Name/Title
Obituary for Rev. Dr. Kendall BrooksDescription
From Eastport Sentinel, March 2, 1898, p. 6:
Obituary.
Rev. Dr. Kendall Brooks.
Rev. Dr. Kendall Brooks died in Alma, Mich., on Tuesday, Feb. 15. Few men, in any community, ever had more friends than Kendall Brooks in the communities where he lived, and we can well understand why it was that on the day he died the flags in Alma were at half mast and the entire city displayed emblems of mourning. He was born in Roxbury, Mass., Sept. 3, 1821. He was graduated at Brown University in 1841. For two years he taught mathematics in Columbian College, Washington. With the Christian ministry in view he then went to Newton Theological Institution and was graduated in 1845. He at once became pastor of the Baptist church in Eastport, in this state. Not only was he abundant in labors as pastor of the church, but during most of the time he spent in Eastport he was chairman of the school committee, and for three years he was a member of the state board of education. In 1853 he was called to Waterville as professor mathematics and national philosophy in Waterville College, now Colby University. But wishing to return to the pastorate he became pastor of the Baptist church in Fitchburg, Mass, in 1855. The ten years he spent in Fitchburg were years of great usefulness. Here also he was a member of the school committee, and when he resigned his pastorate in 1865 the children of the town gave him a silver service. It was said of him that he could call every scholar in the town by name. Dr. Brooks was editor of the National Baptist from 1865 to 1868. From 1868 to 1887 he was president of Kalamazoo College. Since that time he has been professor mathematics in Alma College. In both of these institutions Dr. Brooks was greatly beloved by his students over whom he had a remarkable personal influence. A good man and one whose life has been an inspiration to many has gone to his reward. His wife was Cynthia M. Page of Fitchburg, Mass. Their only son, Kendall Page Brooks, is principal of the High School in Alma. —[Zion Advocate.