BIOGRAPHY: Anson C. Brooks; Hamilton, Madison co., NY

submitted by W. D. Samuelsen
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Biographical Review
The Leading Citizens of Madison County, New York
pub. 1894, Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company

ANSON C. BROOKS, an esteemed and highly respected resident of Hamilton, is a
worthy representative of the intellectual, moral, and progressive element of
Madison County. He was born in Hamilton, September 12, 1842, and is a son of
Nelson Brooks. The latter was born in the town of Madison, and there reared to
the peaceful occupation of farming, which he followed the greater part of his
life. He spent his last years in Earlville, dying at an advanced age. Anson
Brooks, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Connecticut, born in the
town of Stratford. He emigrated to New York when a young man, it is thought,
being a pioneer of Madison.

The subject of this brief sketch was reared to manhood in his native town,
attending the district schools, where he received a substantial foundation for
his further education. At the age of fourteen years he began to be self-
supporting, and secured work on a farm, continuing thus engaged for several
seasons, - working on the farm in the summer and attending school in the
winter season. He was an earnest student, and by close application to his
books had, at the age of eighteen years, acquired such knowledge that he was
enabled to fill the position of instructor in the public schools of his native
town with marked ability, and for fifteen consecutive winters taught most
successfully. At the expiration of that period Mr. Brooks was, by a unanimous
vote, elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. His unswerving integrity
and stanch loyality to the cause of right gained fo rhim the approval and
confidence of his fellow-townsmen; and he was four times re-elected to this
office, each time filling a term of four years. Subsequently he became a firm
believer in the principles promulgated by the Prohibition party; and the high
sense of justice and duty which have characterized his every action led him to
join its ranks, and work ardently for the good cause. This change in politics
not meeting with the approval of his constitutents, Mr. Brooks was not again
re-elected to his former office. He is of thrifty habits, prudent and
economical. By a judicious use of his earnings, combined with skilful
management, our subject and his wife have purchased the home where the family
now reside, and where they are surrounded by the comforts of life.

When twenty-one years of age, Mr. Brooks was united in marriage with Miss
Marcia Brainard, daughter of Oliver and Eliza (Beebee) Brainard. Of this union
four children have been born, two of whom are now living; namely, Anna, born
in 1874, and Clarence in 1878. One son, Newton, died when six years of age,
and a daughter, Emma, at the age of fourteen years. In politics Mr. Brooks was
formerly a Republican, but now affiliates with the Prohibition party. During
the years 1880 and 1881 he served acceptably as Secretary of the Madison
County Temperance Association, and for two years was President of the same
association. During the past twelve years he has, perhaps, settled as many
estates as any man in town; and, as he is Notary Public, he has a large
business in drawing wills, contracts, deeds, mortgages, etc., and has
considerable practice as attorney in justice's courts, while he is trustee or
guardian for several old people. Mr. Brooks is decided in his opinions, and
firm and conscientious in the expression of them, fearlessly maintaining what
he believes to be true and right. Religiously, he is a regular attendant at
the Methodist Episcopal church.