💙My Second Great-Grandfather💙
Parents: Ralph and Louisa Brooks
Wife: Hannah Frances Harris
Father of John, Sarah Elizabeth, and Harriett Rebecca Brooks
After the Civil War, Henry Anderson Brooks, a ten-year-old ex-slave boy, was adopted by George Edward Ives and his mother, Sarah Wilcox Ives. George Ives was an Union Army band leader during the Civil War. He brought Henry home to Danbury, Connecticut, on his return from serving in the Civil War.
With support from the Ives family, Henry received an education in Danbury, CT and later enrolled at Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, an industrial school for African-Americans and Native Americans. The school became simply Hampton Institute in 1930 and became Hampton University in 1984. It was helped found by Sarah Wilcox Ives.
The Ives Family had long embraced African-American causes. They were known to be outspoken abolitionists.
After the Civil War, black colleges and universities were established to train and educate youth, build black communities and to create a black professional class. These institutions became the source of hopes and dreams for African-Americans.
During his years at Hampton, Henry met an instructor by the name of Martin Harris. When he first met Martin he was sure he was white. But he later learned that he was black and from Richmond, Virginia. Martin invited Henry to visit Richmond with him. Henry readily accepted the invitation because this would give him an opportunity to visit his family in Chesterfield County.
Soon he and Martin were on there way to Richmond. First, he visited with his family in Chesterfield and then back to Richmond. While in Richmond, Martin introduced him to his sister, Hannah Harris. For Henry it was love at first sight. Hannah was very fair skinned she could pass 'for white same as Martin. From then on whenever the opportunity presented it self Henry would come to Richmond to see Hannah.
After Henry graduated from Hampton he came to Richmond and started a business--Cleaning and Pressing --specializing in dyeing. After his business begins to prosper he asked Hannah to marry him, with blessing from her family.
Henry Anderson Brooks gained a nickname, H A. After their first child was born, they built a cottage home in New Town on the corner of Fluvanna Street and Pilkington Avenue. A Well was in the back yard. H A and Hannah had three children Sarah Elizabeth Ives Brooks, Harriett Rebecca Brooks and a-son, --John Brooks.
H. A. Brooks died between 1900 and 1910.
Parents: Ralph and Louisa Brooks
Wife: Hannah Frances Harris
Father of John, Sarah Elizabeth, and Harriett Rebecca Brooks
After the Civil War, Henry Anderson Brooks, a ten-year-old ex-slave boy, was adopted by George Edward Ives and his mother, Sarah Wilcox Ives. George Ives was an Union Army band leader during the Civil War. He brought Henry home to Danbury, Connecticut, on his return from serving in the Civil War.
With support from the Ives family, Henry received an education in Danbury, CT and later enrolled at Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, an industrial school for African-Americans and Native Americans. The school became simply Hampton Institute in 1930 and became Hampton University in 1984. It was helped found by Sarah Wilcox Ives.
The Ives Family had long embraced African-American causes. They were known to be outspoken abolitionists.
After the Civil War, black colleges and universities were established to train and educate youth, build black communities and to create a black professional class. These institutions became the source of hopes and dreams for African-Americans.
During his years at Hampton, Henry met an instructor by the name of Martin Harris. When he first met Martin he was sure he was white. But he later learned that he was black and from Richmond, Virginia. Martin invited Henry to visit Richmond with him. Henry readily accepted the invitation because this would give him an opportunity to visit his family in Chesterfield County.
Soon he and Martin were on there way to Richmond. First, he visited with his family in Chesterfield and then back to Richmond. While in Richmond, Martin introduced him to his sister, Hannah Harris. For Henry it was love at first sight. Hannah was very fair skinned she could pass 'for white same as Martin. From then on whenever the opportunity presented it self Henry would come to Richmond to see Hannah.
After Henry graduated from Hampton he came to Richmond and started a business--Cleaning and Pressing --specializing in dyeing. After his business begins to prosper he asked Hannah to marry him, with blessing from her family.
Henry Anderson Brooks gained a nickname, H A. After their first child was born, they built a cottage home in New Town on the corner of Fluvanna Street and Pilkington Avenue. A Well was in the back yard. H A and Hannah had three children Sarah Elizabeth Ives Brooks, Harriett Rebecca Brooks and a-son, --John Brooks.
H. A. Brooks died between 1900 and 1910.
💙My Second Great-Grandfather💙
Parents: Ralph and Louisa Brooks
Wife: Hannah Frances Harris
Father of John, Sarah Elizabeth, and Harriett Rebecca Brooks
After the Civil War, Henry Anderson Brooks, a ten-year-old ex-slave boy, was adopted by George Edward Ives and his mother, Sarah Wilcox Ives. George Ives was an Union Army band leader during the Civil War. He brought Henry home to Danbury, Connecticut, on his return from serving in the Civil War.
With support from the Ives family, Henry received an education in Danbury, CT and later enrolled at Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, an industrial school for African-Americans and Native Americans. The school became simply Hampton Institute in 1930 and became Hampton University in 1984. It was helped found by Sarah Wilcox Ives.
The Ives Family had long embraced African-American causes. They were known to be outspoken abolitionists.
After the Civil War, black colleges and universities were established to train and educate youth, build black communities and to create a black professional class. These institutions became the source of hopes and dreams for African-Americans.
During his years at Hampton, Henry met an instructor by the name of Martin Harris. When he first met Martin he was sure he was white. But he later learned that he was black and from Richmond, Virginia. Martin invited Henry to visit Richmond with him. Henry readily accepted the invitation because this would give him an opportunity to visit his family in Chesterfield County.
Soon he and Martin were on there way to Richmond. First, he visited with his family in Chesterfield and then back to Richmond. While in Richmond, Martin introduced him to his sister, Hannah Harris. For Henry it was love at first sight. Hannah was very fair skinned she could pass 'for white same as Martin. From then on whenever the opportunity presented it self Henry would come to Richmond to see Hannah.
After Henry graduated from Hampton he came to Richmond and started a business--Cleaning and Pressing --specializing in dyeing. After his business begins to prosper he asked Hannah to marry him, with blessing from her family.
Henry Anderson Brooks gained a nickname, H A. After their first child was born, they built a cottage home in New Town on the corner of Fluvanna Street and Pilkington Avenue. A Well was in the back yard. H A and Hannah had three children Sarah Elizabeth Ives Brooks, Harriett Rebecca Brooks and a-son, --John Brooks.
H. A. Brooks died between 1900 and 1910.
Parents: Ralph and Louisa Brooks
Wife: Hannah Frances Harris
Father of John, Sarah Elizabeth, and Harriett Rebecca Brooks
After the Civil War, Henry Anderson Brooks, a ten-year-old ex-slave boy, was adopted by George Edward Ives and his mother, Sarah Wilcox Ives. George Ives was an Union Army band leader during the Civil War. He brought Henry home to Danbury, Connecticut, on his return from serving in the Civil War.
With support from the Ives family, Henry received an education in Danbury, CT and later enrolled at Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, an industrial school for African-Americans and Native Americans. The school became simply Hampton Institute in 1930 and became Hampton University in 1984. It was helped found by Sarah Wilcox Ives.
The Ives Family had long embraced African-American causes. They were known to be outspoken abolitionists.
After the Civil War, black colleges and universities were established to train and educate youth, build black communities and to create a black professional class. These institutions became the source of hopes and dreams for African-Americans.
During his years at Hampton, Henry met an instructor by the name of Martin Harris. When he first met Martin he was sure he was white. But he later learned that he was black and from Richmond, Virginia. Martin invited Henry to visit Richmond with him. Henry readily accepted the invitation because this would give him an opportunity to visit his family in Chesterfield County.
Soon he and Martin were on there way to Richmond. First, he visited with his family in Chesterfield and then back to Richmond. While in Richmond, Martin introduced him to his sister, Hannah Harris. For Henry it was love at first sight. Hannah was very fair skinned she could pass 'for white same as Martin. From then on whenever the opportunity presented it self Henry would come to Richmond to see Hannah.
After Henry graduated from Hampton he came to Richmond and started a business--Cleaning and Pressing --specializing in dyeing. After his business begins to prosper he asked Hannah to marry him, with blessing from her family.
Henry Anderson Brooks gained a nickname, H A. After their first child was born, they built a cottage home in New Town on the corner of Fluvanna Street and Pilkington Avenue. A Well was in the back yard. H A and Hannah had three children Sarah Elizabeth Ives Brooks, Harriett Rebecca Brooks and a-son, --John Brooks.
H. A. Brooks died between 1900 and 1910.
