Who was G. H. Brooks?
BROOKS, VALENTINE, SMITH
Posted By: Greta Thompson (email)
Date: 11/3/2010 at 22:42:33
My great grandfather Peter Valentine (1824-1897) and his wife Matilda (1825-1894) settled in Jefferson Township, Bremer County in 1853. They had been married in Herkimer County, NY (1848) where Matilda was born; spent a few years farming in DeKalb County, IL; and then moved to Bremer County.
According to Peter's obituary (Waterloo Courier, 1 Dec 1897), the funeral service was held at his residence 920 Lafayette Street in East Waterloo. It was conducted by Rev. G.H. Brooks of New York.
I'd like to know if Rev. Brooks lived in Bremer or Black Hawk County. Why was he identified as from New York? Did he have a church in Bremer or Black Hawk County? Had he lived there before moving to New York? Was he in Iowa just for a short time before and after Peter's death? I know Peter was not a religious man, so it seems odd that a New York minister spoke at his funeral. Might Rev. Brooks have been a friend or relative from Herkimer County?
It may be impossible to answer these questions, but maybe I'll strike gold unexpectedly.
Thanks for any help or suggestions you can give me.
Greta Thompson
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