yesterday's tennessee

DR. B. M. BROOKS

Chapter XIV

Beauregard Martin Brook, born December 31, 1861 in Wayne County near the Tennessee river, attended grade school and completed his education at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, when he became a physician.

He married Cora Elizabeth Bruce, who was a school teacher and to this union were born four daughters, Mrs. Mae Homer born, November 19, 1895, Miss Nona Brooks, born January 19,1898 and died May 30,1941, Mrs. Blanche Turner, born July 9,1902 and Mrs. Flavins Alexander, born April 14, 1908, and three sons, Walter Kendrick, born Feb. 12, 1891 and died Feb. 13, 1974, Martin, born January 15, 1906 and Erskine, born December 25, 1892 and died Janluary 23, 1919.

Dr. Brooks moved to Decatur County in 1892 and lived near the Maness Store about seven miles south of Decaturville. He later moved to Old Center, where the family ran a boarding house for one year and from there to the Dr. Allen place at Old Bath Springs. In January 1900 he moved into a new two story white house which he had built and lived there the remainder of his days. Presently Martin Brooks and Mrs. Blanche Turner are living at the old home place in Bath Springs proper. It is the only two story house there.

Walter Kendrick Brooks was perhaps the only man in Decatur County to run for United States Congress, having made three unsuccessful races. One in 1933-1941 and 1964.

Ill health befell him in his early years after three years of college work in Jackson at the University of Jackson, now called Union University. The illness destroyed his energy and it took five years for him to establish himself. It was during these five years of illness that he learned the art, which is called Graphology (analyzing handwriting).

Although he had no formal training in the art, he was able to diagnose a person's character through their handwriting 85 times out of 100. By 1955 everywhere he went people wanted their handwriting analyzed. He described his method of handwriting analysis by saying "To me, it's a picture drawn of a life; it's a talent I possess and I never charge one penny for it."

His philosophy was "Help Somebody today" And that's what he did. After retirement he spent his days traveling throughout Tennessee and reading persons' handwriting.