Founding Father. He was the founder of the important settlement called Brooks' Point. He was probably born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and later pioneered to Jefferson County, Indiana. On April 6, 1815, he married Mathilda Manville (b.1799, Madison, IN), daughter of Nicholas and Mary Manville. The marriage took place in Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana, because it is on record and can be retrieved through the Indiana Marriage database. However, undocumented family stories say they were married in Bourbon Co., Kentucky, before their seven-year journey from Kentucky to Vermilion County, Illinois. Their children are Benjamin Frank, Polly, Sarah, John, David and Lucinda, who was born shortly after Benjamin died. Nicholas Manville was on an 1815 list of those owing taxes in Jefferson County, and Benjamin and his father-in-law, Nicholas Manville, were partners in timber mills near the area that later became known as Manvile, probably named after that Nicholas Manville, son of Butler, son of Nicholas. In 1821, he left his family in Indiana and journeyed to Vermilion County, Illinois, where he selected his land on the Little Vermilion, and then went back to Indiana to bring his family to their new home. When they arrived, they found that another man had put a claim on the land while Benjamin was gone and had secured it. However, Mr. Canaday, a man of some influence, saw what happened and let Benjamin claim the land. It was then settled so rapidly as to have the point of timber known by the name of Brooks' Point. Benjamin died in Dana, Indiana, while helping to construct a mill there.

Birthplace unknown, but not Bourbon County, KY. Possibly Virginia. Father's name probably is John. Large group of Brooks settled at Brooksburg, IN and Manville, IN. He was among these Brooks. Married Matilda Manville in Jefferson Co., Indiana. Died building a mill at Dana, IN along Bruitts Creek and was buried there - no marker. He is my 3rd Great Grandfather. Census records show the Benjamin Brooks from Kentucky was African American.