My Genealogy Hound

JOHN J. BROOKS, a prosperous farmer residing in Watervliet Township, Berrien County, was born in Burlington, Vt., June 24, 1829, and is the son of Christopher and Eliza (Nobles) Brooks. His paternal grandfather, John Brooks, was born in the North of Ireland, whence about 1826 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Ontario, Canada, locating with his son John upon a farm, where he remained until his death. In religion, he was prominently identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church and was a man of earnest life and character.

Christopher Brooks was born in Ireland and accompanied his father to America, where he settled in Burlington, Vt. Later he removed to Richmond, and thence to Jericho, Vt., where his death occurred in 1885, at the age of four-score years and two. He was three times married. Of his first union ten children were born, of whom the following were reared to manhood and womanhood: Mary, Margaret, Noble, James, Christopher, John and Thomas. William died at the age of fourteen. The second wife of Christopher Brooks was a Mrs. Stockwell, who bore him one child, Eliza. Afterward he was united with Mrs. Mary Morehead, and they became the parents of three children, Isaac, Henry, and Columbia, who died in childhood.

The first wife of Christopher Brooks was the mother of our subject. She was born in Ireland, and died in Vermont in 1839. In her religious affiliations, she belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which Mr. Brooks was also identified. At the age of eleven years our subject left home and has earned his support since that early age. Until he was fourteen he made his home with William Williams, for whom he worked for his board and clothes. Afterward he worked for wages until he was twenty-seven, when he commenced to work at his trade of a carpenter. He followed that occupation until 1865, and since that time has devoted his attention to agriculture.

In 1854, Mr. Brooks moved to Massachusetts and three years later he sought a home in the far West, as Michigan was then considered. He went first to Paw Paw, and from there moved to Watervliet Township in 1856. He has been prominently connected with public matters of interest and importance in this township, and is one of its enterprising and popular citizens. Formerly he voted the Republican ticket, but since 1884 he has been identified with the Prohibitionists. He has filled a number of township offices with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned.

The first marriage of Mr. Brooks united him with Miss Evaline Redding, who was born in St. Joseph County, Ind., being the daughter of Rev. James Redding, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. One child was born of the union, Minnie E., wife of James Herron. Mrs. Evaline Brooks died in June, 1864. Mr. Brooks was afterward again married, choosing as his wife Mrs. Mary Lincoln, a native of Morgan County, Ohio. Her first husband, Charles Lincoln, enlisted in the service of the Union during the late war, becoming a member of the Fourth Michigan Infantry, and died while in active service on New Year’s Day. 1863. Mrs. Lincoln is the daughter of Uriah and Phebe B. (Wilks) Harris, her father being a native of New York State, who came to Watervliet Township in 1850 and here died. Mr. Brooks and his accomplished wife are people of high standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church and throughout the entire community.