Joseph Brooks (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Brooks
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| 19th Postmaster of Little Rock, Arkansas | |
| In office March 19, 1875 – April 30, 1877 |
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| Nominated by | Ulysses S. Grant |
| Preceded by | James S. Pollock |
| Succeeded by | Ozro A. Hadley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1, 1812 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | April 30, 1877 (aged 64) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. 38°41′29.2″N 90°13′49.4″W / 38.691444°N 90.230389°W |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Ellen Brooks |
| Education | Indiana Asbury University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Volunteers |
| Years of service | 1862–1865 |
| Rank | Chaplain |
| Unit |
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| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Joseph Brooks (November 1, 1821 – April 30, 1877) was an important figure in American history. He was a Methodist minister, a newspaper editor, and a politician. He served as the 19th postmaster of Little Rock, Arkansas, from 1875 to 1877.
During a time called the Reconstruction Period (1864–74), Joseph Brooks was a leader in Arkansas. This was after the American Civil War. He led a group within the state's Republican Party called the "Brindle Tails." They tried to remove the state's governor, Elisha Baxter. This attempt to take control in 1874 became known as the Brooks–Baxter War.
Early Life and Military Service
Joseph Brooks was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He worked as a minister and preacher for the Methodist church. From 1840 to 1862, he served in Illinois and Missouri. He also worked as a newspaper editor. He wrote for the Central Christian Advocate in St. Louis.
In 1862, he joined the United States Volunteers. He served as a chaplain, which is like a minister for soldiers. Brooks was a strong supporter of abolitionism since the 1850s. Abolitionism was the movement to end slavery. In 1863, he became the chaplain for the 56th United States Colored Infantry. This was a unit of African American soldiers. Brooks left the U.S. Volunteers on February 1, 1865.
Reconstruction Era in Arkansas
After the American Civil War, Brooks rented a cotton farm near Helena, Arkansas. He worked to help freedmen, who were formerly enslaved people. He also tried to get them to join the Republican Party. In 1868, he was a delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
During the Reconstruction era, Joseph Brooks became a leader. He led a group within the Republican Party called the "Brindle Tails." This group got its nickname because people said Brooks sounded like a "Brindle-Tailed Bull" when he spoke. In the 1872 election for governor, both Brooks and Baxter ran as Republicans.
In 1874, there were still arguments about who truly won the 1872 election. This led to the Brooks–Baxter War. Brooks gathered a group of more than six hundred men. They took control of the state house in Little Rock. Brooks then said he was the new governor. Governor Baxter gathered about two thousand people to fight Brooks's supporters.
Federal troops were placed between the two groups to prevent more fighting. After some armed conflict, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant stepped in. Brooks was removed from office. However, President Grant later appointed Brooks as the postmaster of Little Rock, Arkansas. This was a government job given as a reward for support.
