My Genealogy Hound

BROOKS, WILLIS, farmer and stock raiser. Sec. 8, P.O. Carrollton. Willis Brooks is a native of Greene County, and was born near the city of Carrollton, on the 18th of July, 1830; the third child of Henry and Elizabeth Brooks; the former was born in the old Dominion State, and the latter in Kentucky. Henry Brooks was a farmer from his earliest years, and married in Kentucky; the date of his coming to Greene County cannot now be ascertained, but in all probability he became a cotemporary with many of the early settlers; during the latter years of his life he became moderately successful as an agriculturist, and died in Kansas, where he afterwards removed, and where his wife also passed the remainder of her days. Willis whose name heads this sketch, grew to manhood in Greene County. During his boyhood, he worked as a farm hand, and from the wages thus obtained, he received a liberal education in the district schools in his native place. In 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Cassa A. Thomasson, a daughter of Spencer Thomasson, by whom he has seven children: Virginia A., born Jan. 24, 1861; Nancy E., born Dec. 14, 1862; William Preston, March 31, 1864; Fanny E., June 10, 1867; Josephine, Oct. 24, 1869.