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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of Simon Schenck BROKAW

[Surnames: AXFORD, BEAM, BROKAW, KLINE, SCHENCK, STANDARD, VOORHEES, WAMSLEIGH, WYKOFF] 

BROKAW, SIMON S. 

    
He is a worthy representative of Fulton County, and was born in Somerset County, NJ, on April 2, 1836. He is a son of Isaac I. and Aletta (Skank [sic: SCHENCK]) Brokaw, natives of New Jersey. His father was a Major in the State Militia, and at one time (1839) had charge of all the troops in the state of New Jersey. Isaac I. Brokaw traveled with his family by wagon from that State to Illinois in 1839, and settled in Joshua Twp., south of the town of Fairview. He bought a tract of 200 acres on which he built a log cabin, cleared and broke up the virgin soil and made such improvements that enabled him to obtain a livelihood. On this place he successfully followed farming and stock-raising during the remainder of his life, his death occurring June 14, 1878, his wife having eight years previously passed away.
    
Simon S. Brokaw was about four years old when he accompanied his parents on the long and arduous journey from the East. At the age of twenty-four he began farming for himself on what was known as the Kline farm, in the same area. Afterward he cultivated a farm of 320 acres belonging to Garrette Voorhees. He then bought from Morris Standard a farm of 177 acres lying in Sections 16, 18, and 21, Joshua Twp. Besides his property in Joshua he is interested in other farm lands at various points. On the home farm he cares for about 300 full-blooded Brahma chickens, having raised this breed of fowls for 25 years. Since that time his son, John B., has taken his father's place on the farm.
    
June 25, 1858, Mr. Brokaw was united with Louisa Beam, who was born in Pennsylvanie. They are the parents of: Mary (Mrs. Arions Voorhees), John P., May, Maggie (Mrs. A.H. Wamsleigh) of Chicago, Minnie (Mrs. George B. Wykoff) whose home is in Valparaiso, IN, and Blanche (Mrs. Montgomery Axford) of Chicago. Isaac, the oldest son, was killed by sunstroke at the age of 21 years.
    
In politics he is a Democrat and has held all the town-ship offices. He has been an Odd Fellow since 1857, and in 1862 at Fairview, he was made a Mason, a member of the Fairview Lodge, A.F.& A.M., and Canton Chapter, R.A.M.