A Family History of Alvin Brooks: Articles and Documents
Biography of Marion Brooks
The information in this biography was found in the Centennial books of Bouton and Woodward, Iowa, and in the book "History of Boone County", dated 1880.
MARION BROOKS was born in Whiteside Co, IL, 8 Feb.1842. He was one of five children of Alphonso and Eliza (Teats) Brooks who were natives of New York. His siblings were Benjamin Franklin, Alice (Shelters), Elma (Parks), and Harriett, who died at the age of eight years.
Marion, known more familiarly as "Captain" because of his service during the Civil War, joined the Union Army on 20 Sept. 1861, at Spring Hill, IL., along with a company of around sixty young men from his community. The Illinois quota was full at the time, so they went to St. Louis to wait for an opening.
After waiting about two months, James Lane from Kansas asked the group if they were interested in going on an expedition to Mexico. Lacking other opportunity, the group, along with others from Kansas and Nebraska, followed him to Ft. Leavenworth, KS, part of a group of about eight hundred soldiers.
They got as far as Ft. Riley when their leader left the group for unknown reasons. He did not return and the Kansas and Nebraska groups left for home, leaving the Illinois companies "I" and "H" to return to Ft. Leavenworth. Col. John A Martin was organizing the 8th Kansas Volunteer Infantry and asked the Illinois companies to join him. They did, but were credited to the Illinois quota. They were in the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corp of the Army of the Cumberland.
Captain Brooks' unit fought in nineteen major battles, including Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga.
Following his expiration of service, he rejoined the Army and fought at Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta. He was then sent to San Antonio, Texas, where he was honorably discharged in 1866. Captain Brooks was not wounded by enemy fire during any of his battles, but was bitten by a poisonous spider while at Chickamauga and suffered permanent muscular damage from the treatment for the bite.
While Captain Marion was home on furlough, he married Louisa Matson of Illinois (born 4 January 1843) on 23 March 1864.
He and his family moved to Iowa in 1867, first to Moingona in Boone Co., and then, on 14 June 1867, to his final home, a farm at Prairie Hill, four miles north of Bouton in Peoples Township.
During his life in Boone County Captain Brooks was a representative in the Iowa State legislature during the 24th and 25th terms, a member of Peaceful Lodge, No. 454, A.F.and A.M., and helped in the construction and activities of Peoples Church, near his homestead. He served as justice of the peace, town clerk, and secretary of the school board, was a well-know auctioneer in the area, and active in G.A.R. organizations.
Captain Marion and Louisa had seven children. Fannie, born in IL in 1866, married Richard Grant. She died at the age of 106. Myrtle E., born in IA in 1868, married Nelson H. McFarland of Janesville, WI. She died in 1942. Bradford M, born in 1876, Loretta L, born in 1882 and died in 1910, and two boys who died in infancy. Clarence W. (Joe) was born in 1872 and married Mary "Mame" Sixbury. They had 12 children, six born in Iowa and six in Wilton, ND. Mame was killed in an auto accident in 1927 and is buried in Peoples Cemetery, Bouton, IA. Marion returned to Iowa in 1928 and, in 1929, married Mrs. L. Minnie Jacobs. He died in 1939 and is buried in Peoples CemeteryCompiled by Bruce Brooks
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