Upshur County, West Virginia          Biography of FRED E. BROOKS

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 425-426

FRED E. BROOKS represents a family of scientific attain-
ments, and is himself a scientist whose career has been
largely devoted to study and eradication of the insect
pests that ravage the fruit growing districts of West Vir-
ginia. Mr. Brooks began his scientific work on his own
orchard at French Creek, was formerly connected with the
State Experiment Station, and is now an entomologist in
the employ of the United States Department of Agricul-
ture.

Mr. Brooks, who keeps his home at French Creek, was
born there June 8, 1868, son of Adolphus and Josephine
(Phillips) Brooks. His parents were also born in the same
community, were educated in the public schools there, and
Adolphus Brooks was a teacher in the public schools, a
teacher of music, owned and operated a farm, was leader
of the choir of the Presbyterian Church and for forty
years superintendent of its Sunday School. He always
voted as a republican. Of his nine children seven are liv-
ing: C. L. Brooks, superintendent of buildings and grounds
at the State University; Abbie, wife of James McDonald;
Fred E.; Rev. Earl A., a minister of the Presbyterian
Church and a lecturer at Harvard University; A. B. Brooks,
chief game protector of West Virginia; Mabel, wife of
Dr. F. W. Vance, of Mannington; and Blanche, wife of
Dr. H. O. Van Tromp, of French Creek.

Fred E. Brooks was reared in French Creek, had a pub-
lic school and college education, and as a youth turned his
scientific inclinations to account in the observation of his
own orchard at French Creek. Later he was called to the
State Experiment Station as inspector of orchards and
nurseries, and for eight years remained there as associate
entomologist.   Since then lie has been in the Federal
service, making special investigations of insect pests of
deciduous fruit trees.  At the present time his work is
an investigation of the insects attacking the nut trees in
the Eastern States.

Mr. Brooks is well known in scientific circles, is a life
member of the West Virginia State Horticultural Society;
a member of the American Entomological Society and is
a Fellow in the American Association for the Advance-
ment of Science. He is a member of the Chamber of Com-
merce and Rotary Club at Buckhannon. Mr. Brooks is a
republican and is an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

He married Miss Grace Coburn, of French Creek. Three
children were born to their marriage: Maurice G., who is
a student in West Virginia University and during the war
was a member of the Student Army Training Corps; Eliza-
beth, deceased; and Dorothy, born in 1915.