The first Brooksher in America was Surft Brooksher who came from Germany and located in South Carolina where he spent the remaining years of his life. His son Samuel was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His grandson Samuel married Nancy Wilson, daughter of Vincent Wilson who moved from Virginia to South Carolina and finally to Georgia. Samuel and Nancy lived in South Carolina where their son William R. Brooksher was born in 1829.
Samuel and Nancy moved to Georgia; after Nancy died, Samuel moved to Marion County in 1882 where he passed away in 1886. The children of Samuel and Nancy Wilson Brooksher were: Rachel C.; William R.; Lucinda; Washington B.; Mary and Ann. William R. and Washington B. joined the Confederate Army. In 1869 William R. came to Marion County and located on a 200-acre farm near Yellville. His wife was Hester B. Hefner, daughter of Levi and Lavica (Jones) Hefner of Georgia. They were the parents of Leonidas B. (Lee?); Ella; Edith; William R., Jr.; Thomas D.; Samuel L.; Mollie; Ota; Lula; and three others, Washington, Brazille, and Felton who died while young.
Dr. W. R. Brooksher was born in 1864 and was a small boy when his parents came to Arkansas after the war had ended. He obtained his early education in the schools of the county, then entered the University of Louisville at Louisville, Kentucky, as a medical student -- graduating in 1891 with a Medical Doctor's degree. After graduation, he practiced in Marion County for four years. In 1895 he went to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he remained. Later, he specialized in surgery, X-ray and radium treatment. His wife, Ida B. Cox of Baxter County, bore him three children: W. R., Jr. who is also a doctor; Monte; and Lucille.
About the year of 1909 his brother, Dr. Samuel L. Brooksher, who had been practicing medicine for several years in Marion County, joined Dr. William R. and they were partners for several years. His wife was Minnie Wilson, daughter of Thomas Wilson who was a minister of the Congregational Methodist Church at Yellville. Dr. Samuel and his wife were the parents of a son, Levy.
Lee Brooksher married Barte Pierce, daughter of Dr. Pierce. They were the parents of Lemuel, Tessie, and Robert. Lemuel married Ella Godfrey and their children were William Riley and Nita. Tessie married George Lickliter and they had one daughter, Eugenia, who married Howard Wingate. Robert married Virgie Covington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Covington of Yellville. They made their home in Fort Smith and were the parents of two daughters, Eloise and Virginia.
Thomas Brooksher married Nola Patterson. They had one child, Jo Ella. After her husband's death, Nola married Austin Snipes.
Mollie was the wife of Reverend House, a Methodist minister. They were the parents of two daughters, Zelpha and Lillian. After her husband's death, Mollie taught school for a few years, then went to Conway where she had a position at Hendrix College. She was a matron of either a dormitory or a fraternity house. All the young Methodist ministers loved "Mother House". After she retired, she married Mr. Will Keesee.
Edith married J. J. (Jack) Briggs and lived on a farm west of Yellville. Six sons were born to them: William, Jewell, Lon, Carl, Worth, and Levy. The farm was on Crooked Creek. To reach Yellville, it was crossed at the Briggs Ford. After people began to use cars, the Briggs boys had a garage across the creek from their house. They crossed over in a boat, then drove the car the rest of the way. Three of the sons, Lon, Worth and Levy were teachers.
Ola married Dr. Lucian M. Weast and lived in the old Weast home on Main Street. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Weast, parents of Dr. Weast, still lived there. Several years later, after Virgil Weast's wife Eva died, Lula Brooksher and Virgil were married. They, together with his daughter, Sarah Faye, lived in the old home.
Reprinted with permission from History of Marion County edited by Earl Berry, copyright 1977.