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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
MRS. CATHERINE BROOKS, nee Mass, a resident of Union Township, was born in Baltimore, Md., in December, 1827. She was left an orphan at a very early age and was adopted and raised by Mr. George Ensor until she reached the age of eighteen years, when she left his home and went to work for herself, receiving $2.50 per month. Aug. 26, 1849, she was married to Thomas L. Brooks, a native of Baltimore, who was born April 25, 1827. They remained in that city until the year 1851, then removed to Iowa and settled in Union Township, where he entered 300 acres of land and began its improvement, breaking the sod with ox-teams and submitting to all the privations and inconveniences of that early day. Here they continued to reside until 1856, when they sold out and removed to Kansas, but not liking that country, soon returned to Iowa, purchasing another farm, and subsequently repurchased a small portion of the land they had previously sold. Seven children were born to them: William K., born April 18, 1851, married Miss Anna Wheeler, and lives in this township; Charles T., born Dec. 29, 1852, married Miss Iowa Biggs, March 20, 1876, her death taking place July 22 of the same year; Sarah D., born Jan. 2, 1855, is the wife of James F. Sheeley, of Sherman, Poweshiek County, this State; Matilda A., born Dec. 16, 1856, is the wife of Homer N. Kirk, residing in Norton County, Kan.; Frances P., born July 9, 1859, is the wife of J. L. Foster, of this township; Mary A., born Dec. 31, 1861, is the wife of Greeley Caster, of Union Township; Clara W., born Sept. 8, 1865, is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, accompanied by their daughter Clara, attended the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. Mr. Brooks was a Democrat of the Jacksonian school, unwavering in his support of that party and its principles, and one of the leading spirits of that political organization in this county. He departed this life Nov. 4, 1884, at the age of fifty-seven years. The home farm now consists of 342 acres of as fertile land as can be found in the county. It has been brought to a high state of cultivation, and the buildings and other improvements are not excelled in that part of the county.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy