Caswell County Genealogy
 

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Brooks, Benjamin Franklin

Male 1897 - 1918  (21 years)


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  • Name Brooks, Benjamin Franklin  [1
    Birth 22 Apr 1897  Person County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Name Jack 
    Reference Number 6241 
    Death 16 Oct 1918  France Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Burial United States Military Cemetery, St. Nazaire, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I6155  Caswell County
    Last Modified 23 Sep 2023 

    Father Brooks, Samuel Matthew,   b. 1 Apr 1856, Person County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Feb 1919, Person County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Long, Leah,   b. May 1861, Person County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Oct 1950, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 89 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Reference Number 409494 
    Family ID F3249  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Living 
    Children 
    +1. Brooks, Frances Louise,   b. 24 Sep 1917, Alamance County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Jan 2006, Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 88 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F3232  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 23 Sep 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 22 Apr 1897 - Person County, North Carolina Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 16 Oct 1918 - France Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • Benjamin Franklin Brooks (1897-1918)

      World War I Monument

      Mary Fannie Brooks and Brothers

      (for larger image, click on photograph)
      _______________

      Caswell County World War I Memorial

      "Lest We Forget"

      This memorial is erected by the citizens of Caswell County with pride and grateful appreciation for the services of the Caswell boys who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War. M.K.S.

      Benjamin Franklin Brooks
      Alvis Julian Chandler
      Byrd Fuller
      Alexander Harris
      Moses Jeffress
      John Lea
      Lawrence Lea
      Ruffin Lea
      John Lynn
      Edwin Moore
      Algernon Sidney Neal
      Thomas Phelps
      Roy A. Pattillo
      Gernie M. Smith
      Henry Anderson Solomon
      John Barker Thacker
      George Thomas Warren
      Willie Warren
      ______________

      Second Photograph: Benjamin Franklin Brooks is to the right of his sister Mary Fannie Brooks.
      _______________

      Benjamin Franklon Brooks, a Caswell County soldier who was destined to lose his life in the service of his country, enrolled his name in the ranks of the National Army in the registration of 1918. He attained his twenty-first birthday just a short time before this registration was held. His father, Sam Brooks, married Miss Long, both of these parents being natives of Person County. Young Brooks saw the light of day in that County. This family moved to Caswell several years ago and set up their home in Hightowers Township. Young Brooks received the usual education to be obtained in the Public schools, and at the time of his registration was actively engaged in farming.

      On August 5, 1918, he answered the call of his Local Board and was sent to Camp Wadsworth for training. He was given an Infantry assignment, and his comrades tell us that he developed into a very high type of a soldier. In the early days of October 1918 of World War I, he was sent overseas; sailing from Newport News, Virginia, and landing at St. Nazaire. During the voyage across the Atlantic, Jack became ill. His illness developed into pneumonia, and three days after he landed on French soil, he died. Jack was buried with military honors in the Military Cemetery at St. Nazaire, France. This soldier of freedom made the supreme sacrifice. All that is mortal of him remains in a foreign land, but his spirit still abides with us, and through years to come let us hold in reverence the sacrifice of this man.

      Source: Caswell County in the World War, 1917-1918: Service Records of Caswell County Men, George A. Anderson, Compiler (1921) at 47-48:

      Caswell County in the World War_Page_048Caswell County in the World War_Page_049

      (for larger image, click on photograph)
      _______________

      World War I Memorial

      On the Square in Yanceyville stands a memorial to the men who died in military service during World War I. On that plaque is listed Benjamin Franklin Brooks (1897-1918). Who was he? Who were his parents? How did he die?

      Benjamin Franklin Brooks, nicknamed Jack, was born April 22, 1897, in Person County, North Carolina, a son of Samuel Matthew Brooks (1856-1919) and Leah Long Brooks (1861-1950). A few years later, his family moved to the Hightowers community of Caswell County, where young Jack Brooks attended the local schools. He grew tall, was of medium build, with brown eyes and black hair.

      By 1918, he had struck out on his own, farming land in the Caswell County Corbett community, having married Clara Hensley in 1915.

      The couple had one known child, Frances Louise Brooks, born September 24, 1917, in Alamance County. She married Rufus Virgil Nelson (1906-1986) and for many years was the face of the Caswell County Tax Office in the old Caswell County Courthouse.

      Were there other children that we have missed? Please help.

      Called to World War I military service in August 1818, Jack Brooks received his Army infantry training at Camp Wadsworth near Spartanburg, South Carolina. In October of that year, he was assigned to overseas duty, and sailed to Europe from Newport News, Virginia, landing at the harbor town of Saint-Nazaire on the west coast of France.

      Having become ill on the Atlantic voyage, Jack Brooks developed pneumonia and died only three days after reaching France. He was buried with full military honors and rests at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery. He is not alone, but with 6,012 American war dead. Their white headstones are aligned in long rows, divided into four sections by wide paths with a circular plaza at the center.
      _______________

      U.S. World War I Mothers' Pilgrimage, 1929
      Name: Mrs Leah Brooks
      Gender: Female
      Relationship to Soldier: Mother
      Residence Year: 1929
      Address: Rfd
      Residence Place: Prospect Hill, Caswell, North Carolina, USA
      Desires Pilgrimage Later: No
      Soldier: Benjamin F Brooks
      _______________

      Benjamin F. Brooks
      Private, U.S. Army
      4th Pioneer Infantry Regiment
      Entered the Service from: North Carolina
      Died: October 16, 1918
      Buried at: Plot B Row 31 Grave 29
      Oise-Aisne American Cemetery
      Fere-en-Tardenois, France
      _______________

      Dedication

      God in his mercy and in His unfailing love willed it that but few of the sons of Caswell, should sleep their last dreamless sleep in the land where the Poppies grow. But Caswell had four sons who "went West." Algernon Sidney Neal, Benjamin Franklin Brooks, Roy Patillo, and George Thomas Warren sleep beneath the lilies of France. To their memories I dedicate my humble work. May our County forever hold in constant recollection the memory of their Supreme Sacrifice. In the service flag of Caswell let their golden stars shine with an added lustre through the years.

      In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea,
      With a glory in his bosom, which transfigures you and me;
      As He died to make men holy, so they died to make men free.
      Their souls go marching on.

      Source: Anderson, George A., Compiler. Caswell County in the World War, 1917-1918: Service Records of Caswell County Men. Raleigh (North Carolina): Edwards & Broughton Printing Co., 1921.
      _______________

      Leah Long Brooks died October 10, 1950, and the informant on her death certificate was daughter Mary Fannie Brooks (who married Arch Grover Nelson). Thus, the informant is shown as: "Mrs. A. G. Nelson, Prospect Hill." In the boxes for the father's name and the mother's maiden name, Mrs. A. G. Nelson could only insert: "unknown." Thus, she apparently did not know the names of her maternal grandparents, which is very sad. Leah Long Brooks rests at Wheeler's Primitive Baptist Church (Bushy Fork, Person County, North Carolina).

      Footnote: Leah Long Brooks had a son who died during World War I: Benjamin Franklin Brooks 1897-1918). He rests at the United States Military Cemetery, St. Nazaire, France.
      _______________

      World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
      Name: Benjamin Franklin Brooks
      County: Caswell
      State: North Carolina
      Birthplace: North Carolina; United States of America
      Birth Date: 22 Apr 1897

      WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings
      Name: Benjamin F. Brooks
      State Registered: North Carolina
      Death Date: 16 Oct 1918
      Cemetery: Oise-Aisne American Cemetery
      Cemetery Burial Plot: Plot B Row 31 Grave 29
      Cemetery City: Fere-En-Tardenois
      Cemetery Country: France
      War: World War I
      Title: Private, U.S. Army
      Rank: Private
      Service: U.S. Army
      Division: 4th Pioneer Infantry Regiment
      Data Source: World War I Honor Roll

      World War I Service Cards
      Name: Benjamin F Brooks
      Event Type: Military Service
      Event Date: 04 Aug 1918
      Event Place: Caswell, North Carolina, United States
      Event Place (Original): Caswell, North Carolina
      Birth Date: 22 Apr 1897
      Birthplace: Person, North Carolina
      Residence Place: Corbett, Caswell, North Carolina

      American Battle Monuments Commission
      Name Benjamin Franklin Brooks
      Rank Private, U.S. Army
      Unit 4th Pioneer Infantry Regiment
      Entered Service From North Carolina
      Date of Death October 16, 1918
      Buried Plot B Row 31 Grave 29
      Oise-Aisne American Cemetery
      Seringes-et- Nesles, France

  • Sources 
    1. Details: Caswell County in the World War, 1917-1918: Service Records of Caswell County Men, George A. Anderson, Compiler (1921) at 47-48.