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LETTER OF QUINCY ADAMS BROOKS

(Mr. Brooks was born of English ancestry in Washington County, Pa., May 22, 1826. His occupation was that of a lawyer. He started to Oregon from Pittsburg on April 2, 1851, crossing the plains, and arrived at Olympia, Oregon Territory, September 20th. He was Deputy Collector of Cus- toms for the Puget Sound District in 1851-2 ; was the first Pros- ecuting Attorney north of the Columbia river, being appointed by Gov. John P. Gaines ; was a member of the Convention at Monticello, Cowlitz county, which took the initial step towards creating the Territory of Washington, the enabling act being passed by Congress on March 2, 1853 ; was secretary to the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon and Washington, 1856-1860 ; was married to Miss Lizzie Cranston, Salem, Octo- ber 24, 1858; served as Assistant Quartermaster General of Oregon State troops in Modoc war of 1872-73 : was Col- lector of Customs of Puget Sound District, 1886-89; died at Port Townsend, Washington, July 6, 1908. This letter was pre- sented to the Oregon Historical Society by Mrs. Cornelia J. S. Greer, Dundee, Oregon, August 6, 1914. George H. Himes, Assistant Secretary.)

Milwaukie, Oregon Territory, November 7, 1851. Dear Ruter:

I suppose you were somewhat surprised at receiving such a miserable scroll of a letter as the one I sent you by the last mail. I sat down with the intention of writing letters to Mrs. Alden, Mr. Arthurs and yourself. I was disappointed as to the time the mail closed, and having commenced the other letters first, I was informed when I had nearly finished them, that the steamer was about to leave, and that I had only ten minutes to get my letters into the mail. I then determined at least to write you a note and enclose it in Mr. Arthur's letter ; but when I was nearly done I remembered that that would be in violation of Post Office Laws, and concluded to give it a sep- arate address. So much for my excuse. I presume you read my letter to Mr. Arthurs or to Mrs. Alden, and I shall not speak of any of the matters mentioned therein in this letter.