Willard L. Brooks was the son of Solomon Brooks (1780-1854) & Hannah B. BENHAM (1786-1828). He was born about 1808 in Connecticut (several sites indicate he was born on July 21, 1808 in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut - see notes at bottom - in addition, a marriage record and census reports indicate born about 1808 in Connecticut). Willard died December 5, 1883 in Danby Township, Ionia Co., Michigan [Danby is not listed as an option, but is apparently a township immediately south of Portland). His death was found on the contemporaneous county returns for Ionia County by K. Parson (much thanks to her for all her work on this!).
Willard's death is also found in the record, 'Michigan, Deaths and burials index, 1867-1995' and confirms his death date as Dec 5, 1883 in Ionia County. The record indicates birth in Connecticut, abt 1808 and parents as Solomon Brooks and Hannah Brooks.
I found Willard's father, Solomon, on the 1810 through 1840 censuses in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut and Willard would have appeared on at least two of those censuses (1810 and 1820) and given a first marriage date of 1833, probably the 1830 census with his parents. There is a son in his age range on both the 1810 and 1820 census records. Willard would have been 22 in 1830 and there are three white males in the age range of 20 to 29 living with Solomon on the 1830 census, so Willard is probably one of those living with his father. I'm not sure how many sons Solomon had, so I cannot be definite about this. Solomon died on 13 Jan 1854 in Connecticut and is buried in the East Plymouth Cemetery, Plymouth, Litchfield, Connecticut per the Connecticut Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934.
Willard married first Lucina S. (1809-1844) sometime before 1834 (about 1833). They had the following children:
Mary A. (1834-1843), Charles S. (1839-1882), Emily (1840- ), and Milo W. (1841-1881).
Following Lucina's death in Feb of 1844, Willard married 2nd to Nancy C. REED (1823-1907) on 29 Aug 1844 in Riley Township, Clinton County, Michigan.
Willard and Nancy had four children: John W. (1846-1907), Lucinda 'Lucina' (1847- ), Polly M. (1852-1923) and Ellen M. (1856- ).
I cannot find Willard on the 1830 census, but he is living in Michigan as early as 1839 when his son, Charles, is born in Michigan. It appears that Willard lived in Ionia County for the rest of his life - mostly in Danby, Ionia Co., Michigan as he appears on census records and IRS Tax records as living in Danby from at least 1850 until 1880 (the last time I find records for him). He was listed as living in Portland, Ionia Co., Michigan on the 1840 census.
*Willard and Lucina's sons, Charles, is buried in the Danby Cemetery in Mulliken, Ionia Co., Michigan - Charles' findagrave number is 38998199. Their son, Milo, is buried in the Portland Cemetery (FAG #36321801) - I cannot add the family links because I did not add Charles and Milo's info to FAG.
*Willard and his 2nd wife, Nancy's, daughter Ellen M. BROOKS married James H. Jeffers. Ellen and James are buried in Danby Cemetery, Mulliken, Ionia Co., Michigan. Ellen's FAG # is 39141878 and James' is 39141877.
**Additional information found on a family tree on Ancestry.com indicates that Willard's full name was Willard Lyman Brooks, born 21 July 1808 in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut. His occupation is listed as a silversmith in 1830 (apparently on the American Silversmith web page, but I cannot find that site). This information also appears on a Rootsweb page. I cannot verify the information, but it appears correct - both sites confirm his parents names including his mother's maiden name.
UPDATE: September 30, 2011
I received a message from Willard's great-great-great granddaughter as follows:
Willard Brooks was my great great great grandfather and I have done extensive research on him and his family. He was born 7/20/1808 in Bristol, Hartford Co, CT, and died 12/5/1883 in Danby Twp, Ionia Co, MI (death certificate). He came to Michigan in 1838 and developed a homestead on Section 3 of Danby Twp. He held many offices in the township and was a farmer and entrepreneur. Much has been written about him in various Ionia County histories. I am in possession of some of his correspondence and account books. Betty Anesi, former Portland Librarian, did an excellent analysis of the account books, which provide a rare insight into everyday pioneer life. He kept in close contact with his family back east and visits back and forth were made by family members. Anyone interested in this family is welcome to contact me at this email address.
[email protected]
UPDATE: March 17, 2014
Another member contacted me with the following information:
Willard Lyman Brooks (1808-1883) and Nancy C. REED were married on 29 Aug 1844 in Riley Township, Clinton County, Michigan. After Willard's death, at some point Nancy moved in with her daughter, Polly M., as found on the 1900 census which lists Nancy as a widow.
Nancy and Willard had four children:
John Willard (1846-1907), Mary Lucina (1849-1921), Polly Minerva (1852-1923), and Ellen Marie (1856-1927).
Nancy died on 18 Feb 1907 in Danby Township.
Other Find A Grave Links for Willard are:
Mary Lucina Brooks (with Nancy Reed) (1849-1921) m. T Wm Smith FaG #39142378,
Milo W. Brooks (with Lucina Sanford) (1842-1881) m. Olive Jeffers, Memorial# 36321801
Emily Sanford Brooks (with Lucina Sanford) (1840-1880) m. Ashail Way, Memorial# 79338351
Willard's death is also found in the record, 'Michigan, Deaths and burials index, 1867-1995' and confirms his death date as Dec 5, 1883 in Ionia County. The record indicates birth in Connecticut, abt 1808 and parents as Solomon Brooks and Hannah Brooks.
I found Willard's father, Solomon, on the 1810 through 1840 censuses in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut and Willard would have appeared on at least two of those censuses (1810 and 1820) and given a first marriage date of 1833, probably the 1830 census with his parents. There is a son in his age range on both the 1810 and 1820 census records. Willard would have been 22 in 1830 and there are three white males in the age range of 20 to 29 living with Solomon on the 1830 census, so Willard is probably one of those living with his father. I'm not sure how many sons Solomon had, so I cannot be definite about this. Solomon died on 13 Jan 1854 in Connecticut and is buried in the East Plymouth Cemetery, Plymouth, Litchfield, Connecticut per the Connecticut Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934.
Willard married first Lucina S. (1809-1844) sometime before 1834 (about 1833). They had the following children:
Mary A. (1834-1843), Charles S. (1839-1882), Emily (1840- ), and Milo W. (1841-1881).
Following Lucina's death in Feb of 1844, Willard married 2nd to Nancy C. REED (1823-1907) on 29 Aug 1844 in Riley Township, Clinton County, Michigan.
Willard and Nancy had four children: John W. (1846-1907), Lucinda 'Lucina' (1847- ), Polly M. (1852-1923) and Ellen M. (1856- ).
I cannot find Willard on the 1830 census, but he is living in Michigan as early as 1839 when his son, Charles, is born in Michigan. It appears that Willard lived in Ionia County for the rest of his life - mostly in Danby, Ionia Co., Michigan as he appears on census records and IRS Tax records as living in Danby from at least 1850 until 1880 (the last time I find records for him). He was listed as living in Portland, Ionia Co., Michigan on the 1840 census.
*Willard and Lucina's sons, Charles, is buried in the Danby Cemetery in Mulliken, Ionia Co., Michigan - Charles' findagrave number is 38998199. Their son, Milo, is buried in the Portland Cemetery (FAG #36321801) - I cannot add the family links because I did not add Charles and Milo's info to FAG.
*Willard and his 2nd wife, Nancy's, daughter Ellen M. BROOKS married James H. Jeffers. Ellen and James are buried in Danby Cemetery, Mulliken, Ionia Co., Michigan. Ellen's FAG # is 39141878 and James' is 39141877.
**Additional information found on a family tree on Ancestry.com indicates that Willard's full name was Willard Lyman Brooks, born 21 July 1808 in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut. His occupation is listed as a silversmith in 1830 (apparently on the American Silversmith web page, but I cannot find that site). This information also appears on a Rootsweb page. I cannot verify the information, but it appears correct - both sites confirm his parents names including his mother's maiden name.
UPDATE: September 30, 2011
I received a message from Willard's great-great-great granddaughter as follows:
Willard Brooks was my great great great grandfather and I have done extensive research on him and his family. He was born 7/20/1808 in Bristol, Hartford Co, CT, and died 12/5/1883 in Danby Twp, Ionia Co, MI (death certificate). He came to Michigan in 1838 and developed a homestead on Section 3 of Danby Twp. He held many offices in the township and was a farmer and entrepreneur. Much has been written about him in various Ionia County histories. I am in possession of some of his correspondence and account books. Betty Anesi, former Portland Librarian, did an excellent analysis of the account books, which provide a rare insight into everyday pioneer life. He kept in close contact with his family back east and visits back and forth were made by family members. Anyone interested in this family is welcome to contact me at this email address.
[email protected]
UPDATE: March 17, 2014
Another member contacted me with the following information:
Willard Lyman Brooks (1808-1883) and Nancy C. REED were married on 29 Aug 1844 in Riley Township, Clinton County, Michigan. After Willard's death, at some point Nancy moved in with her daughter, Polly M., as found on the 1900 census which lists Nancy as a widow.
Nancy and Willard had four children:
John Willard (1846-1907), Mary Lucina (1849-1921), Polly Minerva (1852-1923), and Ellen Marie (1856-1927).
Nancy died on 18 Feb 1907 in Danby Township.
Other Find A Grave Links for Willard are:
Mary Lucina Brooks (with Nancy Reed) (1849-1921) m. T Wm Smith FaG #39142378,
Milo W. Brooks (with Lucina Sanford) (1842-1881) m. Olive Jeffers, Memorial# 36321801
Emily Sanford Brooks (with Lucina Sanford) (1840-1880) m. Ashail Way, Memorial# 79338351
Willard L. Brooks was the son of Solomon Brooks (1780-1854) & Hannah B. BENHAM (1786-1828). He was born about 1808 in Connecticut (several sites indicate he was born on July 21, 1808 in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut - see notes at bottom - in addition, a marriage record and census reports indicate born about 1808 in Connecticut). Willard died December 5, 1883 in Danby Township, Ionia Co., Michigan [Danby is not listed as an option, but is apparently a township immediately south of Portland). His death was found on the contemporaneous county returns for Ionia County by K. Parson (much thanks to her for all her work on this!).
Willard's death is also found in the record, 'Michigan, Deaths and burials index, 1867-1995' and confirms his death date as Dec 5, 1883 in Ionia County. The record indicates birth in Connecticut, abt 1808 and parents as Solomon Brooks and Hannah Brooks.
I found Willard's father, Solomon, on the 1810 through 1840 censuses in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut and Willard would have appeared on at least two of those censuses (1810 and 1820) and given a first marriage date of 1833, probably the 1830 census with his parents. There is a son in his age range on both the 1810 and 1820 census records. Willard would have been 22 in 1830 and there are three white males in the age range of 20 to 29 living with Solomon on the 1830 census, so Willard is probably one of those living with his father. I'm not sure how many sons Solomon had, so I cannot be definite about this. Solomon died on 13 Jan 1854 in Connecticut and is buried in the East Plymouth Cemetery, Plymouth, Litchfield, Connecticut per the Connecticut Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934.
Willard married first Lucina S. (1809-1844) sometime before 1834 (about 1833). They had the following children:
Mary A. (1834-1843), Charles S. (1839-1882), Emily (1840- ), and Milo W. (1841-1881).
Following Lucina's death in Feb of 1844, Willard married 2nd to Nancy C. REED (1823-1907) on 29 Aug 1844 in Riley Township, Clinton County, Michigan.
Willard and Nancy had four children: John W. (1846-1907), Lucinda 'Lucina' (1847- ), Polly M. (1852-1923) and Ellen M. (1856- ).
I cannot find Willard on the 1830 census, but he is living in Michigan as early as 1839 when his son, Charles, is born in Michigan. It appears that Willard lived in Ionia County for the rest of his life - mostly in Danby, Ionia Co., Michigan as he appears on census records and IRS Tax records as living in Danby from at least 1850 until 1880 (the last time I find records for him). He was listed as living in Portland, Ionia Co., Michigan on the 1840 census.
*Willard and Lucina's sons, Charles, is buried in the Danby Cemetery in Mulliken, Ionia Co., Michigan - Charles' findagrave number is 38998199. Their son, Milo, is buried in the Portland Cemetery (FAG #36321801) - I cannot add the family links because I did not add Charles and Milo's info to FAG.
*Willard and his 2nd wife, Nancy's, daughter Ellen M. BROOKS married James H. Jeffers. Ellen and James are buried in Danby Cemetery, Mulliken, Ionia Co., Michigan. Ellen's FAG # is 39141878 and James' is 39141877.
**Additional information found on a family tree on Ancestry.com indicates that Willard's full name was Willard Lyman Brooks, born 21 July 1808 in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut. His occupation is listed as a silversmith in 1830 (apparently on the American Silversmith web page, but I cannot find that site). This information also appears on a Rootsweb page. I cannot verify the information, but it appears correct - both sites confirm his parents names including his mother's maiden name.
UPDATE: September 30, 2011
I received a message from Willard's great-great-great granddaughter as follows:
Willard Brooks was my great great great grandfather and I have done extensive research on him and his family. He was born 7/20/1808 in Bristol, Hartford Co, CT, and died 12/5/1883 in Danby Twp, Ionia Co, MI (death certificate). He came to Michigan in 1838 and developed a homestead on Section 3 of Danby Twp. He held many offices in the township and was a farmer and entrepreneur. Much has been written about him in various Ionia County histories. I am in possession of some of his correspondence and account books. Betty Anesi, former Portland Librarian, did an excellent analysis of the account books, which provide a rare insight into everyday pioneer life. He kept in close contact with his family back east and visits back and forth were made by family members. Anyone interested in this family is welcome to contact me at this email address.
[email protected]
UPDATE: March 17, 2014
Another member contacted me with the following information:
Willard Lyman Brooks (1808-1883) and Nancy C. REED were married on 29 Aug 1844 in Riley Township, Clinton County, Michigan. After Willard's death, at some point Nancy moved in with her daughter, Polly M., as found on the 1900 census which lists Nancy as a widow.
Nancy and Willard had four children:
John Willard (1846-1907), Mary Lucina (1849-1921), Polly Minerva (1852-1923), and Ellen Marie (1856-1927).
Nancy died on 18 Feb 1907 in Danby Township.
Other Find A Grave Links for Willard are:
Mary Lucina Brooks (with Nancy Reed) (1849-1921) m. T Wm Smith FaG #39142378,
Milo W. Brooks (with Lucina Sanford) (1842-1881) m. Olive Jeffers, Memorial# 36321801
Emily Sanford Brooks (with Lucina Sanford) (1840-1880) m. Ashail Way, Memorial# 79338351
Willard's death is also found in the record, 'Michigan, Deaths and burials index, 1867-1995' and confirms his death date as Dec 5, 1883 in Ionia County. The record indicates birth in Connecticut, abt 1808 and parents as Solomon Brooks and Hannah Brooks.
I found Willard's father, Solomon, on the 1810 through 1840 censuses in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut and Willard would have appeared on at least two of those censuses (1810 and 1820) and given a first marriage date of 1833, probably the 1830 census with his parents. There is a son in his age range on both the 1810 and 1820 census records. Willard would have been 22 in 1830 and there are three white males in the age range of 20 to 29 living with Solomon on the 1830 census, so Willard is probably one of those living with his father. I'm not sure how many sons Solomon had, so I cannot be definite about this. Solomon died on 13 Jan 1854 in Connecticut and is buried in the East Plymouth Cemetery, Plymouth, Litchfield, Connecticut per the Connecticut Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934.
Willard married first Lucina S. (1809-1844) sometime before 1834 (about 1833). They had the following children:
Mary A. (1834-1843), Charles S. (1839-1882), Emily (1840- ), and Milo W. (1841-1881).
Following Lucina's death in Feb of 1844, Willard married 2nd to Nancy C. REED (1823-1907) on 29 Aug 1844 in Riley Township, Clinton County, Michigan.
Willard and Nancy had four children: John W. (1846-1907), Lucinda 'Lucina' (1847- ), Polly M. (1852-1923) and Ellen M. (1856- ).
I cannot find Willard on the 1830 census, but he is living in Michigan as early as 1839 when his son, Charles, is born in Michigan. It appears that Willard lived in Ionia County for the rest of his life - mostly in Danby, Ionia Co., Michigan as he appears on census records and IRS Tax records as living in Danby from at least 1850 until 1880 (the last time I find records for him). He was listed as living in Portland, Ionia Co., Michigan on the 1840 census.
*Willard and Lucina's sons, Charles, is buried in the Danby Cemetery in Mulliken, Ionia Co., Michigan - Charles' findagrave number is 38998199. Their son, Milo, is buried in the Portland Cemetery (FAG #36321801) - I cannot add the family links because I did not add Charles and Milo's info to FAG.
*Willard and his 2nd wife, Nancy's, daughter Ellen M. BROOKS married James H. Jeffers. Ellen and James are buried in Danby Cemetery, Mulliken, Ionia Co., Michigan. Ellen's FAG # is 39141878 and James' is 39141877.
**Additional information found on a family tree on Ancestry.com indicates that Willard's full name was Willard Lyman Brooks, born 21 July 1808 in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut. His occupation is listed as a silversmith in 1830 (apparently on the American Silversmith web page, but I cannot find that site). This information also appears on a Rootsweb page. I cannot verify the information, but it appears correct - both sites confirm his parents names including his mother's maiden name.
UPDATE: September 30, 2011
I received a message from Willard's great-great-great granddaughter as follows:
Willard Brooks was my great great great grandfather and I have done extensive research on him and his family. He was born 7/20/1808 in Bristol, Hartford Co, CT, and died 12/5/1883 in Danby Twp, Ionia Co, MI (death certificate). He came to Michigan in 1838 and developed a homestead on Section 3 of Danby Twp. He held many offices in the township and was a farmer and entrepreneur. Much has been written about him in various Ionia County histories. I am in possession of some of his correspondence and account books. Betty Anesi, former Portland Librarian, did an excellent analysis of the account books, which provide a rare insight into everyday pioneer life. He kept in close contact with his family back east and visits back and forth were made by family members. Anyone interested in this family is welcome to contact me at this email address.
[email protected]
UPDATE: March 17, 2014
Another member contacted me with the following information:
Willard Lyman Brooks (1808-1883) and Nancy C. REED were married on 29 Aug 1844 in Riley Township, Clinton County, Michigan. After Willard's death, at some point Nancy moved in with her daughter, Polly M., as found on the 1900 census which lists Nancy as a widow.
Nancy and Willard had four children:
John Willard (1846-1907), Mary Lucina (1849-1921), Polly Minerva (1852-1923), and Ellen Marie (1856-1927).
Nancy died on 18 Feb 1907 in Danby Township.
Other Find A Grave Links for Willard are:
Mary Lucina Brooks (with Nancy Reed) (1849-1921) m. T Wm Smith FaG #39142378,
Milo W. Brooks (with Lucina Sanford) (1842-1881) m. Olive Jeffers, Memorial# 36321801
Emily Sanford Brooks (with Lucina Sanford) (1840-1880) m. Ashail Way, Memorial# 79338351
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