Butte County

Biographies


 

 

GEORGE M. BROOKE

 

 

      GEORGE M. BROOKE.—Of English lineage, the representatives of the Brooke family have been pioneer Americans in the days of the Revolutionary War, in which fight for liberty Great-grandfather Brooke served with honor. James, the father of George M., was born Virginia in 1800; he settled in Ross County, Ohio, with his wife, whom he had married in Virginia. She was Sarah Silvers, a native of Winchester, Va., born in 1801. James Brooke ran a blacksmith shop in Ross County, and his death occurred there, in 1846. His wife died in Moultrie County, Ill., aged seventy-three years. Of their nine children, George M. was the youngest.

      George M. Brooke was born in Ross County, Ohio, on Big Salt Creek, August 24, 1842. He came with the older members of the family to Moultrie County, Ill., in 1855, driving a team the length of the journey. His school was very limited, but by self-study and observation he acquired an education in after-life. From ten years of age he worked out and made his own living, and at sixteen paid his own way in school. He was first married, in Illinois, in 1860, to Elizabeth Nancy Underwood, born in that state, a daughter of William Underwood, who was born in Kentucky and migrated to Illinois.

      After his marriage, Mr. Brooke engaged in farming. In August, 1862, he volunteered in the Union Army, in Captain Van Fleet’s Company, One Hundred Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was taken with typhoid fever and could not be mustered into service. He was sent home and was sick all winter. In 1865, he again volunteered, in Company H, Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in March 1st, at Camp Butler, and sent to Little Rock, serving until after the close of the war. He received his honorable discharge December 16, 1865, and was mustered out in January, 1866, at Pine Bluff, Ark. He then returned to his home in Moultrie County, Ill., and bought a farm of eighty acres, eight miles north of Sullivan, from the Illinois Central Railway. Here he improved a farm and raised corn and wheat. In January, 1879, he sold out and removed to Clay County, Neb., on account of his wife’s health. The change proved ineffectual, however, and she died, February 20, 1879.

      Mr. Brooke purchased land in Nebraska, from the Union Pacific Railway, one hundred sixty acres at three dollars per acre; he improved this and later bought more land, until he owned four hundred acres on Wood River, raising corn, wheat and stock. He married the second time, in Nebraska, to Flora Mae Lobell, born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., a daughter of William Lobell, born in New York. He married there, taking for his wife, Mary T. Wood, daughter of Benjamin Wood. The Wood family came originally from England, and settled in Massachusetts as early as 1635. Great-grandfather Solomon Wood served in the Revolutionary War. Grandfather Lobell was born in France and came with his young wife to New York State. His son, William Lobell, removed to Brown County, Wis., and there engaged in work as a machinist; then settled in Nebraska, where his death occurred, in Buffalo County. Mrs. Brooke is the only child of the marriage of William Lobell and Mary Wood. She was educated in Wisconsin, and on completing the high school course at Beaver Dam, she obtained a teacher’s certificate and taught school six years; then came to Nebraska, where she taught until her marriage, in October, 1879. Eleven children were born of this union: Ethel C., Mrs. Stallings of Chico; Albert M., residing in Alameda; Eva, Mrs. Rist of Oakland; Walter L.; Alvah A., now serving in the United States Navy; Joel I.; Emery H.; and James C.; the last five named make their home in Chico. Benjamin, sixth in order of birth, died at the age of fifteen years, in Nebraska; Minerva died when six years of age, also in Nebraska; Lyman, the third youngest, died in infancy. Of Mr. Brooke’s first marriage seven children are living: Mary, Mrs. Heasley of Nebraska; Addie, Mrs. Hager of Nebraska; Lena, Mrs. Detweiler of Sterling, Ill.; Lizzie, Mrs. Wilson of Medford, Okla.; Delia, Mrs. Newton of Seibert, Colo.; Annie, Mrs. Loiler of Seibert, Colo.; Alice, Mrs. Carter of Dallas, Texas.

      In 1906, Mr. Brooke came to California, locating in Chico. He purchased his home place of six acres, on Nord Avenue, which he set to almonds, and also bought seventeen acres on Sacramento Avenue, paying one hundred sixty-three dollars per acre, and put this property into alfalfa, selling it five years later for four hundred dollars per acre. In 1910 he disposed of his ranch in Nebraska and centered his interests in Butte County. He owns the old Boone Jones ranch of one hundred seventy acres, for which he paid twenty thousand dollars. He sowed it to alfalfa, and grows four cuttings a year without irrigation. This ranch he rents, bringing him an income of eighteen hundred dollars a year. Mr. Brooke also owns a residence in Oaklawn, and lots in Chico Vecino. His home place, in Chico, is well improved, with comfortable home and a pumping plant for irrigating purposes. Mr. Brooke has been very successful in his agricultural operations here, owing to his farsighted and keen judgment in appreciating the value and possibilities of California lands. He is a true-blue, honest and upright man, and his liberal and kindhearted qualities have made him hosts of friends since his residence in the county, a popularity which is shared by Mrs. Brooke, who is a well-educated and cultured woman.

      During his residence in Illinois, Mr. Brooke attended the Douglas-Lincoln debate, at Sullivan, and during the later fifties he had the honor and privilege of seeing Lincoln many times.

 

 

 

Transcribed by Marie Hassard 13 October 2009.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1249-1251, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.


© 2009 Marie Hassard.

 

 

 

 

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