Benjamin Franklin Brooks from Louisa County to Alexandria VA 1879 - 1954

My great grandfather Benjamin Franklin Brooks Sr. was born July, 1879 in Louisa County VA. We're not yet clear on who his biological parents were.  My DNA does not match descendants of the couple who most family trees attribute to being his parents.

We found Benjamin on an 1880 census report in Louisa County.  He was listed along with his brother Auther, born 1880 and his sister Eliza, born 1875.  Ben, Auther and Eliza carried the sir name Brooks. There were several other children in the household listed who carried the sir name "Winder".  I was told the name was actually Washington. 2 older girls were listed on the census with the last name Washington. 

In 1928 when Ben was 49 yrs old he started a club for young black men in the city of Alexandria. One of the objectives being, "to push over the top anything our colored citizens wish to achieve..." 

(more to come in a later post on this fascinating club he started)


As a career Benjamin worked and drove for Wheatley Funeral Home in Alexandria VA.  It was said that Ben was known to be very generous and would bring items from market to share with neighbors.



Benjamin's daughter, Margaret Catherine Brooks Peters 1912, was my grandmother and my very best friend.  She said Pa had a green thumb and that he kept beautiful plants.

The picture below was mailed to his son Ben Jr (affectionately known as Bennie) in Pittsburg PA. 

Hey, please hold on to those old family photos.  My cousin Lisa texted this pic to me and 80 years later we have a glimpse of our beloved ancestor.

 

He passed October 8, 1954 and lays at rest next to his wife,
Maime Gaines Brooks October 1886 - 1 July 1940 
in Bethel Cemetary, Alexandria VA.
L 10 - 321

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