Isabella Brooks and her husband, Julius, were the first known Jewish American family to settle in Utah. They moved to Salt Lake City in 1864, and Isabella—known as Fanny—and Julius became respected members of their communities.
In short
They brought many talents and ideas to the table, including family ties, religious traditions, and work ethic. They owned successful businesses and stood up for the rights of business owners to sell to everyone in Salt Lake City.
More to the Story
Fanny and Julius grew up in Germany during the 1800s. In 1847, Julius decided to go to the United States for economic opportunity. He lived there for five years and then returned to Germany, where he told others about his adventures. Fanny Brooks was fifteen when she heard Julius’s stories, and she decided she wanted to go to America. She asked him if he would take her to the United States, and they decided to marry. After Fanny and Julius married, they boarded a ship bound for New York City. Fanny entertained other passengers by playing French and German folksongs on her guitar. Once in the United States, Fanny and Julius headed to the American West. They lived for a brief time in Salt Lake City before they moved to California. Altogether, Fanny and Julius resided in California, Oregon, and Idaho before settling permanently in Salt Lake City, Utah. Fanny ran a boarding house and a millinery shop and was well-known for her customer service and business cleverness.
Living in Salt Lake City
Fanny and Julius first lived in a small adobe house at the busy corner of Third South and Main Street. The street they lived on was very busy! Fanny contributed to the family’s finances by cooking breakfast for oxen team drivers from a nearby camp. Her children played in the neighborhood, and they attended Sunday school with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before the first Jewish synagogue was built in 1875. Eveline, Fanny and Julius’s oldest daughter, remembered jumping rope with the children of the leader of the LDS Church, Brigham Young. Fanny and Julius benefited from the many people who lived and worked near them by opening businesses and making friends with their neighbors.
The Boarding House
Fanny started a boarding house to earn more money for her family. Julius helped by expanding the dining room for more customers. Up to forty people could sit in their dining room! They owned rental properties too.
In 1868, Brigham Young told members of his church, often known as Mormons during the 1800s, that they could not shop or do business with non-members. Mormon merchants placed a sign outside their companies so that members of the LDS Church knew where to go. Many non-LDS business owners had to move from the area. Fanny, however, decided to meet with Young rather than to leave. She told Young that she and Julius had worked hard to start and operate their businesses. She said she did not want to leave Salt Lake City. Young made an exception for the Brookes and told members of his church to buy from them without thinking of the other people who lost customers. Fanny’s decision to stand up for herself saved her business and made it possible for future economic possibilities.
The Hat Shop and the Brooks Arcade
Fanny also supported her family by opening a millinery shop or a store that sells hats. Julius purchased items to sell, and Fanny managed the money and the store. Fanny and Julius hired Hiram Parsons, who came from a family of seven and did not have much money, to work as a store clerks. Fanny and Julius ran a successful shop that earned $40,000 in the second year in business! They also opened a European-style shopping mall called the Brooks Arcade. Fanny and Julius always found new ways to provide for themselves and their family and contribute to Utah’s economy.
From Crossing the Plains to European Vacations
The Brookses spent their later years visiting relatives and friends in Europe. Julius died in San Remo, Italy, in 1885. She continued to run the millinery shop in Salt Lake City. However, her health deteriorated as she grew older, and she eventually moved back to Wiesbaden, Germany, where she died on August 21, 1901. Fanny and Julius brought many talents to the table, including hard work, new business ideas, and a dedication to living in Utah. Their hard work made a difference in Utah!
Keep Exploring!
Return to the People Who Made a Difference page here.
Return to the I Love Utah History home page here.