California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 JUDGE THORNBERRY BROOKS. Occupying a most picturesque and beautiful loca- tion seven miles north of Hanford. in the Kings river district, apart from the distracting influ- ences of city life, stands the cozy home of Judge T. Brooks, who is one of the prominent pioneer ranchers of Kings county. His landed possessions comprise three hundred and twenty acres in Kings county, besides three hundred and twenty acres in Fresno county. He was born December 22, 1822, in Jackson county, Ga., a son of Isaac and Genesee (Fowler) Brooks, na- tives of Georgia and South Carolina, respectively. In 1833 the family removed to a farm near Columbus, Ga., and there the son passed his years until reaching young manhood. He then learned the butcher business, and later the carpenter's trade, following this until 1850. Feb- ruary 11 of that year he started for California, embarking at New Orleans with six hundred other passengers, and landing at San Francisco in the following April. After looking about the country for three weeks he became interested in the mines around Sonora, and for five years thereafter was engaged in mining with varying , degrees of success. In 1852, in addition to look- ing after his claims, for two years he operated a sawmill on Hangtown creek, one of the oldest mills in the state, in which he had bought an interest. In 1855 he rented land on the Sacra- mento river, in Sacramento county, and engaged in ranching and also raised vegetables to some extent, but this in time became unprofitable on account of the high rents demanded, and in 1866 he came to Kings river, settling on what was thought to be government land, but after five years of hard labor spent in improving the tract a Spanish grant was floated over him and he was obliged to seek other quarters, being allowed only such improvements as were portable. Not discouraged by this experience, however, he crossed over to the other side of the river and purchased one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he established his home and began life anew as a stock-raiser. This was in the days before the adoption of the fence law, which was passed in 1873, and as a consequence Mr. Brooks lost one hundred head of horses, never being able to trace them in any way. January 9, 1855, near what is now Placerville, Cal., Mr. Brooks was married to Frances A. Foster, who was born in Alabama. Her father. John C. Foster, came to California in 1849, and Mrs. Brooks came to the state in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks became the parents of eight chil- dren, as follows : Susan A., the widow of Jefferson Hames ; Charles H., who assists his father with the duties on the ranch ; Georgia, a teacher in the schools of Kings county ; Edward L., also a rancher; Mary A., the wife of J. N. Bowhay ; Amos B., William A. and Wesley W. Although well advanced- in years, Mr. Brooks is hale and hearty, with every evidence of many years to his credit in which to enjoy his present happy surroundings. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, but always has refused official positions.