Andrew N. Brooks

As printed in 1902

ANDREW N. BROOKS.

Andrew N. Brooks is a representative of a pioneer family of Clark county, of English lineage. He lives on section 27, Harmony township, where he follows agricultural pursuits. His birth occurred in this township June 7, 1835, a son of Harvey Brooks, who was born in New York and was a well educated man for his day, having pursued a college course. At an early period in the development of this portion of the state he came to Ohio and purchased government land, which he cleared and transformed into a good farm. He was one of the first school teachers in this part of Clark county, conducting a subscription school. He acquired one hundred and sixty acres Of land and through his farming interests was able to provide comfortably for his family. He died in the prime of life in the year 1841 and was buried in the Goodfellow cemetery. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Hammond, was born in Vermont in 1800 and died on the old homestead at the age of seventy-six years. After the death of her first husband she became the wife of William Troxell, who is also deceased. By her first marriage there were eight children, all of whom were’ born on the old family homestead here and with the exception of our subject all are now deceased.’ Four of the number died between the ages of nine and twenty-one years. Nathan was married and had four children, one of whom is yet living, but the father died at the age of thirty-five years, upon his farm in this county. Harvey Brooks, the father of our subject, was actively identified with public affairs in Harmony township and was one of the leading and influential residents of this part of the county. His political support was given the Whig party and both he and his wife were members of the Christian church.

In the district schools Andrew N. Brooks pursued his education, but his advantages in that direction were very limited. At the age of eight years he went among strangers, working as a farm hand for four dollars per month. He afterward inherited some land from his father’s estate and when about nineteen years of age began business on his own account as a stock raiser, preparing stock for the market. As his financial resources increased he added to his property from time to time until he now has two hundred acres of valuable farm land. In early life he began buying and shipping stock to Buffalo and Pittsburg andfor twenty-two years he carried on an extensive business in that line, making purchases in adjoining counties. He also conducted his farm work with the aid In 1876 he formed a partnership wtih James Hamilton, of London, of hired hands.

Ohio, who was an extensive grain merchant, and at that time Mir. Brooks rented his farm and removed to Springfield, making that city his headquarters, while Mr. Hamilton remained in London. They conducted a mammoth business, having stations at twelve different towns along the Big Four and Little Miami Railroads. Their business was conducted on a wholesale commission basis and they handled thousands of carloads of grain, making shipments to eastern points. They also: built the elevator at New Carlisle and for twenty years Mr. Brooks remained in the grain trade. At the end of that time he suffered a stroke of paralysis and was forced to give up business, after which he returned to the home farm, having erected there a good residence. He is now practically living retired, merely suprintending his farm interests, although he continued in the stock business until 1902. When only seventeen years of age he was put in charge of a large drove of cattle which was being sent across the mountains to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and from that early age down to the present he has ever been known as a reliable and trustworthy business man, always faithful to every duty and managing his own affairs with enterprise and determination, which have resulted in bringing to him excellent results and splendid success.

On the 8th of February, 1855, Mr. Brooks was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Foreman, a daughter of Harvey Foreman, of Harmony township. She was born in this township in 1837, attended school with Mr. Brooks and afterward gave him her hand in marriage. She became the mother of seven children and died in 1886, her death proving a great loss to her family. Of the children all are yet living with the exception of Harvey, who was the eldest son and died at Brown Station, west of Springfield, where he was conducting a grain elevator. He was then thirty years of age.. Dora is the wife of John Stephenson, of Harmony, by whom she has two sons and two daughters. Frank A., who is engaged in the grain trade in Yellow Springs, is married and has one daughter. Twing W., a grain merchant of Enon, is married and has a son and a daughter. Milton, who is an engineer on the railroad and lives at Chillicothe, Ohio, has two daughters. Charles, of Springfield, has one son, Andrew. Fan-

„ny is the wife of Charles White, of Homer,

Illinois. In 1890 Mr. Brooks was again married, his second union being with Mary McKittrick, of Jackson, Ohio, who was born in London, England, and came to this state when but six years of age, the family settling in Jackson. farmer by occupation.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are members of the Baptist church and are highly esteemed people of the community. He has

Her father was a always been generous in support of church Avork and a liberal contributor to many enterprises instituted for the public good. In politics he is a Republican and served as a school director for many years, while for several years he was supervisor of district No. 14. While in the city he ‚would never accept office, although many official preferments were offered to him. He belongs to Clark Lodge, F. & A. M., of Springfield; Springfield Chapter, R. A. M.: Springfield Council, R. & S. M.; and Palestine Commandery. He is likewise a member of Springfield Lodge, I. O. O. F., has filled all of its offices and is the only living charter member of Vienna Lodge, which he joined when twenty-one years of age. He is a man who by broad reading has kept well informed on all questions of the day political or otherwise and as a citizen he has manifested a public-spirited interest in everything pertaining to the general good. Starting out in life at the early age of eight years and since then entirely dependent upon his own resources he has worked his way steadily upward and certainly deserves great credit and commendation for what he has accomplished, for he stands to-day among the prosperous farmers of Clark county and is one of the most reliable and honored men within the borders of Harmony township.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.