Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Albert Brookes

24^th WISCONSIN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer, 1862 Camp Sigel Milwaukee, WI
Mustered In: 8/15/ to 8/21/1862 Camp Sigel Milwaukee, WI
Mustered Out: 6/10/1865 Nashville, TN

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

The 24^th, also known as the "Milwaukee Regiment" was a three year Federal infantry unit. Its period of service was within the western theater of the American Civil War (ACW).

Leaving Wisconsin on 9/5/1862 the 24^th moved to Louisville, KY. It saw its first action at Perryville (10/8) before moving on to Stone's River, TN (12/31/1862 - 1/3/1863).  At the latter place it lost one hundred seventy five killed, wounded and taken prisoner. Winter quarters at Murfreesboro followed.

First heavy action for the 24^th during 1863 was at Chickamauga, GA (9/18 - 20). That battle cost the regiment one hundred five killed, wounded and missing.

At the battle of Chattanooga, TN (8/21) the regiment stormed enemy positions on Missionary Ridge and helped carry that formidable position. The 24^th next assisted in breaking the Rebel siege of Knoxville (11/17 - 12/4/1863). The remainder of the year was spent performing guard duties.

During 1864 the 24^th joined the Union campaign to capture Atlanta, GA. This period found it in action at Resaca (5/13 - 15), Adairsville (5/17) and Dallas (5/26 - 6/1). The unit also took part in operations around Kennesaw Mountain (6/27) and Peachtree Creek (7/20).

The fall months of '64 found the 24^th in Tennessee. It fought hard during the Rebel defeat at Franklin (11/30). The combat year was capped at Nashville (12/15 - 16).

For the 24^th, the winter of 1864/'65 was spent in Huntsville, AL. The unit then returned to Nashville, TN for final muster on 6/10/65.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  8; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  3; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 103**; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 87.

**The 24^th was one of a scant few Union regiments that lost more men in combat than it did to accidents and disease.

SOLDIER:
Residence: Lake, WI   Age: 19.11 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/15/1862   Rank:  Pvt. 
Mustered In: 8/15/1862
Mustered Out: 6/10/1865 Nashville, TN
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

Albert Marsden Brookes was born 9/2/1842. The place of his birth was Galena Jo Daviess County, IL.

Parenting Albert were Samuel Marsden Brookes (b. 3/8/1816 England - d. 1/31/1892 Colma San Mateo County, CA) and Julia Beldon (nee Jones b. 1825 Hadley Hampshire County, MA - d. 1/11/1898 Colma San Mateo County, CA) Brookes. Samuel and Julia married on 9/27/1842 in Milwaukee, WI.

Samuel was an artistic painter known for his portrait, landscape and genre scenes as well as miniatures. Many reportedly consider him one of the finest American still life specialists of the nineteenth century. His paintings were/are marked by meticulous realism and infinite detail. 

After moving to the west coast during the early 1860s, Samuel founded the San Francisco Art Association. He was also a member of that city's Bohemian Club.

As best as can be determined Samuel and Julia produced nine children. Albert was the eldest of the nine. His younger siblings were Henry Ernest Brookes (b. 12/12/1845 WI), Elizabeth "Eliza" Brookes (b. 1848), Clara Julia Brookes (b. 6/15/1850 WI), Samuel Edwin Brookes (b. 8/30/1853 WI), Lucy Brookes (b. 1856), Edwin "Edward" Landseer  Brookes (b.8/11/1859 WI), Mary Shepherd Brookes (b.8/3/ 1864 San Francisco, CA) and Emma Brookes (b.8/3/ 1864 San Francisco, CA).

In August, 1862 Albert Enlisted in the U.S. Army. Private Brookes' unit was the 24th Wisconsin Infantry. Without accessing his military service records all that can be said about his period of enlistment is that he survived the rigors of war and returned to civilian life.

Although it is not documented, it can be surmised that Albert left his parents' home when he joined the military and returned there when his enlistment ended.   If that was the case, when Samuel moved his family from Wisconsin to San Francisco, CA Albert moved with them.

The U.S. Census for 1870 found Albert residing in San Francisco, CA with his parents and siblings. His occupation at that time was noted as post office clerk.

Albert married in 1873. His bride was Laura H. Hannath. Laura had been born ca. 1845 in Canada. She had immigrated to America with her parents in 1850. How, when and where she and Albert had met are unknowns. Another unknown is, exactly, when the couple wed. 

During their years together Albert and Laura produced one child.  Daughter Elise "Eliza" Brookes was born during December, 1875 in either California or Nevada. While the California connection is understandable, no available documental evidence points to the Brookes family being in Nevada.

By 1880 Albert and Laura had quitted California in favor of the Puget Sound region of Washington Territory (WT). What had drawn the family northward and exactly when they arrived here are more unknowns.

In '80, residing in Seattle King County, WT Albert noted his occupation as "wholesale dealer.” In '83 it was "clerk."

As of 1887 the Brookes threesome had departed Seattle and moved eastward across Lake Washington to the King County community of Black Diamond. There, again, Albert noted his occupation as "clerk."

 It is not clear how long the Brookes family remained in Black Diamond.  A census tally for 1889 notes only that the family was residing in King County.

At the dawn of the twentieth (20^th) century the U.S. Census noted the family post office address as once again being Seattle. As of that date Albert was noted as being employed as a bank cashier.

By 1910 Albert's job had morphed from bank clerk to manager of a branch of Portland, OR’s Pacific Coast Biscuit Company. Pacific Coast was a candy manufacturing and baking company that, later, became part of the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) family. It appears Albert may have remained with this organization until he died.

Albert M. Brookes died in his Seattle King County, WA home - 904 1^st Avenue West (Queen Anne Hill) - on 8/6/1924. Cause of death was noted as myocarditis (heart disease) accompanied by senility. Both had gradually taken their toll on the old soldier. At passing he was eighty one, eleven months and four days of age.

Albert's earthly remains were cremated. They were then laid to rest in Seattle’s Mt. Pleasant Cemetery located on that city’s Queen Anne Hill.

Dropping back a bit, on 12/15/1908 former Private Brookes had applied for and been granted a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. The pension was granted, but without accessing his pension files the nature of his monthly stipend remain unknown.

Not long after her husband's death, Laura - on 9/23/1924 - petitioned the U.S. Government pension department to continue receiving at least a portion of her late husband's stipend. That petition was granted but, again, without accessing pension files the monetary aspects of her monthly payment remain unknown.

Laura Hannah Brookes remained in Seattle for the remainder of her life. She died in October, 1932. She, too, was/is buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 *The surname also appears as Brooks.

POSTED: 5/20/23
UPDATED:

Buried at Mt Pleasant Cemetery AKA Free Methodist & Seattle IOOF