Brooks, William Riley 1806-1888 Morris, NY

Brooks, William Riley 1806-1888 Morris, NY

Wm. R. Brooks

Mr. Brooks was born May 28^th, 1806, and died Sept. 5^th, 1888: He was one of our oldest inhabitants, having resided in Morris nearly all his long life. He was a man much respected by his fellow townsmen. In active life a farmer, prompt and reliable in his dealings, liberal and benevolent to the wants of charity. He was a member of the Episcopal church, from which his funeral was attended at three o'clock last Friday afternoon. He has one son, E. H. Brooks of Carroll, Iowa, and several grandchildren, among them are C. M. Brooks of New Lisbon, and Edwin A. Brooks of Morris, who survive him. His remains were buried in the old church cemetery. The remains of Mr. Brooks were taken to Zion church Friday at 9 A.M. Where they lay in state until the time of the funeral and were viewed by many citizens.

Addendum:   William R. Brooks was my third great grandfather.
 William Riley Brooks was born to Capt. Lemuel Brooks 1759-1856 and Amelia or Melia Blakeslee 1764-1831 in New Haven, Connecticut.

His wife Hannah Cruttenden, was born 1809 and died on a trip to Iowa in 1867 probably to visit their son mentioned as E. H. Brooks. Hannah was

a daughter of Daniel Cruttenden an early settler of Morris. He donated the land for the original Zion church and no doubt the land where Harmony Cemetery is now.

The son in Carroll, Iowa would have been Erastus Henry Brooks. The

grandchildren would be Charles Melvin Brooks and his brother Edwin A. Brooks.  I think the obituary may be incorrect regarding Edwin as he died
in 1864 at age 25.  This is on his tombstone. 
There are several generations of the Brooks family buried at Harmony and Hillington Cemetery.
 All have Find A Grave memorials.  The county to search would be Otsego County.