Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Good Old Times In McLean County, Illinois Written by Dr. E. Duis Pub: The Leader Publishing and Printing House Bloomington, Illinois; 1874 P. 125-127 OLD SETTLERS OF M'LEAN COUNTY ALLIN TOWNSHIP PRESLEY THORNTON BROOKS PRESLEY T. BROOKS was born November 9, 1821, in Hart County, Kentucky. His father's name was MILES BROOKS and his mother's name before her marriage was LUCY PULLIAM. Both were born in Virginia and were of Scotch or Irish descent. MILES BROOKS volunteered as a soldier in the war of 1812 and started from home on a campaign, but the war closed and the troops were discharged. In the year 1828 Mr. BROOKS, sr., sold his property in Ken- tucky for the purpose of going to Illinois or Missouri. He started late in the fall of 1828, but stopped in Indiana until September, 1829, when he came to Illinois. During the winter of 1829 and '30 he stayed at Clearry's Grove, in what was then Sangamon County, but is now contained in the county of Menard. During that winter he selected and entered land at a grove which has ever since been called Brooks' Grove, in the present county of McLean. In February, 1830, Mr. BROOKS moved from Sangamon County to Hittle's Grove in Tazewell County, and on the fourteenth day of March of that year he moved into a very rough log cabin in Brooks' Grove. The BROOKS family was the first to settle in the present Allin township. This was before the organization of the county of McLean. The Indians, wolves and deer seemed to have things all their own way and were very numerous. The Indians were exceedingly kind and friendly and always wanted to trade some of their pappooses for white children. Mr. BROOKS relates nothing remarkable concerning the winter of the deep snow, beyond what is stated in other places in this volume. The BROOKS family was snowbound for six weeks and, during that time, saw no living persons outside of their own family circle. In 1832, when the Black Hawk war occurred, the settlers were panic-stricken, and Mr. BROOKS says: "When old Black Hawk was captured, there was rejoicing, you better believe." Mr. BROOKS describes the sudden freeze of December, 1836, and says it came so suddenly that fowls were frozen into the slush of snow and water which covered the ground. The west wind came cold after a thaw "as quick as thought," and the water and slush became a sheet of ice. Mr. BROOKS had no opportunity to attend school until about fifteen years of age. During the winter of 1836 and '37 he boarded about six miles from home and attended school for about six weeks. During the next summer he went to school for three months and his education was finished. Money was valuable in the early days. Mr. BROOKS went to Chicago in 1846, and one dollar paid all of his expenses. But as he camped out during the trip this does not appear so wonderful. In the fall of 1847 Mr. BROOKS made a visit to his native hills in Kentucky and returned with his sister's family to Illinois. The people of Allin township seem to take pleasure in em- ploying the services of Mr. BROOKS in the various township offices. He has been constable, justice of the peace and supervisor, and has been elected to these offices without opposition and in some cases against his will. At one time he refused to qualify as a justice of the peace, when his towns- men held a special meeting and chose him once more, and he consented to act. He has been school treasurer, assessor and collector, and if a new office could be invented in Allin township Mr. BROOKS would, in all probability, be called to fill it. On the twenty-ninth of December, 1842, Mr. BROOKS married Miss ELIZA SILVEY LARISON, and in April following began keeping house at Brook's Grove. There Mr. BROOKS had built a frame house, one of the first in the township. In November, 1870, the BROOKS family moved to Stanford where they have resided ever since. His son-in-law, WILLIAM J. HAINES, lives on the old farm. Mr. BROOKS has had ten children, of whom eight are living. They are: MALINDA CATHERINE, wife of WILLIAM HAINES; MILES BROOKS, one of the partners of the firm Brooks & Son; MARY, wife of GEORGE W. KAUFMANN, who resides half a mile northwest of Stanford; ABEL BROOKS is a teacher, and lives at home; RACHEL B., LUCY ANN, MILLIE FRANCES B., and ELIZA ELLEN B., the pet, live at home. As to personal appearance, Mr. BROOKS is five feet, nine inches, in height, well set, wears glasses when he reads and writes. His hair is turning gray, but he has plenty of it; he has a short aquilline nose and blue eyes. He has been very successful in life, which is due in great measure to his wife. ===========================================================================