BROOKS, Noah, author, born in Castine, Maine, 30 October, 1830. He was educated for an artistic career, but in 1850 began work as a journalist, in Boston. He went west in 1854, and, after unsuccessful experiences as a merchant in Illinois and as a farmer in Kansas, removed to California at the close of the "free-state" conflict. Here, in company with Benjamin P. Avery, afterward minister to China, he founded the "Appeal," published in Marysville, Yuba County, but in 1862 established himself in Washington, District of Columbia, as correspondent of the Sacramento "Union." His letters, over the signature of "Cas-tine," made him widely known in the west. From 1 July, 1865, till October, 1866, Mr. Brooks was naval officer of the port of San Francisco, and then became managing editor of the "Alta California." He subsequently removed to New York, and after serving on the staff of the "Tribune" from 1871 till 1875, and of the "Times" from 1875 till 1884, became editor of the Newark (New Jersey) "Advertiser." Mr. Brooks has written many short stories for the magazines, but is best known by his books for young people. He has published "The Boy Emigrants" (New York, 1876); "[['he Fairport Nine" (1881); and "Our Base-Ball Club" (1883); and has in preparation (1886) a "Life of Lincoln."