06/18/2026
Brookfield’s Hidden Legacy
Jane Moore/Thorne, born a slave in Kentucky was moved to Linneus. After emancipation she moved to Brookfield in 1870. She had three children; William Henry, George, and Emma Stanton.
William Henry, with help from his brother, founded The Freeman’s Journal. This was one of the first black newspapers west of the Mississippi. They also spent time working at the Brookfield Gazette. The Freeman’s Journal became nationally known. William’s grandson, Charles became a Tuskegee airman in WWII.
Emma’s son, Edward Rucker, graduated from the Garfield School and gave a well delivered salutatory speech as noted in the Brookfield Gazette. This was notable as Eddie Rucker would go on to be quite the entertainer. He moved to California and became a kingpin of entertainers who amused thousands alongside legends of jazz.
This story, and so much more is on display at The Tillman House Museum. Stop by this weekend to check them out and all the recent updates.