When Elias Edward (Eddie) Brooks was born on April 14, 1856, his father, John, was 30 and his mother, Emily Williams, was 20. He married Lavisa Jane Conerly on February 26, 1879, in Jefferson, Texas. They had 11 children in 18 years. He died on March 27, 1934, in Jefferson, Texas, at the age of 77, and was buried there.

Elias' father John T Brooks died during the civil war. His mother Emily Brooks Williams Brooks remarried to Sanford J. Hightower and they moved to Praire County, Arkansas. Elias was not happy and moved to Jefferson, Marion County, Texas where his Uncle Henry Thomas Brooks resided in the east end of Marion County, Texas. Elias E Brooks came to Marion County, Texas in early 1870's and lived with Henry Brooks, James Harrison Brooks, brother. After Elias married, he and Janie Conerly Brooks lived in a home on James Brooks property. In the early 1890's James helped Elias build his home on land he purchased near James on East HWY 49.

Elias Edward "Eddie" Brooks had a farm in the Smithland area of Marion Co., Tx. and operated a cotton gin there as well as a school; called Brooks School. The following is an article written by Irwinna Robertson Hamill for the Jefferson Jimplecute: " In 1896, when Mr. Lias and Mis Janie moved their family to the new house near Bethel Church on what ins now HWY 49, there was no school near enough for their children to attend. With not enough money in the County School Fund to finance the building of a new school or to pay the salary of a teacher, Mr. Lias, who was Elias E. Brooks, and his uncle, Henry T. Brooks, together built and equipped a one-room school -house about one mile north of the E. E. Brooks residence; and agreed to supplement the County Funds to make an attractive salary for the teacher. The site was chosen to accommodate the maximum number of children from the neighboring farms. Like many another early day school, there was an outhouse for the use of the girls, only, while the boys sought shelter behind a strategically place tree. There were, of course, no such frivolities as playground equipment, but the children quickly and eagerly devised their own amusement, just as they did at home. The first teacher was Miss Bernice Emmert, but her mother's illness forced her to give up the school to care for her and her sister, Miss Alice Emmert, finished the school year. For the next 2 years, 1897-1898 and 1898-1899, Miss Kay McKay was the teacher, and for 1899-1900, Barry Benefield taught the children. It is interesting to note that even in those pioneer years of Marion County, the quality of their teachers was of the highest. Miss Emmert became the County Superintendent of Schools for Marion County, and is believed to have been the first woman elected to public office in Texas. Mr. Benefield became a nationally known author, especially beloved in his home county, as his stories almost always portrayed his East Texas background. The teachers "roomed" with one of the families whose children attended the school and with their pupils, trudged daily through the woods to their lessons. In the memory of Connie Brooks (Mrs. Hugo Haseloff), Mr. Benefield stayed with the Kindred family who lived near Trinity Church, and Miss Emmert stayed with the Sam Moseley family who lived in what is now known as Whateyville. After 1900, the Brooks School was abandoned in favor of the Grange Hall School, which could be attended by a great many more children and was paid for in fully by the County." In 1899-1900 J. Barry Benefield was the Teacher; the Trustees were J. M. Taylor; R. G. Blackbourne, and G. L. Pearry; the students were: Jewell Brooks, Tennessee Brown, Lou Bet Moseley, Zack Sedgass, Della Fason, Hill Taylor, Hettie Sedgass, Charlie Fason, Ruby Kindred, Eddie Brooks, Irby Taylor, Postell Moseley, Loulie Brooks, Cleveland Brooks, Nellie Fason, Lewis Brooks, Lois Taylor, Otis Sedgass, Linnet Brooks, Connie Brooks, Tennie Fason, Cecie Brooks, Leo Hartzo, Dick Taylor, Dee Hartzo, and Shep Taylor. There teacher J. Barry Benefield presented them with a "Souvenir" Book called "The Brooks School" Marion Co., Texas, 1899-1900. Mr. Benefield wrote the following to his students: "Farewell" Dear Pupils,- Let us keep this little souvenir, for we shall value it in the future. When our heads are silvered by the hand of time, and we are widely separated perhaps, we can swing wide the doors of memory with this keepsake and bring back fond recollections of happy school days. I have tried to make our school as little like prison as possible. I trust you will remember me as one who acted always with an eye to your welfare. May you continue children in heart, and become scholarly men and women in intellect, is the wish of Your teacher, J. Barry Benefield