Autobiographical statement of J. Bryant Brooks, 10-24-1975

Autobiographical statement of J. Bryant Brooks, 10-24-1975 T. or C., N.M.
Oct. 24-75

Mr. Thomas Rue

My Dear Thomas-

We read your letter of Sept. the 27th and was very happy to hear from you. I will try to give you all the information I can. I don't know anything about my Grand parents. I do know my Grand Father's first name was JOAB. I don't know what my Grand Mother's first name was. I do know my ancestors on my father's side came from Ireland- And ancestors on my Mother's side came from Scotland.

My Mother and Father in their early married life lived in Bell Co. Texas, near Belton or Temple, Texas. Then they moved to Hamilton Co. near Hamilton, Tex. and lived there a few years. All that moving was done by oxen teams. In the fall of 1890 they moved to San Angelo, Texas. They had one of oxen team then and several teams of 3 or 4 wagons, horses & mules and a number of Range & saddle horses & cattle. In the spring of 1891 they moved on to Silverton, Tex. they had what they called a chuck wagon. And the women cooked on campfires when they couldn't find wood for fire they cooked cow chips dried for firewood. The Chuck box was on the back of the wagon. The men had to stand Guard at night of the stock.

Some days they would only make five or six miles a day with the herd and wagons. My father lived there at Silverton, Tex., Briscoe Co. the rest of his life and ranched- Beulah my oldest just before they arrived at Silverton. Aureba and myself was born after we landed there.

We went in wagons, Buggys and horse back many years after and I was born in 1908. Later my Daddy, Mother & 2 sisters traveled for my Dad's health in a big, heavy hack pulled by 2 horses from Silverton, Tex. to Corpus Christi, Tex. Then he [was] taken sick and passed away in 1908. When my Bro Jay was killed by lightning, Brother Dave and Bud that night [rode] about 35 miles the day he was buried. I was working on a ranch nearby. Bud and Dave left me to come by my house and bring Ida, Dave's wife, in a buggy. When we got there the funeral was over. But they was still there at the grave yard.

I am sorry we have been so slow in answering your letter. But we have a Grand daughter. She was in her 2nd year of College in Las Cruces, N.M. near here. Had a cancer of Bone in the right leg. It is the same [as] the little Kennedy Boy had. She's now in Boston, Mass. They ampt. her leg between her knee and hip. This has us worried to death. We haven't heard from Clara and her family in years. And have thought and wondered about them often. Would love to hear or see any or all of them any time.

Any questions you would like to ask I will be glad to ans. for you. Geo, Bud, Jay, Dave & S.L. are all passed on. Kay, Beulah, Reba & myself Bryant are still here.

I am the youngest one and was 81 the 12 of this Oct. 1975. Our oldest child, Aureba Corine and J.B. Jessie Bryant, Jr. are both dead. We have a few pictures. We are sending and hope to get them back. When you get through with them. Our home burned down at Silverton, Tex. in 1940 and burned all we had in house & garage -- everything burned. We lost all our old pictures. We are so thankful to get the picture of Jay & Clara. She was a pretty woman and he was nice looking.

We want to know all about Clara's & her family. Are they all alive or what. Wish we could see all of you. Tell us how is your mother & all of them. Are you married let us know. Please.

Bryant and Angeleatte Brooks
706 Kopra
T. or C., N.M. 87901

Pkg with pictures coming. Hope you can make this out.

This is not a copy of my family record. It is a statement written out by me, J.B. Brooks, what I know and believe to be true to the best of my Knowledge and belief. My Father, Joseph Winfield Brooks. Born in Miss. Nov. 15, 1838. Died Sept. 22, 1908 at Corpus Christi, Texas.

Mother. Florence Rose Billingslee Brooks. Born in Indian Territory, Oklahoma in 1835. Died Feb 9, 1938 in Silverton, Texas. Don't know the correct date of their marriage. But I think it was in the early 1870.

Born to them was 9 children. Seven Boys & 2 girls.

George Harmon Brooks married Ona Handcock. Born to them, five Boys. Joe Effin & Wilson was all I remember the other names.

Aaron Tom (Bud) married Eva Askey. 9 children. 6 boys & 3 girls. Boys. Oscar Lee (Jack Brooks, William Emmit (Jim) Brooks, Ava Nelson (Stump) Brooks, Wilford Houston (Notts) Brooks), Aaron Thomas, Jr. Brooks (A.T.) (Joe Brooks) 3 girls. Marrie Brooks. Lillian Brooks, all born at Silverton, Tex.

David Pitman Brooks married to Ida House. 3 children. 2 boys 1 girl.

All born at Silverton, Tex.

Ethel Brooks
Wilford Brooks
John Farris Brooks

Caleb Sewell Brooks -- Married to Ivy Johnson. 7 children 5 girls & 2 boys. Rovinia, Violet, Norma, Blanch, Burnice. Boys - Steave Brooks, Mack Brooks, all born in Tex.

Sweeney Lane (S.L.) Brooks never married.

Beulah Brooks Sutton. 1 child Boy Joe Frank Sutton died at 13 yrs.

Aureba Brooks Poe. 6 Boys. Joe Poe, Bruce Poe, John Jr. Poe, Brooks Poe, Dale Poe, Jessie Poe.

Jessie Bryant Brooks - Married Angoleatte Claunch. 5 children - 2 girls 3 boys. Corrine Brooks, Anna Joe B. Boys. Troy Norman Brooks. J.B. Jessie Bryant, Jr., (Jake) Walter Jacob Brooks.

I hope you can make all this out.