The farmer and mechanic., 1915-09-14

Chder this master. George W. Brooks.
entered as a student OF the law. the
VId tIph was the most cordial and
soliHdentlal: He read law until the
failure Of Mr Kinney's health ;r lS44
y hutr ms association and tuition il
was natural that a consuming love
TOT the union should take possession
OF the young student. such x love as
nelther local considerations. nor the
example and heseeChin1 II friends
near ana dear 10 him could change
was love that increased WIKI
maturity Of body and mind
We may well trace his life If III
erty TO the place Of his birth his love
OF freedom and peace to the place
or his schooling and his love for The
union TO the atmosphere cf his pre-
fessional training.
Ills father was William q. Brooks
born in the county OF Gates. ana Who
was later merchant OF hieh char
acter IN Elizabeth City. The mother
was Catherine Davis. Of Pasquotank
county, descended from brave and
patriotic revolutionary ancestry.
The bOyh0od of George W Brooks
on his fathers farm was marked by
Industry and intelligence in his tasks
by obedience 10 his superiors and by
a love for reading. He was the fore
most student Of his day at Bclvidere
Academy. on leaving the office Of
Mr.. Kinney, he entered the law of
flee of John B. Ehringhaus and was
licensed by the Supreme Court TO
practice in the county courts in 1S45.
In 1876 he received his superior court
license. He located in the county
seat Of his native county. He married
June 20, 1850, Margaret Ann Costen.
Of Gates county. Their children were
William COsten Brooks, deceased DR.
CYaOTpp Of ffAI
James Costen Brooks. an attorney, Of
| Elizabeth City, Sallie Costen Brooks.
who married Harry w. West OF
CORTLAND, Va, and Maggie Costen
| Brooks who married George ". Cobb
Of Elizabeth City. His devotion to
his wife IS hest seen in his giving her
| maiden name to each Of their
! CT ildren.
| Mr.. Brooks ,;as diligent and atten-
tive to the small business that comes
to the Young lawyer. He was most
exemplary in his nabits at a time
wnen some dissipation was the rule
With his professional BRETHREN He
was faithful to his clients cause
| Diligence, attention. sobriety, faith
eulness, then. rs ever, put him tC
the front and in a few years he had
q profitable practice. Unlike most O.
| the lawyers Of his day he Gid no
ride the full circuit. He found worl
more profitable and life more con
| genial ir his office and in his home
His pleadings were clear and concise
His method Of trial direct and con
vorsational He made clear state
mentS to judge and jury rather thar
heated orations. He had a disCrimi
mating judgment. that was seldom "a
fault. His mind was Of the judicia
cast He thoroughly weighed an
examined every question in Golde
scales. He had courage Of his cOnvic
tiOns and an opinion once deliberate
ly formed reached the verge of ob
stinacy, yet in times of stress and tria
to his friends and to his COnmunit
he was the strong staff on whic1
they leaned for guidance and support
Physically and morally he Shran
from no responsibility. He was thor
oughly brave and Of inflexible inte
gritty. He was q conspicuous repre-
sentative of that type of men. no,
so rare, who are "infiexible TO i
and obstinately just" In him tha
noble quality was unquestioned an
questionable. With him the Low
Of the Union was a passion, an at
sorbing sentiment which gave colo
to every act of his public life
triumphed over party 1t triumphe
over policy. 1t brought him int
, close relation with those who differe
: him from those bound to him by tn
most sacred ties of friendship VIII
, agreed with him in all else save tha
In 1852 he was elected a membe
of the House of Representative froI
, PasQuotank county. His service wa
9 honorable and was approved by h
= people. He never again sought pc
s litical preferment. He was men
G Der of the Methodist Episcop;
q church and q Master Mason.
: George w. Brooks was not alWa.
u in accord with the popular sentimel
t | ia the community in which he live
\ nor with the friends with whom I
:, was intima tee; but no man ever que
t toned the honesty, or sincerity Of n
: convictions. 1t was this deep IN
g preston of his absolute honesty tn;
= enabled him sometimes TO mainta
d his opinion in the face Of storm
popular sentiment that would ha'
J. swept most other men before it.
2 an able editorial announcing Il