Justus Brooks

1860 Census:
Name: Justis Brooks
Residence: , Butte, California
Ward: Bidwell Township
Age: 18 years
Estimated Birth Year: 1842
Birthplace: Ohio
Gender: Male
Page: 68
Family Number: 738
Film Number: 803056
DGS Number: 4211315
Image Number: 00216
NARA Number: M653

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Like cousins, may have moved to Oregon:

Name: Justin Brooks
Residence: Willamette, Multnomah, Oregon
Birthdate: 1843
Birthplace: Michigan, United States
Relationship to Head: Self
Spouse's Name:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Father's Name:
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name:
Mother's Birthplace:
Race or Color (Expanded): White
Ethnicity (Standardized): American
Gender: Male
Martial Status: Married
Age (Expanded): 37 years
Occupation: Farmer
NARA Film Number: T9-1082
Page: 204
Page Character: D
Entry Number: 3403
Film number: 1255082

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25059411

Justus Brooks

Birth: Feb., 1842
Colon
St. Joseph County
Michigan, USA
Death: Jun. 4, 1934
Toledo
Lewis County
Washington, USA

Civil War: Company F, 5th California Infantry

Justus Brooks was the son of George Washington Brooks (1812, OH-1898, CA) and Eliza Ann Scholfield (1816, CT-1859, CA). He enlisted as a private at Oroville, Butte County, California, October 28, 1861, and was mustered into Company F, 5th California Infantry, November 3, 1861. Private Brooks was posted to New Mexico Territory, where he was mustered out at Mesilla November 30, 1864 (Orton, 700). After the war he returned to Butte County, California, where he married Syndora E. Logan December 25, 1871. He was still living in Butte County when his son (name unknown) was born September 29, 1872. His son died sometime before 1880 and Syndora died sometime before 1900. Justus was a farmer living outside Willamette, Oregon, in 1880. According to the 1890 Veterans Census, he was living in Lewis County, Washington, where he filed for a Civil War veteran's pension December 19, 1900, and received application No. 1,259,486 and certificate No. 1,029,362. The 1900, 1910, and 1920 U.S. Census finds him a widower living outside Toledo, Lewis County, Washington, where for many years he was Justice of the Peace. Justus contributed his war time experiences to the publication of "The Benevolent Raid of General Lew Wallace: How Mexico was Saved in 1864," compiled by Amhearst W. Barber and published in 1914. He was a long time member of Toledo's Phil Kearney Post, No. 7, Grand Army of the Republic.

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FUNERAL OF AGED VETERAN IS HELD
Toledo, June 6 – Funeral services were held here yesterday for Justus Brooks, one of southern Lewis County's most colorful and picturesque characters. He was honored with a military burial In Layton Prairie Cemetery [Lone Hill Cemetery]. Mr. Brooks was one of the last two remaining Civil War veterans who for many years belonged to Phil Kearney Grand Army post here. The lone survivor now is R. L. Calvin. Mr Brooks, whose exact age was uncertain, was born about 90 years ago in Michigan. His parents lost the family Bible and many other effects when a wagon overturned midstream while they were crossing the plains to California. He was, however, about 18 years of age when in 1861 he enlisted in the Union army at Oroville, Cal., and was assigned to Company F, 5th California infantry. His enlistment was for three years and he was mustered out at Mesilla, N. M., November 30, 1864. During his lifetime until he became so broken in health that he was no longer able to be about, Mr. Brooks was a familiar sight in Toledo where he long served as Justice of the Peace. He lived on a homestead he had taken many years ago two miles east of here. His wife died about 30 years ago. His only known survivor is a brother living in Portland.
(Source: Centralia [Washington] Daily Chronicle, June 6, 1934; 6:5)

Burial:
Lone Hill Cemetery
Toledo
Lewis County
Washington, USA