooks. This firm was dissolved
by mutual consent in the spring of 1895
when MIR. Bullock removed to Oklahoma
and the ii m of Stookey 4 Brooks was
organized and continued until Jan.
uary OF the present year when on ac-
count of Mr.. Brooks continued i'll
health he retired from the firm.
He was appointed justice of peace to
succeed N. z. Bullock in 1885, and was
later elected to the office and served
two years.
His health had been failing for more
than year and from the first of March
to the middle of May he was confined to
his bed all the time. He then improv.
Ell and was able to get out on the street
for short time, and about the first of
July went to Excelsior Springs, Mo-,
where he remained several weeks in hope
that the water would restore his health,
but returned home without having re.
ceived any special benefit. The latter
part ofJuly he was up for few days, but
since the first of August he was unable
to be away from home and was confined
to his bed all the time except a few
days. On Friday, Sept. 81, there wasa
marked change for the worse and de.
spite medical skill and loving hands to
nurse him, his spirit took its flight at 4
O'Clock Saturday morning.
Here in Leon where he was so we'll
knawn Ed was universal favorlte with
all, both young and old. His cheerful
disposition won to him the friendship
OF all who knew him. Kind and gener-
Gus, his purse and assistance was always
at the command of the poor and needy,
and many person has cause to remem-
Der his charity. In his death the COM
munity loses one of its brightest young
men and there is universal regret over
his death.
He united with the M. E. church the
past summer, being baptized by Rev.
Joseph Stephen.
He was an honored member of Hes
peria lodge No. 80, K. of P. and here he
will be sadly missed by his brother
Knights as he had always taken an &C..
tive interest in the work of the order.
Three sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Stookey,
and Miss Ida Brooks, of Leon, and Mrs.
Cora Fithian, of St. Paul, are left to
mourn the loss Of an only and devoted
brother, Mrs. Fithian being the only
one absent from the funeral. She had
been here for several weeks but was
compelled to return home and owing to
her health was unable to make the
Journey again. He had only one other
living relative, an aunt, Mrs. Marie j.
CASTOR, of Deadwood, S. d.
The funeral services were held from
the home of his sister, Mrs. Marion F.
Stookey, Sunday afternoon at o'clock.
After short services by his pastor Rev.
Joseph Stephen the Knights of Pythias
took charge of and conducted the cere-
monies at the grave, the lodge attend
ing in body to pay the last sad tribute
of respect to their beloved brother The
funeral concourse was one of the largest
ever in Leon. Many beautiful floral off
erings attested to the love for the dead
and sympathy for the living. The in
terment was in the Leon cemetery, the
remains being laid to rest in marble
vault.
You little knew when first We met
VI. Il 4