Josiah Reed Brooks was born on 04 April 1838 in Cheviot, Hamilton County, Ohio. He was the son of Josiah Harris Brooks and Elizabeth Stathem, both of whom had migrated from New Jersey to Ohio about 1816 with a group of other families from Cumberland County in southwest New Jersey. About 1850 the Brooks family moved to Bartholomew County, Indiana. The family continued their trek westward and arrived in Randolph, Dakota County, Minnesota Territory in 1855.

Civil War Service: Josiah Reed Brooks enlisted at Randolph, Dakota County, Minnesota on 19 December 1863. He mustered into Company D, Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 05 January 1864. During the time of his enlistment, Brackett's Battalion was primarily involved with fighting the Indian Wars in the Dakota Territory. He was injured on 14 June 1864 during a night ride when his horse stepped in a hole and fell on top of him, breaking his shoulder and collar bone. He was never able to regain full use of his right arm and was medically discharged from the Union Army due to disability. After the war, he was a member of the GAR Michael J. Cook Post in Faribault, Minnesota.

While on leave from the Union Army, Josiah married Rhoda Louisa Whitford on 02 February 1864. Following his discharge, Josiah and Rhoda resided in Dakota and Mower counties before finally settling in Faribault, Rice County, Minnesota. They had four daughters, Elizabeth Maud "Lizzie", Susan Adelle, Maud M. "Jennie", and Kittie Edna. After the death of Rhoda in 1909, Josiah continued to reside in Faribault with his daughter, Lizzie (Brooks) Hall. Josiah moved to Chicago, Illinois about 1920 to live with his daughter Kittie and her husband, Dr. Aaron C. Koethe. Josiah died in Chicago on 15 December 1927. His body was returned to Faribault, Minnesota for burial.