Brooks, Austin

Born: 1825-XX-XX Illinois

Died: 1870-09-20 Quincy, Illinois

Austin Brooks learned to be a printer from his father, Samuel S. Brooks and eventually assumed the editorship of the Quincy Times (later Quincy Whig). In partnership with Finney D. Preston, he also purchased the newspaper Wabash Democrat in 1846, although the paper failed soon thereafter. In 1853, he received appointment as postmaster for Quincy. He remained in this position until President James Buchanan removed him for political reasons in the summer of 1858. In 1858, he won election to the Illinois Senate, representing Adams County, and served until 1862. In 1860, he was living in Quincy and owned $5,000 in real estate, with $2,500 in personal property.

The History of Adams County, Illinois (Chicago: Murray, Williamson & Phelps, 1879), 421, 433; The Quincy Whig (IL), 21 September 1870, 2:1; Combined History of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash Counties, Illinois (Philadelphia: J. L. McDonough, 1883), 137; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Ward 1, Quincy, Adams County, IL, 5; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853), 516*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1855 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1855), *343; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1857 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1857), *343; Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 23 July 1858, 3:1; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1859 (Washington, DC: William A. Harris, 1859), 70*.