A. M. BROOKES. – A portrait of Mr. Brookes is placed in this work. The present efficient postmaster of the “Queen City” (Seattle) was born in Galena, Illinois, September 2, 1843, and is the son of Samuel M. and Julia B. (Jones) Brookes. His father was one of the early pioneers of Milwaukee. When our subject was but an infant his parents moved to Chicago, and two years later moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where A.M. was educated at the Milwaukee Academy, and where he resided until August, 1862.
When, on the call by President Lincoln for three hundred thousand men, our subject was among the first in his city to respond; and in the above month and year he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry, under command of Colonel Larrabee, with whom he served for three years. His brigade was the first under the command of General Nelson, and afterwards under General Phil Sheridan until the latter’s removal to the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Brookes never missed a day from the regiment from the time of his enlistment, and during that time took part in many of the most desperate engagements that took place during the war. On the expiration of his term of service, Mr. Brookes came to California to join his parents, who had emigrated to the coast in 1863.
On his arrival in San Francisco, Mr. Brookes received an appointment in the postoffice of San Francisco, a position he held for the following twelve years, during which time he gained the knowledge of postal affairs that now enables him to make the most efficient and popular postmaster Seattle has ever had. In 1877 he resigned his position in the San Francisco postoffice and came to Seattle embarking in business with his brother-in-law, S. Baxter, and forming the well-known firm of S. Baxter & Co. In 1885 Mr. Brookes engaged in the mercantile business in Black Diamond, but in 1887 returned with his family to Seattle, and was elected president of the Northwestern Cracker Factory, a position he still holds, this however, being only one of the many enterprises that Mr. Brookes is engaged in in Seattle, as he has always taken a deep interest in anything that would tend to the upbuilding of his future home, and is looked upon as one of the most enterprising, progressive and liberal men in the Queen City.
Mr. Brookes was in 1887 elected department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. In April, 1889, he received from President Harrison his commission as postmaster of Seattle, a position in which he gives universal satisfaction. He is married and has a beautiful home, which is blessed by the presence of one child.