This is his obituary from The Chatfield News-Democrat dated Thursday, January 19, 1922. "W.R. Brooks passed away at his home in this city at 1:00 o'clock Sunday morning. He had been in feeble health for several years, but the primary cause of this death was dropsy. He was 85 years old. Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian Church at 2:30 Monday afternoon, Rev. Gibb officiating and the body accompanied by his sons, Charles, of Kasson, and Fred, of Duluth, was taken to his old home at Dodge Center, Friday morning, for burial. William Brooks was born in the state of Maine on Dec. 12th, 1836 and came to Minnesota in 1855, settling on a farm six miles west of Chatfield. He enlisted in C. H., 6th Minn Vol. Inft. in the fall of 1862 and served until the close of the Civil War. Returning to Chatfield, he continued to reside on a farm until 1871 when he moved his family to Dodge county. Eleven years later, in 1882, he returned to Chatfield and has since resided here. Mr. Brooks was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a constant attendant until he was prevented by failing health. He was also a member of the E. L. Kenney Post, G.A.R. He leaves to mourn his loss an aged wife, three sons and one daughter; Charles Brooks of Kasson, Willard, of Obden Utah, Fred, of Duluth and Mrs. Mildred McFadden, of San Francisco.
