Aurelius Brooks

AURELIUS BROOKS. Among the many influential farmers living in Labette county, Kansas, is the gentleman whose name appears at the opening of these lines. He is living in Walton township, in the northeast quarter of section 29. Mr. Brooks was born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1846, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Vorhis) Brooks.

Jacob Brooks was born in Virginia in 1795, but spent most of his life engaged in farming in Indiana. He married Mary (Vorhis) Felter, who was born in Ohio, in 1802, and they had eight children, as follows: Mary; Jackson; Martha; Thomas; Irene; Adeline; Josephine; and Aurelius.

Aurelius Brooks lived on his father's farm until he located in Kansas, in 1885. He had been a farmer in Indiana, and has always followed that occupation. Mr. Brooks bought his present farm, on coming to Kansas, and has lived there ever since. He carries' on general farming and stock raising, and has been very successful. He is a careful, conscientious workman, and his farm presents a thrifty appearance.

Mr. Brooks married Mary E. Miller, who was born in Fayette county, Indiana, in 1851, and they have been blessed with six children, namely: Harry, who lives in Parsons, Kansas, and is employed by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company; Mary, who is a pupil at the State Normal School at Emporia, Kansas, and graduates with the class of 1902; Clarence; Charles; Bertha, deceased; and Irene, who is attending school. Mr. Brooks is a Democrat in politics, and takes an active interest in the political affairs of the township. He has served one term as township trustee, and has served on the school board for a period of eleven years. He is now treasurer of the school board. Mr. Brooks is a member of the Anti-Horsethief Association. He belongs to the A. 0. U. W., Lodge No. 1, of Parsons. With his family, he attends the Methodist church.