My Genealogy Hound

John Brooks, one of the substantial farmers of Oakland County, living on his valuable farm of 80 acres in Oxford township, was born in 1834 in Rochester, New York, and is a son of John and Ann (Croft) Brooks.

The parents of our subject removed from New York to Lapeer County, Michigan, some 61 years ago, locating near Dryden. There they reared a family of 10 children, and there the mother died in 1859. The father died in 1884 in Macomb County, Michigan, aged 75 years. They are buried in a cemetery in Addison township, Oakland County. Our subject is the eldest of the family and the other survivors are located as follows: Charles, in Brandon township, Oakland County; William R., James A. and George K., in Shiawassee County, Michigan; and Mrs. Hannah Phipps in Lapeer County.

Our subject was reared in Lapeer County, Michigan, where he attended the district schools. During his residence there he owned and occupied four different farms. In 1873 he came to Oakland County and bought his present farm, and also a farm in Addison township, a few miles east. During the progress of the Civil War, Mr. Brooks did his part in helping to sustain the government, sending a substitute in 1863, and in 1864 enlisting himself, serving as a private for about 18 months in Company D, 5th Reg., Michigan Vol. Inf.

Mr. Brooks was married to Elizabeth Clack, who was born in Addison township, Oakland County, and is a daughter of James and Mary Ann (Butler) Clack, and a sister of Jonathan Clack, who owns a farm in section 4, Addison township. Her parents were born in Hornsey, Cambridgeshire, England. James Clack came to America first in 1837 and then returned to England for his wife and two children, whom he brought over in the spring of 1838 to a little home he had built on land taken up from the government in Addison township, Oakland County. At the time of his death in the fall of 1884, at the age of 76 years, he owned 300 acres of land in sections 4 and 5. His father was James Clack, who was a soldier on the field of Waterloo; he also came to America with his son in 1838 and resided in the latter’s home until his death in 1859, aged 94 years. Several other members of the family came to America and the Clack homestead, now owned by Mrs. Hoyt Glaspie, has never left the family. Jonathan Clack is a very large land owner, possessing some 1,000 acres, located chiefly in Oakland and Lapeer counties.

A family of four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, namely: Mary E., John E., George and James, Jr., who are all living at home. In politics Mr. Brooks has always been identified with the Republican party, but he has not sought official recognition, his interests being devoted to agricultural pursuits. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic Post of Oxford and takes a great interest in its affairs. The family is held in very high esteem in Oxford township.