Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Jacob Brooks
Jacob Brooks, deceased, was born in Augusta County, Va., Aug. 27, 1795, a son of Jonathan and Betsey (Larue) Brooks, natives of Virginia. When he was six years old his parents moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, where a short time after his father died. His mother, with her family, then moved to Kentucky, where she again married, and subsequently returned to Ohio.
Jacob Brook's boyhood was spent on a farm, and he received but a limited education. When seventeen years of age he enlisted in the war of 1812, and served through the most of the war, receiving subsequently a pension for his services. His father was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Brooks was married May 31. 1818, to Eliza, daughter of Thomas Robinson, of Kentucky. She died Dec. 31, 1827, leaving two daughters. Oct. 19, 1830, he married Mrs. Mary (Vorhis) Felter. To them were born eight children — Mary J., Jackson, Martha M., T. Benton, Irene, Addie, Josephine, Aurelius. Mary J., the eldest, is deceased. After his marriage Mr. Brooks settled on a farm in Centre Township, residing there till his death.
He was an influential man of the township, public spirited, energetic, liberal and genial. He was honored and esteemed by all who knew him. He was prosperous in business. Starting in life with very little, he accumulated a handsome property, owning at one time 260 acres of excellent land, half of which, however, he sold. He was a member of the Old School Baptist church twenty-seven years. His wife has been a member of the same church thirty-five years. Both were active members and regular attendants of the church.
Mrs. Brooks was born Sept. 28, 1802, near the Little Miami River, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah Vorhis, her father a native of New Jersey and her mother of Pennsylvania. She was married in 1821 to William C. Felter, who died Aug. 27, 1827, leaving four children, all now deceased. In 1824 they removed to Hagerstown, Ind., and were living there at the time of Mr. Felter's death. Mrs. Brooks was married both times by the same minister, Elder James Jones, and both husbands lie in the same cemetery.
Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2