Brooks Family of Westville

The following are several articles and obituaries of the Brooks family which gives a lot of great biographical information on this early pioneering family of Franklin County.

Descendants online state that Moses Brooks was born Moise Rousseau, son of Pascal Rousseau and Marguerite Desnoyons, and that he changed his name. No further proof. If you have more information about this family that you would like to share, please email me!


Source: The Malone Farmer, 6 Jan 1915, page 4

Marriages

BROOKS-PREMO - At St. Mary's church Fort Covington, December 28, by Rev. Fr. J. L. Desjardins, Mr. Charles Brooks, of Westville, and Mrs. Eva Gratton Premo, of Ft. Covington


Source: Niagara Falls Gazette, 1930 (Jun-Jul)

Westville - Five generations of the Brooks family live here. Moses Brooks, 94, Franklin county pioneer, still does farm work. His son, Joseph, is 71. Joseph Jr., is 45. Clarence, son of Joseph Jr., is 24. Richard Brooks, son of Clarence, is one year old.


Source: The Malone Farmer, 27 Jul 1932, page 1

MOSES BROOKS, JR. PASSED AWAY AT HOME OF DAUGHTER

Moses Brooks, Jr., passed away Thursday night at the home of daughter, Mrs. Pter Callahan, Burke, following a long period ill health.

Mr. Brooks was 66 years of age and had spent a greater part his life in Westville. He had a wide acquaintance throughout this section.

Although his health had been impaired for about twelve years past, his final illness was of a weeks duration. Immediately after his death the remains were brought to his home at 21 Raymond street, Malone.

Born in Westville, the son of Moses Brooks, Sr., who survives him at the age of 96 years, he operated a farm in that vicinity for a long period. In his active years he took an earnest part in political affairs of his community and held various town offices in Westville. He was a member of Notre Dame Church, of the Holy Name Society and of L'Union St. John.

He was united in marriage with Julia Ann Langlois who survives him. Besides his aged father, he also leaves five children; Mrs. Don J. Casey, Lake Placid Club; Mrs. Peter Callahan, Burke; Alfred, Leroy and Wayne Brooks, Malone; four brothers; Joseph and Silas Brooks, Malone, and Herbert and Charles Brooks, Rochester; two sisters, Mrs. William Batraw, Bangor and Miss Margaret Brooks, Westville, and seven grandchildren.


Source: Kingston, NY Daily Freeman, 1932

Brushton, Moses Brooks, 95 years old, came here from Westville Center to attend the funeral of his brother, William 93. Moses is in good health.


Source: The Malone farmer, 28 Feb 1934, page 7

MOSES BROOKS, Sr., WESTVILLE PIONEER, DIED LAST WEEK

Moses Brooks, Sr., pioneer of the town of Westville, oldest resident of the town and one of the oldest men in Franklin County, passed away last week Tuesday evening at his farm home. He was in his 98th year, his birthday being on May 7th.

Mr. Brooks was seemingly in his usual good condition of health during the day. Just before his death he had stepped out of the house for a moment and was seen by members of the family to suddenly fall in the snow. They rushed to his assistance and bore him into the house as quickly as possible, but he breathed his last as they carried him in their arms.

Coroner E. A. Cargill was at once called and gave the verdict of death due to natural causes incident to extreme old age. It was apparent that his passing was painless and without bodily suffering—the quiet ending of a worthy life.

Mr. Brooks was born in St. Remi, P. Q., a son of Pascal and Margaret Brooks. He moved to Keeseville, N. Y., with his parents when he was a year old and his childhood years were spent in that community where he attended school. When 16 years of age he moved with his parents to Westville, where they established their permanent home. As a boy he was industrious and always desired to share in work which aided the family. In those early years in Westville he laid the foundation of the uprightness and integrity which always characterized his life in later, years.

He purchased the farm in Westville 50 years ago and conducted it personally up to the present winter. Last summer, notwithstanding his great age, he did considerable work in the fields and in the garden, and this winter was planning for the farm work during the coming summer. He was a successful farmer, invariably having bountiful crops, and was also a skilled mechanic and for years had done much wood work and such repairs as were necessary on his farm machinery and equipment.

In the community where he so long resided he had the respect and esteem of everyone and was always a welcome visitor in Malone, where he often came to visit his relatives. At intervals family reunions were held and Mr. Brooks was always his happiest on these occasions, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. A notable event of this kind was held a few years ago in celebration of his 95th birthday. He was a man of happy and genial disposition and was devoted to his home and family. He was truly a patriarch of this North Country and deserved all the esteem and respect that came throughout his life of almost a century.

Mr. Brooks was united in marriage with Almira LaMay, of Westville, who passed away 34 years ago. He leaves surviving the following daughters and sons: Mrs. William Battraw, Bangor; Miss Margaret Brooks, who resides in the home in Westville; Joseph and Silas Brooks, Malone; Herbert Brooks. Rochester, and Charles Brooks, who resides on 'the farm at Westville. He also leaves 31 grandchildren, a large number of great-grandchildren, and several great, great- grandchildren, the whole comprising 103 direct descendants, now living.

Mr. Brooks was a member of Notre Dame Church and also held membership in the Holy Name Society of that church.


Source: Fort Covington Sun, Thursday, 5 Mar 1936, page 2

MRS. BROOKS EXPIRES IN MALONE SATURDAY

Mrs. Joseph Brooks, ST., a native of Westville and resident of Malone, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs, Clarence Santy on Saturday morning. She was 73 years of age. The deceased underwent an operation on August 2 of last year and since that time she had been seriously ill.

Mrs. Brooks was born in Westville, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Bouissey, on January 16, 1863. Following her marriage to Mr. Brooks on Feb. 9, 1880 they lived in Westville until twenty-five years ago when they moved to Malone. Her husband's death occurred December 4, 1930.

Six years ago she and Mr. Brooks celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Surviving are eight children, three daughters: Mrs. Herbert Avery, Westville; Mrs. Rollie Bransford, Springfield, Mass.; and Mrs. Clarence Santy, Malone; five sons, Joseph Brooks, Jr., of Massena; Chief of Police Sidney J. Brooks, Malone; Vern Brooks, Albany; Theodore Brooks, Hogansburg, and Leo Brooks, Malone: two brothers, Louis Bouissey, Malone, and Edward Bouissey, Constable: 25 grandchildren and several Great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held in Malone at Notre Dame Church Monday morning.


Source: Fort Covington Sun, 14 May 1953, page 3

WESTVILLE MAN, 68, DIES IN HOSPITAL; RITES HELD MAY 4TH

Joseph Brooks, Jr., 68, an assessor of Westville, passed away May 1st at the Alice Hyde hospital where he had been a patient for the past three weeks.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 4, at ten o'clock at St. Francis church, Constable and burial was made in the parish cemetery there.

Surviving are, his wife, two sons, Clarence Brooks of Malone and Harold Brooks of Westville; three brothers, Chief of Police Sidney J. Brooks of Malone; V. M. Brooks of Albany and Theodore Brooks of Trout River, and three sisters, Mrs. Hattie Avery of Westville; Mrs. Rollie Bransford of West Springfield, Mass, and Mrs. John Duquette of Malone. There are also five grandchildren.

Mr. Brooks was born in Westville February 21, 1885, a son of the late Joseph and Chloe Boissey Brooks. He married the former Leona Perry of North Bangor July 6, 1904.

He was a moulder by trade, having worked at the Hinds foundry in Malone for years and later at the Aluminum Company of America in Massena. He retired in 1944 because of ill health.


Source: Fort Covington Sun, 3 Mar 1960, page 4

MRS. VERN BROOKS, 69 EXPIRES IN ALBANY

Mrs. Vern (Una) Brooks, 69, of 508 Morris St., Albany, formerly of Malone, died February 22nd in Albany after a six-month illness.

She was a sister-in-law of Mrs. Herbert Avery of Westville and her husband is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brooks of Westville.

She was born in Malone in July of 1890, a daughter of Louis and Emma St. Mary Frechette and resided there until 1917 when she and her husband went to Albany to live. He survives.

Besides her husband she leaves four daughters, Mrs. Jack Brennan of Texas, Mrs. Al Young of Buffalo, Mrs. Paul McDiarmid of Albany and Betty, at home; 11 grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Donat (iMina) Brunei of St. Stanislaus, Que., and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services and committal took place February 24th in Albany.


Source: Fort covington Sun, 19 Mar 1964, page 4

RITES HELD THURSDAY AT CONSTABLE CHURCH FOR MRS. S. DEYETTE

Funeral services, for Mrs. Lena Deyette, 78, wife of Steven Deyette of Brushton, who died March 9th at her home, were conducted St. Francis' church, Constable. Thursday morning at ten. Burial will be in the parish cemetery in the spring. The Rev. John McNamara officiated at the rites.

Mrs. Deyette's death followed a long illness. She was born in Bangor on September 28, 1885, a daughter of Joseph and Angeline Sochia Perry. She was twice married. Her first husband, the late Joseph Brooks, Jr., of Westville died several years ago. Later she was married to Mr. Deyette and the couple had been living in Brushton. She was a member of St. Mary's church, Brushton, and of the Altar and Rosary Society of St. Francis' church, Constable.

Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons, Clarence; Brooks, Malone; Harold Brooks, Westville; a step-daughter, Mrs. Hugh (Gertrude) Baker, Florida a sister, Mrs. Arthur Malette, Bangor; a brother, Frank Perry, Schenectady; 5 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.


Source: Fort covington Sun, 19 Mar 1964, page 4

MRS. AVERY HONORED ON 82ND BIRTHDAY

Mrs. Herbert Avery of Westville was guest of honor at a party on Sunday afternoon, February 23, at the Firemen's Hall. The occasion was to celebrate her 82nd birthday which occured on February 25th. Fifty-six attended.

Mrs. Avery has two daughters Mrs. Bert Fleury of Westville and Mrs. Louis Robinson of Constable and six sons, Ward of Constable; Raymond, Leland, Roger and Edward of Westville and Allan of Malone, all being present at the party. She also has 23 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. Several grandchildren living away were unable to attend.

Other guests included her sister, Mrs. Georgianna Duquette and slster-in-law, Mrs. Sidney Brooks, both of Malone, and her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Brooks of Trout River. She also has a sister, Mrs. Myra Bransford of West Springfield, Mass., and a brother, Vernon Brooks of Albany.

She received many nice gifts and a purse of money. Supper was served including assorted salads, sandwiches, coffee, fruit punch and a beautifully decorated birthday cake.

Mrs. Avery is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph. Brooks, Sr. of Westville.