A. B. (Alonzo Beecher) Brooks

Born in 1873 and active in West Virginia public life for decades, A. B. Brooks was known not only as a writer but also as the state’s first game warden and later as a naturalist at Oglebay Park. Local historical sources remember him for promoting conservation and for making nature study popular through public programs such as bird walks.

For readers today, he is most closely associated with West Virginia Trees, the work listed under his name by Project Gutenberg. His writing reflects a practical, observant interest in the natural world, with a focus on helping ordinary readers recognize and appreciate the trees and landscapes around them.

Brooks died in 1944, but his reputation in West Virginia endured long afterward. He is still remembered as an early champion of nature education whose work connected regional knowledge, public service, and a genuine love of the outdoors.