BRYAN FAMILY HISTORY - Interactive Family Histories

BRYAN FAMILY HISTORY 8-381JULIA ANN BRYAN (5) is the daughter of Finus Ewing Bryan and CaledoniaAnn (Revere) Byran. Julia was born on April 28, 1878 in Brandon, Texas. OnOctober 15, 1899, Julia Byran married Robert Wesley Brooks in Hillsboro,Texas. Robert was born on January 1, 1876 near Wimberley, Texas and is theson of Francis Asberry Brooks (born 1837 in Georgia) and Rhoda (Hill) Brooks(born 1846 in Arkansas), both direct ancestors of the authors. For additionalinformation on the Brooks lines, see the section on Brooks Family History.From 1891 to 1898, Robert Brooks worked as a ranch hand for Frank Dyer whowas married to Julia’s sister, Ella (Bryan) Dyer. In 1898, Robert Brooks movedto Oklahoma and homesteaded a farm located four miles east of Elk City inWashita County, Oklahoma. Shortly after moving to Oklahoma, Robert Brookscontracted typhoid fever and almost died near Weatherford, Oklahoma. Duringhis recovery, he wrote to Julia Bryan and proposed by mail. After theirmarriage, Robert and Julia went back to Oklahoma and lived on the land thatRobert had claimed. Until their house was completed, they lived in a halfdug-out (half the house was underground level). At this time, the nearest townwhere supplies and food could be bought was Weatherford which was 45 milesaway and took two days by wagon for a round trip.In 1900, Robert and Julia Brooks were living in Washita County, OklahomaTerritory. In 1907, Oklahoma became a state. In 1910 and 1920, Robert andJulia Brooks were living in Washita County, Oklahoma. While living on theirfarm, Robert and Julia Brooks donated part of their land to the county so that aschool could be built. The Pleasant Valley Grade School was built there and allof their children attended this school through the eighth grade. Robert and JuliaBrooks were the parents of six children:. . . Benjamin Conrad Brooks, b. August 11, 1901, Washita County, Oklahoma Terr.. . . Bryan Franklin Brooks (5.2), b. January 29, 1904, Washita County, Oklahoma. . . Russell Frazier Brooks, b. January 13, 1909, Washita County, Oklahoma. . . Everett Robert Brooks (5.4), b. November 20, 1912, Washita County, Oklahoma. . . Ethel Bernice Brooks (6), b. May 1, 1919, Washita County, Oklahoma. . . Oma Birch Brooks (5.6), b. May 1, 1919, Washita County, OklahomaRobert Wesley Brooks and Julia Ann (Bryan) BrooksCa. 1899Bernice (Brooks) Casey CollectionIn 1946, Robert Brooks retired from active farming and his son, Everett,continued to farm his homestead. At that time, Robert and Julia Brooks movedinto Elk City, Oklahoma. Robert Wesley Brooks died on January 25, 1951 andJulia Ann (Bryan) Brooks died on May 3, 1961. Both died in Elk City,Oklahoma and both were buried in the Canute Cemetery in Washita County,Oklahoma. Conrad died on January 28, 1922 of an abscess of the liver. He wasburied in the Canute Cemetery in Canute, Oklahoma. Conrad Brooks nevermarried. Russell Frazier Brooks died of congenital heart disease on November11, 1909. The descendants of Robert and Julia Brooks can be found in the book,“Brooks Family History,” by Bernice and Robert Casey which was published in1982. This book contains 13 pages and seven photographs on descendants of