Edwin Jackson Brooks was born in Lennoxville, Quebec, in 1949. He and his twin brother Edward arrived in July, 1882 and chose land just west of Indian Head, only to be told that the land had already been reserved by the Qu'Appelle Valley Company (Bell Farm). He later chose land north of Indian Head (Wide Awake District). He became a prominent citizen and merchant in Indian Head. In 1885, he was selected to serve on the jury for the trial of Louis Riel.