Luke P Brooks Civil War Bio
Friday December 11 2020
The family story goes that Rev. Richard Locke Brooks moved his family from the Tazewell County, Virginia area over the mountains to Upshur County. He did this in order to protect his family from conflict that he knew was coming. The family consisted of Rev. Brooks, his wife Judith, and their seven children. Rev. Brooks established a church and community called Brooks Hill. Although the church body has been disbanded, the refurbished church and church cemetery, the school (now a community building), a library, the family cemetery, and the community still exists.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Luke ran away from home, lied about his age, and enlisted in the army. He was 14 at the time and was a small, wiry fellow whose height was only about 5’7”. His mother, Judith Adkins Brooks, marched down to the Union Camp and "dragged him home by the ear!" His only brother, Benson, was a preacher and did not serve.
On 17 Mar 1865, when he as 18, Luke enlisted at Wheeling, WV with Captain Stone in the 10th Regiment of the WV Infantry. He served in Company B and records show that he received only three pay vouchers. Luke began suffering from consumption during his enlistment so he didn't see much fighting. He received a pension and appears in the 1890 Veteran's Register. His name also appears in several government documents at the Congressional level as his pension was raised and examined over the years.
Luke married Barbara Julia Rexroad on 26 Feb 1876 and had 10 children. Luke taught school for many years and held the offices of county superintendent of schools and of assessor. He was noted forces aptness at repartee and possessed a jolly disposition.
Luke died of complications of old age on 1 Nov 1924 at the family home in Brooks Hill and is buried in the church cemetery. Julia is also buried there having died in May of 1879.
Luke’s father, Rev Richard Locke Brooks was a Methodist minister. As a circuit-rider, he served pastorates in Boone, Logan, Lincoln, Kanawha, and Upshur counties. He served as the Upshur County Representative at the WV Constitutional Convention and was one of the Chaplains of record. His session opening prayers have been recorded for the WV Archives.
My family line starting with my Grandmother (Generation 3):
Gen 3: Hazel Julia Brooks Betler Houchin
Gen 4: Richard Thomas Brooks & Landona Belle Curry
Gen 5: Luke Perkizer Brooks & Barbara Julia Rexroad
Gen 6: Richard Locke Brooks & Judith Adkins
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Luke ran away from home, lied about his age, and enlisted in the army. He was 14 at the time and was a small, wiry fellow whose height was only about 5’7”. His mother, Judith Adkins Brooks, marched down to the Union Camp and "dragged him home by the ear!" His only brother, Benson, was a preacher and did not serve.
On 17 Mar 1865, when he as 18, Luke enlisted at Wheeling, WV with Captain Stone in the 10th Regiment of the WV Infantry. He served in Company B and records show that he received only three pay vouchers. Luke began suffering from consumption during his enlistment so he didn't see much fighting. He received a pension and appears in the 1890 Veteran's Register. His name also appears in several government documents at the Congressional level as his pension was raised and examined over the years.
Luke married Barbara Julia Rexroad on 26 Feb 1876 and had 10 children. Luke taught school for many years and held the offices of county superintendent of schools and of assessor. He was noted forces aptness at repartee and possessed a jolly disposition.
Luke died of complications of old age on 1 Nov 1924 at the family home in Brooks Hill and is buried in the church cemetery. Julia is also buried there having died in May of 1879.
Luke’s father, Rev Richard Locke Brooks was a Methodist minister. As a circuit-rider, he served pastorates in Boone, Logan, Lincoln, Kanawha, and Upshur counties. He served as the Upshur County Representative at the WV Constitutional Convention and was one of the Chaplains of record. His session opening prayers have been recorded for the WV Archives.
My family line starting with my Grandmother (Generation 3):
Gen 3: Hazel Julia Brooks Betler Houchin
Gen 4: Richard Thomas Brooks & Landona Belle Curry
Gen 5: Luke Perkizer Brooks & Barbara Julia Rexroad
Gen 6: Richard Locke Brooks & Judith Adkins