Daybook of Joseph Winfield Brooks
Hedley, Texas 1909 to 1913

Explanation

The following excerpts are transcribed from a 4x6" well-worn notebook, its 50 pages bound in black leather. Inside the front cover is written sideways, in block letters, "JAY BROOKS," and on the opposite leaf: "Return me to Jay Brooks, Hedley, and receive reward. Jay Brooks book." Much of the contents, in pencil, consists of bookkeeping entries for such items as "Fever Medicines given," "Bromide Quinine," "Pink Tablets," "Blue Tablets," and the like. This web page includes most of the verbal and dated material, but not a full transcription of all the financial accounts or scratch paper.

Joseph Winfield "Jay" Brooks was born in November 1877 in San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas, the third of nine children of Joab W. Brooks (a Confederate veteran) and Florence Rosalee Billingslee Brooks. Jay married Clara Ada Morrow on 3 Jan. 1909 in Donley County, Texas; and eaked out a meager living as a Church of Christ minister and itinerant salesman, as shown in the contents of his daybook.

In addition to mundane business transactions, the daybook also documents personal details. The first item below, headlined "Clara's Girl Ovations" appears on page 20, listing a series of dates in her handwriting. The last entry is nine months prior to the birth of their third child, Talbert Walker Brooks, born 13 March 1913.

The meaning of "Clara's Girl Ovations" was debated on the ROOTS-L e-mail list in June 1998. The interaction of dates in the table with known birthdates of Clara Brooks' first three children led to hypotheses about natural birth control known as the rhythm method (assuming "ovations" to mean ovulations) or in an attempt to determine the gender of a child at conception. Others suggested that "Ovations" could refer to "a public welcoming ceremony" or other event in a Christian denomination, perhaps held for girls and conducted by Clara in this instance (though nothing is known to support this hypothesis.) A transcript of this interesting and helpful debate appears here.

Leaving behind a pregnant widow and two infant daughters, on 13 Sept. 1913, at age 25, Jay Brooks was struck and killed by lightning. This daybook is said to have been in his pocket at the time. According to his daughters, my grandmother and great aunts, Jay was standing in a Texas wheat field with a jack-knife in his hand when the fateful bolt struck. The body showed no visible damage. As the story goes, only his hat-band was broken.

This book was given to me by my grandmother, Opal Brooks Rue (1909-1979), on 19 Dec. 1976, during a visit to her home in Anaheim, California. In the book was tucked a note which she had written to her husband, Arthur Harold Rue (1902-1973) shortly before their marriage in 1929. The originals are in my posession.

Thomas and Carmen Rue
PO Box 706
Monticello, NY 12701
E-mail: rue@catskill.net

Original page here Discussion

Clara's Girl Ovations
January 10, 1909 March 7th, 1909 May 2nd, 1909 June 27th, 1909 Aug. 22, 1909 Oct. 17th, 1909 Dec 12th, 1909 Feb 6th, 1910 Apr. 3d, 1910 May 29th, 1910 July 24th, 1910 Sept. 18th, 1910 Nov 13th, 1910 Jan 8th, 1911 Ma[r]. 5th, 1911	Girl Ovation May 1st, 1911 June 26th, 1911 Aug. 21,st, 1911 Oct. 16th, 1911 Dec. 11th, 1911 Feb 5th, 1912 Apr. 2nd, 1912 May 28th, 1912 July 23rd, 1912 Sept. 17th, 1912 Nov 12th, 1912 Jan. 7th, 1913 Mar. 4th, 1913 Apr. 29th, 1913 June 24th, 1913

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Farm for Sale

360 Acres of Land. 11 mi. of Clarendon on County Road 5 miles of Good little Town. 800 yds. of 6 mo. School. 150 acres in cultivation all under fence. Part 3 wire and Part 4 wire. House 14x28. Two stores. High shed 16x50. Hen house. Well 173 ft. deep. Inexaustable supply of water. 10 ft. monitor wind mill. About 800 yds from school house. 6 mo. school. Price: $6400.00. Terms:1/3 or more cash. The rest on terms to suit.

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Synopsis of Letter from Camet

Perdue was his prospect. A mortgage against the machine. Sold the machine without his concent. Dictated letter to him from Bro. Recherton while he was at Pampa. Must settle in a Reasonible time as he will make it warm for me.

Answered 3/13/13

J.R. Kinsbrough
I.W. King
Stand Table .60
Dining 2.50
Bed Stead .85

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Grocerie concerns that want Salesman advertised in Star
George Meddrum & Co.
Whole Sale Groceries
Chicago, Ill.

Nurserys wanting Men advertised in Star
Stark Bros.
Box 91
Louisiana, Mo.

Inc. Nursery Co.
Lawrence, Kan.