McDonough ILGenWeb

ALEXANDER V. BROOKING, formerly a prominent breeder of live-stock, in which he dealt extensively, and a well-known resident of Macomb, McDonough County, Ill., was born February 25, 1829, at Sulphur Springs, KY., where he enjoyed the advantages of the primitive schools of early days. His father, Thomas Brooking, a son of Thomas V. Brooking, was a native of Richmond, VA., and his mother, Mary (Threshley) Brooking, was born near Lexington, KY. In 1834, Alexander V. Brooking came with his parents to Macomb, where his father taught school and practiced law. The latter bought a land claim of 150 acres, which he worked, teaching school during the winter seasons. The subject of this sketch is the ninth in a family of twelve children born to his parents. He remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age, and in connection with the latter, increased the extent of the farm to 550 acres. He took half of the farm, and, in 1854, bought the remainder from his father, and lived there eleven years. In 1864, he came to Macomb, where he took charge of the Randolph Hotel, which he still retains. Having sold the homestead, and buying another farm, he engaged in stock-raising and feeding horses. He retired from the business in 1904, having paid over $9,000 for fine stallions, which he brought to his place (the Chickamauga Stock Farm) two and one-half miles from Macomb.

Mr. Brooking was married August 27, 1851, to Elizabeth H. Randolph, a native of Ohio, who attended public school in Illinois. She died in August 1862, leaving three children - Thomas A., Melvina R. and Anna Louisa. On May 1, 1864, Mr. Brooking married Mary E. Butler, who was born in Illinois. The issue from this union was Frederick V., Ethelin, Estella V., Brainerd B., and Winnie Viola. In his political views, Mr. Brooking is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order (Macomb Lodge No. 17 and Morse Chapter No. 19) and the A. O. U. W.  His career has been long, active and successful, and he is now enjoying a period of well-earned repose.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907. Submitted by Joanne Scobee Morgan <morgans4@swbell.net>