Truman Brooks, Sr.

May have served for a time as mayor of Paso Robles, CA. Listed in an Oct. 1903 newspaper http://is.gd/TnIT2S as giving a welcoming speech to an Order of Odd Fellows convention in Paso Robles as "Mayor Truman Brooks" this would be consistent with his having been on the city board of trustees and as City Treasurer as reported below. But possibly, it could be a title within the Odd Fellows, or he could have been acting mayor.

http://ia600404.us.archive.org/26/items/historyofstateof00guin/hist...

TRUMAN BROOKS.

In disposing of the chances that have come his way, Truman Brooks, born in Sutter county, [Cali]. and at present manager and sole proprietor of the Paso Robles Bottling Company, has evinced both discretion and sound business judgment, and has won an enviable place among the upbuilders of his locality. An ineffectual attempt to represent the family in California in 1849 was made by the paternal grandfather Brooks, who. in his attempt to brave the dangers of the plains, succumbed to deprivations and exposure. More successful was his son, J. C. [Julius Ceasar] Brooks, a native farmer of Iowa, near Fort Madison, who came across in 1854, settling at Bidwell's Bar, among the placer mines. Here he mined a little and ran a dairy, afterward re- moving to Sutter county, later to Shasta county, and eventually to Colusa county, from where he removed to his present home in Lompoc, where he has bought land and is engaged in chicken raising and the fruit industry. His wife. Miriam [aka Marium] (Haskell) Brooks, was born in Iowa, and is the mother of four sons and two daughters, of whom Truman is the fourth.

After finishing his education in the public schools, Truman Brooks attended Pierce's Christian College, at College City, Colusa county, and afterward engaged in ranching and purchasing mules until his twenty-third year.

Later on he rented a farm four years, then turned his attention to carpentering, and in time engaging in the grocery business in Fresno. At Templeton he purchased forty acres of land, which was soon after sold. and he then came to Paso Robles and engaged in the building business for a few years. With the savings of his industry he was enabled to purchase a half interest in the Paso Robles Bottling Company, and in 1898, when the business was closed out by the sheriff, Mr. Brooks became the sole purchaser. Although he did not have the money to pay for the other half interest, his credit was such that a bank in the town advanced the money, and he succeeded in paying up every cent at the end of two years. He has succeeded in building up a fine business, which brings in large yearly returns and shows no diminution. In addition, he handles the only ice business in the city, and is agent for the Union Ice Company of San Francisco. In connection with his other interests he has a winery, and his commodities are known all over this part of the state. He ships a considerable amount of the justly popular mineral water to the surrounding towns, and runs a team with his goods across the mountains to Cambria and San Simeon, Cal. Last year he disposed of seven thousand gallons of the mineral water, and in connection with it manufactures all kinds of soda drinks, the whole plant being valued at $4,000.

In Fresno, Cal., Mr. Brooks married Phoebe Speegle, a native of Castroville, Cal., and daughter of A. Jackson Speegle, a native of New England. Mr. Speegle came [to] San Miguel when he was a boy, having crossed the plains with a party from the Missouri river, and since then has cared entirely for himself. In fact, he has looked out for himself since lie was four teen years of age. and deserves a great deal of credit for having so well managed his chances. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, Truman, Jr., and Vivian Loraine, both of whom are living at home. Mr. Brooks Democrat in politics, has been city trustee and treasurer for two terms, and is now chairman of the board. He is a member and treasurer of the fire department. Fraternally [he is] associated with the Independent Order [Odd] Fellows, the Rebekahs and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

=========================================

http://www.haskellfamilyhistory.com/database8/2/21915.html

Truman BROOKS

   Born: June 1861, Sutter,Sutter,California,USA

Died: 1941, San Luis Obispo,San Luis Obispo,California,USA at age 80