Herbert Delano Brooks - Who Will Remember Me?

      I did not know Herbert well.   I recall meeting him occasionally when I was growing up.  He was like some mystical hero from another land. Wearing a uniform and a grin.  A big brother to my mother and her next oldest sibling.  Visiting with my mother, Shirley, she told me that Herbert seemed to always get blamed for things. I imagine that is what happens when you are right in the middle of nine kids!

     Herbert Delano Brooks was in born 1933 on Halloween day.  He was named after Presidents, HERBERT W. Hoover and Franklin DELANO Roosevelt.  Imagine that! To me this says that his family loved their county and admired it's leaders. 

     Herb was the 7th son of Carl McKinley Brooks and Eva Marie Gragg. He was 5'6 inches tall, brown hair and blue eyes and weighed 130 lbs. This is about the average height of all his brothers.

 
     Because I was just an acquaintance niece with Herb and Ruby I  put together a profile based on family information and items that were passed down to his sister. I think that I have captured a small vision who "Herbie" Brooks is. 

    He was very proud of his military service and was an honored veteran.  Herb enlisted in the Army Air Forces for 4 years on 21 October 1952.  He turned 21 years old the next week.  When it comes to military service it seems there is always a war somewhere.  Fortunately for Herb his service was at the end of WWII and at the beginning of the Korean War so he did not see battle. 


His civilian employment is listed as a sheet metal worker and it appears that he received his training as an  aircraft mechanic in Amarillo, Texas.  This explains why his personal items contained a model Air Force plane.

            
He received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal Clasp, and Unit Citation.. Herb spent 1 year and 4 months in foreign service. I believe in France.  I am awaiting copies of his military records to verify this. He was honorably discharged the 4th of August 1956 at Manhattan Beach AF Station Brooklyn New York. 




Except for his time spent in the military from 1951 to 1954 he called the Quenemo-Ottawa, Kansas area his home.


Herb was a loyal and faithful husband. On November 24, 1959 Herb married  a young widow, Ruby May Williams-Keim from Greely Kansas.  She was 21 and he was 26.  Although they had a long and loving marriage Herb and Ruby had no children of their own.  It appears that Herb and Ruby's marriage was strong enough to bare many hardships.  Ruby's first husband died of suicide, which, I am sure, was a heavy sorrow for her, also their inability to have children could not have been easy.  Through it all they stuck together and appeared to live happily for 39 years.  Ruby passed away in December of 1998 leaving Herb a widower for  eleven years.

Ruby May William-Brooks 1938-1998

Herb & Ruby Brooks

    


     Herb was faithful.  Among his belongings were three bibles. The first bible was copyrighted 1894, it is unknown where this bible came from. It is very frail with many verses are underlined.  The second bible has written inside the cover, "Presented to Herbert Brooks from Carl Brooks June 27, 1949."  Carl was his father.  Herb was 17 years old at the time.  The third bible was the most modern and had verses underlined and highlighted throughout.  His faith in God and Jesus Christ was very apparent.  He was a member of the Osage Baptist Church and participated in their Sunday services and social activities. A certificate he possessed states that he,  "Has publicly confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and has been received into full fellowship." Included between the pages of his bible were the words to this song:

"Life is a few days of trouble

A wise man once said

But I'll not complain

for I'm sheltered, I'm clothed, I'm fed

But many's the trial

My wants and my dream put me through

And the only real peace I have Dear Lord, is in You

The higher I've soared in my dreams

The harder I fall 

and sometimes I've wondered 

If dreams are worth dreamin' at all

But my disappointments

Can't keep me blinded and blue

Now when I'm reminded

At sweet peace I have, Lord, in You"

I believe that much of my own faith was passed down through DNA of ancestors like Herb.  As a child we were never very active in any one church but there was always a great loving and longing for God. I am thankful to share that trait with those that have passed before me. 

"Herbie" loved being Irish. According to the DNA of his sister, Herb had Irish genes, but not as much as he probably thought. Mom shows as 11% Irish & Scottish, and 79% English ethnicity.  Sibling DNA would be very similar.  Maybe Herb was more Irish and less English than mom.  No matter.  He loved it and celebrated his heritage wholeheartedly as shown in this picture.  

Herb enjoyed travel and the outdoors. Having traveled when he was in the military probably added to his sense of wonder and adventure. Seeing and learning about new things was a theme throughout his life.  Herb loved the outdoors, nature and the places he visited. He had many wonderful pictures of scenery and sunsets.  He owned this camper and van and was very proud of them.  I imagine it got lots of use.  

Lake Erie

On one of the trips Herb took was to Lake Erie.  He had several pictures of the Lake and scenery.  Little did he know that about 180 years earlier his 4th great grandfather John Brooks died on Lake Erie as the captain and owner of a schooner.  He was only 28 years old. (John Brooks blog post.)

Another one of Herb's enjoyments was fishing.  Here is a trip he documented on a beautiful Kansas day. I remember a lot of times like these as a kid. Kansas has great fishing! Even when it floods, or maybe, especially when it floods!

Herb loved his county. 
These photos were taken when he attended a local parade in the year 2000. You get a sense of his love and community pride in the subject of each snapshot. 

It has been a rewarding experience to write about Uncle Herb and his wife.  It always amazes me what you can learn when you stop, listen and look closely. A picture of his struggles, his triumphs, and his faith appears.  I hope that now you feel as I do.   Who will remember the legacy of Herbert Delano Brooks?  I will!  And I hope you do too!

Keele Cousins

Chester & Lester Keele                                          William Chester Latimer & Edward Keele

      It is always fun to meet new cousins in person or online, growing our family tree. Some are found through DNA, some through research websites, others through social media. I have met dozens of people through family history and now enjoy some rich and rewarding relationships.  We have met many Keeles and Greenhalghs through church membership in our area. Most are distant cousins of four or five generations and some are many miles away, but we still have that common bond.
    This last year I met Edward Keele while working at the Temple.  I was instantly intrigued.  My husband mother's maiden name is Keele.  I mentioned this to Edward and to Bill at different times.  They both looked at me almost embarrassed while rolling their eyes.  I am sure that they were thinking that I am that, "crazy genealogy lady." After a few weeks I decided it was time to figure out exactly how they might be related. When Edward gave me his grandfather's name it immediately sounded familiar but needed further investigation to verify my instinct. I quickly discovered that Edward and Bill's grandfathers Chester and Lester Keele were brothers!  A lot closer than I imagined.  Bill and Edward are second cousins!  Now our greetings are filled with hello cousins, fist bumps, stories, and finding similarities within our families.  Edward is tall, as is Bill. His sons are also tall and were very active in sports as were our sons. I think they even kind of look a like. I gifted the above picture of Chester and Lester to Edward.  He was thrilled.  He had never seen it before.  I believe this is a sampling of the way it will be in eternity. We will greet all those family members that have lived before us with open arms and joy. 
    


Common Ancestor:  Thomas Henry Keele father of 

• Chester Reynald Keele father of 
• Velva Jean Keele mother of 
• William Chester Latimer 
• 
  
• Lester Englestead Keele brother of 
• Chester Reynald Keele and father of 
• Donald Henry Keele father of 
• Edward Keele

Although this blog post goes against my previous ideal of writing about deceased persons only. It shares names only with no other personal details, with their permission. I hope you enjoy!  Teri

The Raccoon

Brenda, Teri and Cousin Denny with pet raccoon about 1961

There are some experiences in life that are so memorable that I wish I could take my children and grandchildren back in time to share with them.  Chasing fireflies is one, having a pet raccoon is another.  I am always telling my family about my pet raccoon but I am not sure they really believed me.  



     Writing and sharing this  picture can scarcely capture the fun of having that little guy sleeping on my lap.

     At this time we lived on a farm in Williamsburg, Kansas.  I would have been about five or six years old and in the first grade. I remember wearing those brown round toed shoes on the first day of school. The big tractor tire that we are sitting on was a sandbox that I used to spend hours in. My younger sister Brenda, on the left is about three years old with my cousin Denny on the right. My pet raccoon is stretched out sleeping on my lap. 
     I used to carry my baby raccoon around nestled in a towel in the bottom of a small brown basket with a wooden handle.  I fed him from a bottle just like a baby. Sometimes he would help hold onto it. As he grew he would wander all over the house hiding anything that was shiny, when you couldn't find something the first place you looked was in his "nest."  I was fascinated by his little black hands holding his food, just like people, and rolling it around while dunking it in water.  Most pets like dogs and cats just eat from the bowl.  Not raccoons, they pick it up.
      I think taking care of him brought out the mothering instinct in me. I loved this little guy. As he got older he made lots mischief getting into things. I am also sure my mom did not enjoy this wild critter raiding her house. The sad day for me came when we had to let him go back into the wild because he got mean.  One day he bit my Dad, which did not go over well. I think that I am glad he never bit me! 

     So you have to ask, what does all of this have to do with family history? Apparently I wasn't the first one in the family fascinated by these little bandits.  Here is a photo of my Grandmother (the little girl on the left),  and my Great Grandmother and her sister.  It's not the best picture but you can clearly see a raccoon in front of them drinking from a bottle. I love their cloche hats typical of the 1920's!  

     Baby raccoons must be easy to come by in Kansas.  As a child having a raccoon for a pet brings back warm memories and connects me to my grandmothers that loved this critter just like me. 

Marie Bell Hayden/Bien - great grandmother
Loene Loena Smith/Hayes - grandmother
James Dewayne Hayes & Shirley Brooks parents of
Teri, Brenda and James Hayes

John and David Long - Father and Son

     I love this family!  As I was doing their research I was impressed with the unity and closeness that I found. Often times I would find several families and multiple generations living in the same home. When one family would move the others would soon follow. Whether to escape the hardships of drought or establish new homesteads on the plains, they were together. Many times to understand why people do something we need to learn the events that occurred during their lifetime. This requires study and investigation. This was the case with the David Long family. They were married and their first child was born in Kansas. Why then were the following children born in Iowa? By 1880 the family has returned to Kansas. This occurred during an era of difficult travel right before the civil war.  The trip would have been made by train, boat and wagon. Kansas was still a territory and did not become a state until 1861.  Why would they leave for so many years and then come back?   I found one answer to that question in a second hand store when I came upon this neat old text book.  It is copyrighted in 1914 and is over one hundred years old, the title drew me right in. 

From History of Kansas reader:

*The drought -- "It began in June 1859 for period of more than sixteen months. The ground became so dry that it broke open in great cracks, wells and spring went dry. . . crops were a total failure." --- "They could fight ruffians, but they could not fight starvation."--- "After a year they began to give up and go back east. No fewer than 30,000 settlers abandoned their claims and left Kansas." 

     The Long family was among those that left and return to Iowa. Now I understood one of the reasons for their move.  The fact that they were teamsters may have facilitated their decision.  Their experience with traveling great lengths and hauling goods from place to place would have been a great asset. They owned or had access to multiple wagons.  Here is a wonderful photo of a member of the Long family with his wagon. 

     The story of the Long family is a story of unity, hope for the future and hard work. I am sure with so many people in such close quarters there were times of difficulty, and disagreements, that is normal.  The wonderful thing is we share their DNA and have access to their spirit, their strength and love that can carry us through whatever lies ahead.

Long Family Teamster

• John Long 1792-1887 married Dorothea Bastedo parents of 
• David Long 1832-1924 m Mary Jane Walker parents of
• Getty (Gertrude) Long 1864-1930 m Daniel Marion Gragg parents of
• Eva Marie Gragg 1896-1964 m Carl McKinnley Brooks Parents of
• Shirley Alene Brooks/Miller 

     There is so much to learn from our ancestors and I have a lot of information on the Long/Gragg family that I will share in future posts.  But for now I promised myself I would keep these short. Great reading for a Sunday or FHE.  So sign up for those email updates!

 *A History of Kansas - by Anna E. Arnold Author of Civics and Citizenship, Published by the State of Kansas 1920, Topeka

William Greenhalgh 1861-1943

William Greenhalgh was born on 18 March 1861, in Whalley, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom. His mother Mary Moorcroft was 34 years old when William was born. His father was Thomas Greenhalgh and was 40. William was the seventh child of ten children. 

From the autobiography of his sister, Mary Greenhalgh Mace we read, "In April 29, 1865, our family of nine children with Father and Mother, left Liverpool for America on a sailing vessel called the Belle Wood. This ship was in the charge of Captain Freeman, a large red-headed Yankee, who said he had crossed the ocean six times. Our trip on the ocean lasted five weeks and two days. The captain said it was the nicest trip he had ever taken across the Atlantic Ocean."

"We landed at Castle Gardens, New York, June 2, 1865, and found the country in deep mourning over the tragic death of Abraham Lincoln. Everywhere we saw soldiers who were returning home from the Civil War. I remember one troop carrying what remained of a huge American Flag. The center had been taken out by a cannon ball, and soldiers were carrying it down the street by its corners. They looked ragged, tired and sick as they dragged themselves down the street to their quarters amid the shout of cheers and martial music." What a sight this must have been for 4 year old William after traveling so far on a difficult journey."

"My baby brother, (Francis Moorecroft Greenhalgh) who had been sick on voyage, died one month after we landed in New York and was buried in the Green Wood Cemetery."

"Our family stayed in New York City until the middle of September, where my sister Sarah and I obtained work in a silk factory. We were dissatisfied here because Father could not find work and we did not like living in a city either, but we were obliged to stay until we could do better. In a short time we heard of a manufacturing town called Co hoes, ("Spindle City" )which was eleven miles from Albany, so we moved there. Here we obtained a comfortable house in which to live, and secured work for us all. . ." We lived here until July 10th or 12th, 1866, when Father decided to move west to Utah."

Thomas and his family were called to the Cotton Mission, 1867

"We arrived in the little town of Washington, Utah on November 7, 1867," recalled his daughter Mary Ann. "Here we found a factory operating Mendenhall hand looms. Father now started to set up power looms immediately, and I began to weave cloth as soon as he got the first loom set up." These were the first power looms in the state of Utah.

William Marries Sarah Emily Potter, 1892

William Greenhalgh married Sarah Emily Potter from Kanab, Utah
2 November 1892. She was just fourteen years of age and he was thirty one.

Sarah's mother had passed away in December of 1891 after the birth of her ninth baby. "It was a sad thing for this Potter family of small children to have their mother taken from them. After this Elijah was never satisfied to stay in one place for long. He never remarried. . . Elijah kept the boys with him as they traveled around from place to place. " *

Keele Family Move, 1938

During the Great Depression in about 1938 the family of Chester R. Keele and Elizabeth Ruth Greenhalgh Keele moved to Twisp, Washington. They probably moved to find employment and join Elizabeth’s sister Sarah Melissa Workman that moved to the Wenatchee sometime before 1930.

It appears that William arrived in Wenatchee Washington only eighteen months before his death in June 1941. This may be one reason that most family members did not know of his gravesite. He lived with his daughter Elizabeth Greenhalgh Keele on Springwater Avenue.  William died when he was 81 years old in Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington and is buried at the Wenatchee City Cemetery. Please share his story so that he will not be forgotten!

William Greenhalgh saw a lot of changes in his lifetime, from a small boy born in England traveling with his family across the Atlantic, to a covered wagon train crossing the mountains to Utah. He may have saw the passing of his baby brother. His family settled in Southern Utah as pioneers. They established and worked in textile mills and at farming.

He had married a girl young enough to be his daughter and began his own family. He toiled on his farm raising children through dust bowl and depression through two world wars and the invention of phones, electricity and automobiles. Three of his children and his wife died before his passing in 1943. We can only imagine the life he led and the things he experienced, his personality, his work ethic and his love as a father.

His life and legacy lives on in each descendant that remembers and looks forward to a glorious reunion in the eternities.

Children of William Greenhalgh and Sarah Emily Potter:

• Sarah Melissa Greenhalgh 1893–1948, married Lindsay Nathaniel Workman 
• Elizabeth Ruth Greenhalgh 1900-1971, married Chester Reynald 

             Parents of Cleo, Chester, Fern, Beth, Ramona, Velva Jean and Lawanna. 

• Mary Emily Greenhalgh married Dumont Arbuckle 
• Alice Fern Greenhalgh married Denzil Rex Gardner 
• Myrtle Nellie Greenhalgh married Keith Warby 
• William Wallace Greenhalgh married Anne Sevella Wilson 
• George Greenhalgh born and died in 1907
• Eva Greenhalgh born and died 1908
• Elijah John Greenhalgh married Fern Marie Lamb 
• Wanda Greenhalgh married Charles Ambrose Potter 

*From the bio of Elijah John Potter, Familysearch.org

Thomas Henry Keele Jr. 1857 - 1900

Thomas Henry Keele, son of Mary Angeline Jolley and Thomas Keele, was born 10 April 1857 in Palm Town, Utah County, Utah. This town is now known as Salem. He was the third child in his parent’s family of 12 children, 7 daughters and 5 sons. He was baptized in the church. He was not a pioneer across the plains, but a son of pioneers who helped to settle the barren lands of Utah. He was very much acquainted with the pioneer life and hardships and  trials which they must have endure.

He was a very dark handsome man, black hair and dark brown eyes. He is remembered for his wit, as he was a happy sort of man. He was very kind and gentle with his family.

He lived in Long Valley where he and Margaret Annie married 14 October 1875 in Mount Carmel, Kane County, Utah.

He loved his wife and family and their home was one of peace and contentment. Music played a large part in making his home so choice and inviting. The love and tenderness of these good parents made it a heaven on earth. Twenty lovely children graced this home, which was a two-room log house located on a bench south of Emery town about 3 to 4 miles. How did a family of 14 live in so small a house? Many ticks were filled with fresh clean straw and stacked on the beds and at night were pulled onto the floor where the children slept comfortably. When company came, another tick would be filled and there was always heart room and house room. The hot biscuits, fresh butter, cottage cheese, and honey were a common appetizer in this house. After Lester, the last son was born; Henry Thomas got smallpox and died. Before he got the disease he went out into the hills to get a big load of wood for his family as it was winter time and very cold. While he was doing this a voice said, “This is the last wood you will ever haul.” He took the wood to his wife and family who were living in town to escape smallpox and returned back to his farm where his oldest son, Thomas, was very ill with the disease. He took the disease and died without ever seeing his wife and family again. Margaret Annie now left with a large family to care for did many things to make a living, and all her children sought for jobs which would aid in feeding and clothing themselves.

She wove carpets and rugs. She was a beautiful seamstress and sewed clothing for the dead when needed. She was the switchboard operator for the telephone in Emery, which was housed in her front room. She did a lot of beautiful hand work and quilts and everything she did was perfection. She lived at Neola for a few years, then traveled but lived mostly with her daughter, Alice, in Ferron where she passed away 9 November 1939 and was buried in Emery Cemetery beside her choice companion, Henry Thomas Keele. 

Their children are:

 Mary Angeline (twin) 

Annie Margaret (twin) 

Thomas Henry

James Rasmus 

William Manning 

Chastie Luticia 

Susan Evelyn

Jennie Luella 

Sylvia Loraine 

Alice Marie 

Chester Raynal (sp)

     father of Velva Jean Keele

Lester Englestead

From the "The Jolley Family Book" published by Brigham Young University Press 1966, written by Bryant Manning Jolley and his committee.

Serving up Love - Loene Leona Smith/Hayes 1920-2006

      Many of us can relate yummy food to an environment of comfort and love.  Grandma Hayes made the most wonderful homemade noodles in a delicious chicken broth.  This was then ladled over big helpings of  buttery whipped potatoes.  It makes me hungry just thinking about it.  Then when I was so full I thought I'd burst they would ladled on more. 
     The potatoes were often served in this brown crockery bowl pictured above sitting on the dinner table. Enjoying this meal are  left to right is Grandma Loene Hayes, Uncle Leslie (standing), Grandpa James Wesley Hayes and Aunt Lola Hayes.  
     This yummy dish was served up with a heaping helping of laughter, love and belonging to a family that cared and enjoyed being together. 
     I am still amazed at the way Grandma made her noodles. She  mixed up the ingredients right on her cutting board. I am so blessed to have a photo of this precious memory. 

     While visiting my Dad in 2008 my Uncle Leslie graciously presented to me grandma's stoneware bowl. His generous gift nearly brought me to tears.  It is now one of my greatest treasures. 

Loene Leona Smith/ Hayes & James Wesley Hayes
parents of 
Nancy Armida Hayes
Lola
Leslie
James Dewayne Hayes
father of  
Teri, Brenda, James Leland, Bryan and Cris.

I hope that there are some that enjoy this story from the Hayes family.  My father was the last Hayes. He has three children, ten grandchildren and at last count twenty six ggrandchildren and two gggrandchildren.  A large legacy for sure but he was the last to bear the Hayes family name. 

Uncle Leslie had no children, Lola had four with the last name Cowdin and the youngest Aunt Nancy (not pictured) had one daughter with the surname Crosby.