Capt. John S. BROOKS, died at the residence of John NESMITH, on South Union street, about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon,after a long and painful illness.

Deceased was the eldest son of Nathan BROOKS, and was born in Hardin county, Ky., August 10, 1828. When 16 years of age he emigrated with his parents to Illlinois and settled in Ewing, in Franklin county, where his youth and early manhood was spent on a farm.

Capt. BROOKS identified himself with the Republican part on its own organization in 1856 and voted for J.C. FREMONT for president in Nov. of that year. He was intensely patriotic and as the flames of the party hatred had been sweeping over the country for some time,as the result of the agitation for the extension of slavery into the Northern States, Capt. BROOKS found himself to be upon the unpopular side of that great question, and some of his neighbors and associates made it very disagreeable for him on account of his political views.

When the war broke out he was charged with inconsistency and cowardice in not volunteering his services for the perpetuation of the union, and to demonstrate the falisity of this unpatriotic imputation he enlisted in Company K, 49th Ill volunteer infantry,and was mustered into service at Camp Butler, Aug. 30, 1861, under Col. Wm. R. MORRISON. He remained in the service for four years and nine months, taking part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh and other hard fought engagments, as well as participating in the Red River expedition. He contracted measles in the army and came home on furlough. He continued with his regiment from this time till he was mustered out at Springfield, Sept. 9, 1865. Capt. BROOKS was successively promoted for meritorious conduct from private to corporal then to orderly sergeant and later to 2nd lieutenant. His regiment was organized by Col. Wm. R. MORRISON, of Waterloo who served from Aug. 30, 1861 to Dec. 13, 1862 when he resigned and was replaced by Col. Phineas Pease, of Centralia who continued to be its commanding officer till Jan. 9, 1865 when his term of enlistment expired. From this time until the close of the war the regiment was in charge of Lt. Col. Wm. P. MOORE, of Waterloo. Company K in which Capt. BROOKS served, was commanded during the earlier years of the war by Capt. Benjamine T. WOOD, and during the last two years of hostilities by Capt. Joseph LAUR, both of this county.

Capt. Brooks was twice married, the first time to Miss Fannie ALLEN and the second to Mrs. Chas. WOODWORTH. Two children, Mrs. Rebecca Jane CATES and Mr. Monroe BROOKS, survive as the result of the first marriage while Mrs. Carrie GRAY and Mrs. Lucy SAVAGE are the living representatives of the second marriage. Capt. BROOKS has suffered greatly for many years on account of the exposure and hardships he underwent as a soldier and drew a well deserved pension from the government for his services in the field of battle from 1861 to 1865.

The obsequies took place at 2 o'clock this afternoon under the auspices of Coleman Post G.A.R of which he was a devoted member. Interment at Oakwood cemetery.

Source: Mt.Vernon Register News
Date: March 28, 1899
Submitted By: Sharlet Bigham LaBarbera