Preface to the Autobiography

A few days ago I wrote about printing the autobiography of my grandfather and giving it to my father. Here is the preface I wrote in it:

From 1957 to 1960, Samuel Brooks, Sr. undertook the task of typing recollections from his life. This summer (2008) I took it upon myself to type his 50-page autobiography into the computer to preserve his history electronically. Along the way numerous questions arose, which we answered with help from the Internet, the writings of Juanita Brooks (primarily The Life of George Brooks and Uncle Will Tells His Story), and the recollections of Blodwen Parry Olson (a relative of Sam’s). Perhaps the greatest source, however, was the information my father, Samuel Brooks, Jr., provided. This resulted in over 200 footnotes, dozens of photographs, and several appendices, which should facilitate the reader’s understanding and enjoyment in reading about my grandfather’s remarkable life.

As I typed Sam Sr.’s history and learned more about him, I found myself becoming endeared to this man with whom I never shared mortality (he died in 1962, five years before I was born). This unexpected acquaintance has been a wonderful journey. His story teaches me that life is hard yet wonderful, fleeting yet rich with experience. We must make good use of the precious little time we have in this life.

It is amazing how much the world changed while my grandfather was alive. He was born in primitive circumstances in 1886: a small Western town, horse and buggy transportation, everything handmade or worked for by the sweat of one’s brow, high infant mortality, and so forth. Nothing came easy or fast. There was no air conditioning, instant communication, cruise control, or 24-hour conveniences. By the time Sam passed away in 1962 the reality of his childhood would be obsolete. Now in 2008 things are even more changed, and more complicated.

Another interesting facet of his story came in the numerous words and phrases Sam uses that have gradually disappeared from our vocabulary. I found myself resorting to the dictionary endlessly, or asking my parents for insight and clarification.

I am grateful for the simple life my grandfather led. I am touched to learn of his involvement in the endearing intertwining of the Parry and Brooks families, which began when Edward Lloyd Parry took an orphaned pioneer, 11-year-old George Brooks, under his wing in 1856, and continued when Sam (George’s son) and Winnifred Parry married in 1919. I am humbled to know that Edward Lloyd Parry helped build three of our temples (St. George, Manti, and Salt Lake). I am awed that my ancestors were able to settle a very remote, dusty, hot St. George, and help it flourish. Even today, St. George is stamped with the Brooks legacy. We Brooks descendants come from pioneer stock, steeped deeply in the Mormon tradition and, more importantly, the Mormon faith. We are believers in the cause of Christ, and in so many examples throughout my grandfather’s history this theme is evident.

To clarify Sam Sr.’s story, my father and I added subtitles throughout his writing. In addition to his autobiography, we decided to include Sam Sr.’s journal entries from 1918 to 1920 and 1931 (beginning on page 56), where he writes in detail about his experiences during World War I and courting his wife Winnifred Parry. Enjoy this incredible trip.

- Tim Brooks, August 2008