As a young man Frank became a bridge builder. It was this occupation which took him to the Niagara Falls. While working on a railroad bridge there, he met and married his bride, Mary Gertrude Gilbert. On 10 May 1891 Frank took title to a property from John C. and Caroline F. Lammerts (Niagara County, Liber 208, Page 80.) They continued to reside near her parents at Niagara until about 1894 when the family moved to New York City. Frank became a Mason of the 32nd degree. Mrs. Beebe reported to me that she could remember that Frank took his father to some "fancy doings of the Mason, which was quite a highlight in those days". (Beebe, Marion, letter dated 8 Oct 1978.) Later he became a general contractor. One of the projects he worked on was the Ferncliff Cemetery at Hartsdale, NY. As part of his compensation he received a plot there where he and his wife were eventually buried. (Van Zee, George Brooks, his grandson, personal interview about 1982.) Also buried in the same plot in Ferncliff Cemetery is a May L. Barton Gave 3, July 13, 1942 (relationship unknown).
1892 NY State Census, Niagara Fall, Niagara, NY: Frank L Brooks, 29, bridge building residing with wife Mary and daughters Eva, 7 and Margaret 1.
1900 Bronx, District 1014, NY, NY, 553 Mott Avenue: Frank Brooks, head, b Feb 1864, 36, married 17 yrs., NY, parents b NY, Railroad Offical Mary G. Broosk, wife, b Oct 1859, 40, 2 children, 2 living, NY, parents b NY Eva R. Brooks, dau, b Apr 1885, 15, NY, in school Margaret E. Brooks, dau, b Dec 1892, 8, NY, in school Arthur A. Craigan, cousin, b Mar 1876, 24, NY, parents b Ireland, railroad [no Arthur Craigan/Cregan found in 1880 census or in 1905 NY State Census] Edward McOak, boarder, Apr 1876, 24, NY, parents b Ireland, railroad George Fitzsimmons, boarder, (illege) NY, parents b NY, clerk
1905 Bronx, NY, NY 556 Mott Ave: Frank L Brooks, head, 41, b US, contractor Mary G, wife, 42, b US, housework Eva R., dau, 20, at home Margaret E. dau, 13, at home
Mary died in 1907.
1910 Bronx, District 35, NY, NY, 917 Summit Avenue: Frank Brooks, 46, widower, contractor, residing with the family of his son-in-law, George B. Van Zee, together with daughter Margaret E., Brooks, 18 Death certificate no. 19124: Frank Brooks, age 50, d 16 Jun 1914 in Manhattan. [1]
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