Profile: Alfred Brooks, Private, Co. C.

Alfred Brooks

 The above image of Alfred was located by the author in Alfred's Pension File.

Alfred Brooks was enlisted on December 28, 1862, at Fort Scott, Ks., by Lt. Graton, the commanding officer of Co. C. Alfred age was stated as being 16 years old and he was described as being 5 feet 2 1/2 inches tall with a yellow complexion, gray eyes and black hair. Alfred indicated that he was born in Lafayette County, Missouri and listed his occupation as a farmer.  Regarding Alfred's appearance, a comrade from Company C, William Rose, stated, "You could hardly tell Alfred Brooks from a white man." Another comrade from the regiment, Doc McWilliams, added, “He [Alfred] had a mustache in service but it was not so heavy as shown in the picture.”

On January 13, 1863, Alfred was mustered into Company C. of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers at Fort Scott, Ks., and was listed as present on every Company Muster Roll until discharged with the regiment on October 1, 1865 at Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

On the Company Muster-out Roll, Alfred is listed as being a slave at the time of his enlistment, and after the war a Claim for Compensation for Enlisted Slave was filed by a Harriett C. Jay in Lafayette County, Mo, on November 12, 1866, claiming  she owned Alfred when he enlisted. Harriet stated she had bought Alfred in Lafayette County, Mo. "when said Alfred was but one year old."  Harriet was illiterate and had to sign the slave claim with her mark... an " X ".

After the war Alfred was active in the Free Masons and served as a Lieutenant in the "Lawrence Guards", a company as part of the Kansas State Militia. (Cunningham, The Black Citizen-Soldiers of Kansas, 1864-1901). He appears on the 1870 US census living with his wife, Malinda, and son, James M.  Alfred is employed as a laborer as he was throughout his post-war life. 

In 1875, per the Kansas State Census, Alfred owned his own home valued at $200 and had other assets worth $50.

Like many veterans of the war Alfred applied for an "Invalid Pension" due to disabilities received while in the service. As part of his application (#1053858), he had to contend with identity fraud/theft as another individual claiming to be Alfred Brooks of the 1st KCV had already filed a claim. Eventually, this was resolved to the satisfaction of the Pension Bureau and Alfred was awarded his claim on June 23, 1891. (Certificate # 745267) His pension file also indicates that he married a Nancy Kennedy on Dec 11, 1889, in Lawrence, KS. (It is not known what happened to Malinda.).  

Alfred passed away on November 14, 1901 and was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, Ks. The Chaplain at his funeral was Milton Simms, a comrade of Alfred's from the 1st KCV. His government headstone was provided through a government contract with the Lee Marble Works of Massachusetts.

After his death Nancy filed for and was awarded a Widow's Pension on December 2, 1901. 

Sources: Author's research files, CMSR, Pension File, US Census, Kansas Census, Roger D. Cunningham, "Black Citizen Soldiers of Kansas, 1864-1901"

Copyright: 2014 - Chris Tabor