Hezekiah Brooks |
| Posted 2018-09-15 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Weekly Journal-Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, June 5, 1907, page 1, columns 3 & 4 Helped Build The First Log Cabin Hezekiah Brooks, One of the Founders Of Prescott, Dead - Came Here In 1863 - History of This Local Pioneer (From Tuesday's Daily) Yesterday news reached this city from Cleveland, Ohio, of the death in that city, May 30, of Hezekiah Brooks, one of the founders of Prescott, and who, since his arrival here in 1863, had been continuously identified with its progress. Only a short time ago he left his home here for Cleveland, to visit a nephew and some surviving friends of his youth, apparently in the best of health for a man of his years, and looking as hale and hearty as he did twenty years ago. This worthy pioneer of Yavapai county, honored by his wide circle of acquaintances, probably has resided here continuously longer than any other citizen of the county. Upon him rests the honor of having been the first judge of the probate court of this county, which then comprised Yavapai, Coconino, Apache, Navajo, Maricopa and other counties, over half of the Territory. Under the administration of several governors, seven years altogether, Judge Brooks presided over the affairs of the probate court, leaving that important office just a score of years ago, with an unimpeachable record. Coming to the neighborhood of the present city of Prescott, in October, 1863, the judge and his party camped on the banks of Granite creek, and there erected the first cabin put up along that stream, on the site of the future Prescott. By virtue of the authority conferred upon him by an assemblage of citizens, he was appointed and served as one of three commissioners who laid out and had charge of the sale of lots in Prescott. The others were Van C. Smith and Robert W. Groom, the latter a surveyor. During all of the intervening years the Judge's interest in this now thriving city and important business center never wavered, and he is entitled, for more than one reason, to a place of honor in its chronicles. Judge Hezekiah Brooks was born September 7, 1825, near Elyria, Ohio, and completed his education in the high school of that place. He continued to give his energy to farming until 1850, when the gold excitement in California called him to the west. Having made the long trip by the way of the Isthmus of Panama and San Francisco, he became one of the miners on the south fork of the American river, later going to Colma and Greenwood valley. From 1851 to 1854 he conducted a merchandising business at Colma, also being assistant postmaster of that place. Then he had charge of a store at Georgetown, Cal., and in 1854 went to Yreka, Cal., where he was in the employ of the local canal company for a period. Then he returned to merchandising and was deputy and then postmaster at Yreka. In 1861 he became a citizen of San Francisco, where he engaged in contracting for two or more years. In the fall of 1863 Judge Brooks came to Arizona overland from Los Angeles, and for several years engaged in prospecting and mining, also in ranching and cattle raising near here. In addition to these enterprises he conducted stores for some time, and made investments in various industries, aiding all local undertakings within his power, and ever striving to advance the welfare of this, his chosen community. In politics he was first a Whig, and subsequently a Republican. In Yreka, Cal., he was initiated in the Masonic order, and was a charter member, and at the time of his death, the oldest living member of Aztlan Lodge, No. 1, F. and A. M., of Prescott, also being a past master of the same. He was married to Mrs. Mary Smith Leib, a native of Lancaster, Pa. She came of an old and prominent Moravian family in the Keystone state. She died her Nov. 18, 1891. |
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