The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-20

war are still enshrouded in the haze of
time, and in the oblivion of thirty-o one
years spent in outlying garrisons and
cities of the Middle West.
1t will, therefore, be in the nature of
a surprise to the majority to know that
Gen. Brooke is most thoroughly a prod
uct of Pennsylvania, the resultant of
Quaker community, born and reared at
a point so near to, Philadelphia as to
be almost within the shadow of the
city's walls, and winning his first lau-
rels in a series of brilliant achieve
ments at the head of a Pennsylvania
regiment. ,....-
Born in Pennsylvania
Brooke farm, the homestead of the
family for upward of 140 years, and
Gen. Brooke's birthplace and early
home, lies on the banks of the Schuyl-
kill, about two miles below Pottstown,
and an hours journey by rail from
Philadelphia. 1t is a beautiful estate of
about $50 acres of rolling uplands, and
rich meadows, embowered in foliage
and bordering the winding course of
the stream. The homestead nestIes
close to the waters edge, surrounded
by slipping lawns shaded with grand
old trees. Passengers on trains crossing
the high railroad bridge close by look
almost directly down upon the grounds
and buildings.
Gen 'Brookes progenitors were char
acteristic types of early English set
tiers in Pennsylvania. John Brooke
the first of the family, emigrated from
Yorkshire, England, with his wife and
two sons in 1899. He settled upon a
tract of about $50 acres previously pur-
chased from William Penn and stu
ated in what is now Limerick town
ship, few miles below Brooke farm.
Since that time the family have been
farmers, gaining hardihood with the
filling Of the soil, maintaining the rigid
disciplins of their society, forming part
of class which amounted almost to a
rural aristocracy Matthew Brooke,
the son of John, bought the present
Brooke farm, and erected there, about
1865, fine old stone mansion, in which
the family lived for four generations,
and where John r. Brooke was born on
July 81, 1898. The house was demol-
ished a few years since to make room
for the modern residence of S. S.
Campbell, who married Gen. Brooke's
sister.
The mother of the general was Miss
Martha Rutter, daughter of David Rut-
ter, of Pine Forge works, and belong
ing to a family intimately connected
with the earliest manufacturer of iron
in Pennsylvania
Father in State Militia.
Maj. William Brooke, the generals
father, was a character unique among
men. and bequeathed many of his ster-
ling qualities to his distinguished son.
He served in the war of 1912, but took
no active part in the engagements. The
military title of major was obtained
through a position he held in the local
militia. Attending the meetings of the
Society of Friends in PottstoWn, the
chief traits of his character were pug
nacity, a strong will and iron deter
mination. Called by some "a gentle
man of the old school" he was farmer
from cradle to grave, brusque, severe.
and a diSciplinarian who ruled his
family with an iron hand. Maj. Brooke
was an old-line Wing, and his political
prejudiceS and belligerent spirit were
so ungovernable that many people in
Pottstown still tell of an encounter he
had with a political opponent on one
occasion, which resulted in the major
cudgeling his opponent with his walk
ing stick.
John R. Brooke spent his early boy
hood upon the farm, learning the trade
of an agriculturist, and prepared to
follow the same calling as did his faith
ers for three generations before him.
About a mile below the then village of
Pottstown little school house stood in
ii nSlQ SAOSC " btAC AOelO. II llotS SlIlCO
been demolished. Here the children
from the neighboring farms were
taught about four months in the year,
although John Brooke rarely got more
than three months schooling owing to
Interruptions on account of hauling,
thrashinS, blowing, or other farm labor.
Personally he is said to have been a
great, sturdy, farmers boy not espec-
tally fond of books, uncouth in manner
and participating but seldom in the So
cial doings of the young people of the
neighborhood. Subsequently he attend
ed for brief periods the schools of
Henry A. Hunsicker, at Freeland; Allen