Thomas Wallace Brooks     1898-1957

 

                                

Baby Thomas on right with sisters Helen              Thomas at about age 12, circa 1910.                   Thomas about 18, circa 1916, and off

on bottom, Eunice on left, and Frances                Notice the chain on his lapel which leads             to World War I in the US Navy.

at top.                                                               to a watch, story below.

Photos graciously shared by Ruth Ann Peake.

 

Born:   April 1, 1898 in Appleton, Wisconsin

Died:   September, 1979 in Indianapolis, Indiana

 

1st Spouse:     Marion, believed to have lived in Boston, Massachusetts.

 

2nd Spouse:   Dorothea Audrey (Dellinger) Brooks.  (See below)                     

Children:         Unnamed boy, died at birth.

Ruth Ann (Brooks) Peake  (First m. Larry Hillard and had 3 children: Cree Brooks, Christopher Thomas, and  Cameron Lawrence.  2nd husband, David Peake, did adopt them.) Now living in Michigan.

                        Helen Mae (Brooks) Bollinger  (m. Delbert Bollinger and is noted as having 2 boys, Brook Patrick and Brent Thomas.)  Lives in Danville, Indiana and Ocala, Florida.

 

Father’s name:          Frank John Brooks              

Mother’s name:         Mary Elizabeth (Briggs) Brooks

Siblings:         Eunice Ruth (Brooks) Wingrove

                        Frances Josephine (Brooks) Kowald

                        Helen Margaret (Brooks) Williams 

The family lived at 137 W. Washington Street when they were in Indianapolis, Indiana as per a letter dated September 4, 1937.

Ruth Ann Peake wrote to me about her mother and family.  “My mother, Dorothea Audrey Dellinger, was born in Clark County, Indiana on August l3, 1903.  They were married on January l, 1935.   Their first child was a boy, born dead on July 20, 1936.  I believe he would have been named Thomas Wallace too, but think he was unnamed.  I was born July 2, 1937. and Helen was born July 13, 1938.  After that they were finished.  I can understand that as they started so late, but my mother always told us that she had always wanted children and made my father agree to this before they were married.  We were all born in Indianapolis, as daddy had been transferred there by Kay Jewelers.  He was the credit manager in Indianapolis when we were born.

Ruth Ann Peake shared this photo with me.  It is of Ruth Ann and her husband David with Great Grandchildren Alexandria and DeAndre.

Ruth Ann also shares this, “I don't know if you knew or not, but my father and Aunt Helen were raised by Aunt Carrie and Uncle Clarence Ryan.  They never had children and Grandma Brooks had so many children to raise, and Aunt Helen was (as they said then) "sickly", so they sent the only boy and the little girl to live with their aunt and uncle in Troy, NY at a farm called "The Maples".  Daddy loved the life there, and I think they were spoiled.   Daddy and Aunt Helen always remained close.”

There is a story about how Thomas wanted to visit his father in Boston, this would have been around when he was 12 yo.  He didn’t have money for the train ticket and he was traveling alone.  Thomas must have talked a good talk since the conductor let him ride, but held onto Thomas’ watch until his father picked him up and paid the fare.

                       

                       

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