BROOKS, REV. JOHN F., was born Dec. 3, 1801, in Oneida county, N. Y. His parents were of New England origin, but emigrated to New York in 1792, when the whole region was a forest, with here and there a small settlement. Mr. Brooks graduated at Hamilton College, in that county, in 1828, and afterwards studied three years in the theological department of Yale college, New Haven, Conn. Be was ordained to the gospel ministry by Oneida Presbytery, in the autumn of 1831, and was married soon after to a daughter of Rev. Joel Bradley. They immediately left for Illinois, under a commission from the American Home Missionary Society. They traveled by canal, lake and stage to Pittsburg, thence by steamboat, down the Ohio river to New Albany, Ind. Any route to Illinois by way of Chicago, in those days, was not to be thought of, as that place was just emerging from the condition of an Indian trading station. At New Albany Rev. Mr. Brooks purchased a horse and "Dearborn," as it was then called, which was a one horse wagon with stationary cover. In this they continued their journey, crossing the Wabash river at Vincennes. After passing a skirt of timber on the west side, they entered the first prairie of Illinois, in the midst of a furious storm. They were far from any house, with only the carriage as a protection, and that in danger of being upset by the gale. They weathered the storm, however, by turning the back of their carriage to it, but the prairie was covered with water, and they could only disern the path by observing where the grass did not rise above the water. They sought a house to dry their garments, and that night arrived at Lawrenceville, where Rev. Mr. B. preached his first sermon in Illinois, the next day being Sabbath. About three days after they arrived at Vandalia, the State capital, having been five weeks on the way from the vicinity of Utica, N. Y. After visiting several towns and villages, Rev. Mr. Brooks located for the winter at Collinsville, in the southern part of Madison county, preaching, alternately, there and at Belleville. In the spring of 1832 he moved to the latter place, where he continued five years, preaching there, and at several other points in St. Clair and Monroe counties.

About the second year of his residence at Belleville, he and his wife opened a school, which increased so rapidly they employed an assistant. They taught all grades, from A, B, C, to the classics and higher mathematics. Several attended that school, who afterwards entered the halls of legislation, and other departments of public life. In 1837 Mr. Brooks was chosen principal of a Teachers' Seminary, which benevolent individuals were endeavoring to establish in Waverly, Morgan county. He taught there with success, but the general embarrassment of the country, caused by the financial disasters of 1837, compelled a relinquishment of that enterprise. During the time he was teaching he endeavored to preach one sermon every Sabbath, but the double labor induced bronchial affection, from which he has never fully recovered. In 1840 Mr. B. was called to Springfield to take charge of an academy for both sexes, though in different apartments, to be taught in a new brick edifice erected for that purpose on the west side of Fifth street, between Monroe and Market. Here he continued his labors, with the aid of two assistants, for two years and a half. Many persons now prominent in business or in domestic life, received a portion of their education there. After this he labored for two years under direction of Presbytery supplying vacant churches in this and adjoining counties. His health was now much impaired, and designing light labor, he opened a school for young ladies in a small room near his own house. The applications soon outran the size of the room, which he enlarged, and his wife again assisted him. His school increased, his health improved, and he purchased the property on the corner of Fifth and Edwards streets, re-arranging the two-story frame building internally to suit the purposes of a school. This he opened as a Female Seminary, the Autumn of 1849, with three assistants, and Mrs. Brooks in charge of the primary department, held in the room he previously occupied. In addition to the usual course, Mr. Brooks added drawing, painting and music; two pianos were introduced, and this is believed to have been the first effort at teaching music in the schools of Springfield. This Seminary prospered for four years, when Mrs. Brooks' health failed, and it became necessary to close the institution. Since her death in 1860, Rev. Mr. Brooks has devoted a large part of his time to hearing classes, and giving private lessons.

He was one of seven young men who banded together, while in their theological course in New Haven, for the estabment of a college in this State. Illinois College, at Jacksonville is the result of their exertions. Mr. Brooks has been one of its trustees from the first.

He relates, as an illustration of the change of times in attending Presbytery in the State since he entered it, that a clergyman in those days must have his horse and saddle as certainly as his Bible and hymn book. The settlements were remote from each other, and a ride of three or four days to a meeting of Presbytery was a common experience. Once, in attending such a meeting, Mr. Brooks traveled in an easterly direction from Bellville, for two or three days, and found a sparse settlement, mostly of log cabins. They had erected a frame church building and roofed it, without siding or floor, with only a few rough boards for seats. The Presbytery opened its sessions, several sermons were preached, the sacrament administered, but rain came on before that body adjourned, and they moved to a private house, with only one room and a small side appartment. At meal time Presbytery adjourned, that the table might be spread, and after evening service, six or seven members lodged in the same room, on beds spread on the floor. People, in sustaining religious worship under such circumstances made as great sacrifices, according to their means as those who build their $50,000 churches do now. At this meeting Mr. Brooks was entertained at a cabin where the only light admitted was through an open door, or one or two sheets of oiled paper, in place of glass windows. He met a man, however, in that settlement, from his native town, in New York, and he had two glass windows, but his neighbors thought him extravagant, and somewhat aristocratic to indulge in such a luxury. Rev. Mr. Brooks resides west side of Fifth, between Edwards and Cook streets, Springfield, Illinois.