BIO: Asa Brooks, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Judy Banja & Denise Phillips

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
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Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 165-166.
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  BROOKS, ASA, was born in Batavia, N.Y., on October 1, 1819, and died 
at his home in Candor, N.Y., on May 20, 1897, and was buried in the 
Maple Grove Cemetery in Candor.
  He was the son of Rev. Bethuel Brooks, a local preacher who lived 
most of his life in Lisle township, Chenango County, N.Y., but for a 
few years in Batavia.  He was ordained elder and served the Church as a 
local preacher with great acceptability.  Asa had two brothers, John 
and Wesley, who were local preachers.
  He could not remember when he had not religious impressions, and at 
fifteen years of age, at camp meeting held near Union Center, he 
surrendered himself to Christ.  He united with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Newark Valley, and at once became an active worker.  He 
received exhorter's license in 1840, and local preacher's license in 
1842.  In the same year he joined the Oneida Conference, becoming a 
member of Wyoming Conference at its organization.
  In the fifties, when spiritualism was spreading over the country, he 
found that some of his parishioners in Candor were being led away with 
the delusion.  He accordingly preached a series of sermons against the 
false doctrines of the new cult.  These were so favorably received that 
a demand was made for them in permanent form.  He accordingly recast 
them and put them into a 16mo book of 164 pages called Spiritualism 
Examined and Refuted.  It is a vigorous refutation of the claims of 
spiritualism.
  He was twice married.  His first marriage was to Miss Eliza M. 
Chamberlain, daughter of Deacon Samuel Chamberlain, of Great Bend, Pa., 
on July 22, 1845.  Two daughters were born to them.  She died in 1849, 
while Mr. Brooks was serving the Pittston charge.  His second wife was 
to Miss Permelia Griffing, daughter of Rev. John Griffing, on July 9, 
1850.  Eight children were born to them, three sons and five daughters.  
All but two are now living.
  Something further ought to be written concerning Rev. John Griffing.  
He lived the greater part of his life about two miles west of Owego.  
This was to care for his family, which was of goodly proportions, there 
being twelve children in the family.  He served large and extensive 
circuits, making periodic visits to his home.  Mrs. Brooks was the 
eleventh child.  The oldest daughter of the family, Clarissa, became 
the wife of Rev. C. W. Giddings, of the Oneida Conference.  One of the 
sons graduated from Wesleyan University, preaching his way through, and 
afterward became a member of Indiana Conference.  Mr. Griffing's 
ministry from 1814 to 1836 was largely confined to the territory which 
lies between Binghamton and Barton.
  In 1885, the infirmities of age prompted Brother Brooks to ask for a 
superannuate relation to the Conference.  After three years' residence 
in Binghamton he moved to Candor, where he spent the balance of his 
earthy life.
  His pastoral record is as follows:  1842, Spencer; 1843-44, Windsor; 
1845-46, Brooklyn; 1847, Montrose; 1848, Dundaff; 1849, Pittston; 1850, 
Hawley; 1851-52, Berkshire; 1853-54, Candor; 1855-56, North Danby; 
1857-58, Ross Street, Wilkes-Barre; 1859, Wyoming; 1860, Wyoming and 
Kingston; 1861-62, Abington; 1863-64, Skinner's Eddy; 1865, Little 
Meadows; 1866-68, Nichols; 1869-70, Little Meadows; 1871, sy.; supplied 
New Milford seven months; 1872, New Milford; 1873-74, Marathon; 1875-
76, Maine; 1877-78, Hawleyton; 1879, Union Center; 1880, Chenango 
Street, Binghamton; 1881-83, Vestal; 1884, Osborne Hollow; 1885-97, sd.