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Caswell County Genealogy
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 1897 - 1918 (21 years)
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| Name |
Brooks, Benjamin Franklin [1] |
| Born |
22 Apr 1897 |
Person County, North Carolina  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Name |
Jack |
| Reference Number |
6241 |
| Died |
16 Oct 1918 |
France [1] |
| Buried |
United States Military Cemetery, St. Nazaire, France |
| Person ID |
I6155 |
Caswell County |
| Last Modified |
17 Mar 2023 |
| Father |
Brooks, Samuel Matthew, b. 1 Apr 1856, Person County, North Carolina , d. 27 Feb 1919, Person County, North Carolina (Age 62 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Mother |
Long, Leah, b. May 1861, Person County, North Carolina , d. 10 Oct 1950, Caswell County, North Carolina (Age ~ 89 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Reference Number |
409494 |
| Family ID |
F3249 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Notes |
- Benjamin Franklin Brooks (1897-1918)
(for larger image, click on photograph)
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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
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Second Photograph: Benjamin Franklin Brooks is to the right of his sister Mary Fannie Brooks.
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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:
 
(for larger image, click on photograph)
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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| Sources |
- Details: Caswell County in the World War, 1917-1918: Service Records of Caswell County Men, George A. Anderson, Compiler (1921) at 47-48.
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