This gentleman is one of the leading business men of Perry, Pike County, where he is now engaged in the sale of hardware and lumber and in the undertaking business. He has been in the combined business for five years past, but as a lumberman and the operator of a saw mill has been connected with the interests of the town for the past twenty years. For a considerable period of time he has also occupied to some extent in mercantile pursuits.

Mr. Read was born in Norfolkshire, England, August 21, 1826. His father, Robert A. Read, was born in Londontown and belonged to a good family, being the son of John Read, a well-to-do shoemaker of the metropolis. Robert grew up in his native city, obtaining his education there, and afterward went to Norfolkshire where he married Susan Callow, of that shire. After the birth of their three children, Robert Read and his wife set sail for the United States, taking passage May, 1826, on the sailing vessel "Parthlan". They landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after a tedious voyage of sixty-three days, and continued their journey westward to Baltimore, Md., thence over the mountains to Wheeling, W. Va., then to Cincinati, Ohio, and via the Ohio, Mississippi, and Illinois Rivers to Naples, IL.

The husband and father secured land in Perry Township, Pike County, but afterward removed to Perry and built and ran the first hotel of the place, continuing to reside in the village until his death in 1854. He was a worthy citizen and a public-spirited man, who took a deep interest in the up-building of the town. His wife survived him, living until 1882, and reaching a good old age, her natal day having been in 1903. Mrs. Read was reared in the Society of Friends, but at the time of her death belonged to the Christian Church. Our subject is the first-born of the three children and the only one now living. His brother, Charles Read, died when in middle life, his wife breathing her last within a few days of his decease. They left nine children. The sister of our subject was Helena, wife of John Vale, who, with his six children, now lives in Perry.

When twenty years old, John A. Read joined the Fourteenth C. S. Regulars, to fight through the Mexican war under the banner of his adopted country. His enrollment took place July 17, 1846, and his first commander was General Smith, but after the Battle of Vera Crua he was put under the command of General Cadwallader. His company was under Capt. James Blackburn. Mr. Read took part in the memorable battles of Cerro Gordo and Mexico, as well as the one before mentioned, and aided in capturing the cities. He escaped unhurt during his army life, but at the end of two years, returning with his company from New Orleans, he was taken sick after getting on board the vessel. He was in a dangerous condition from cholera, and after partially convalescing took the yellow fever and lay in the hospital for some time at the point of death. He received his discharge Septemeber 20, 1848, and was finally able to return to the North.

For same time Mr. Read followed the trade of a carpenter, combining it with the sawmilling business and in 1864 he was interested in establishing the woolen mills of Perry, which were run under the style of Read and Fagin. In 1886 our subject sold his interest, went to Missouri and operated a saw mill in Bates County, on the Osage River, for about six years. He then sold all his interests there and returned to Perry, where he has since been occupied as stated at the beginning of this biography. He is energetic, capable and reliable, displaying good judgement in his choice of the stock in which he deals and affable in his manner to his customers.

The first marriage of our subject was celebrated in Fairmount Township, Pike County, his bride being Miss Lucy C. Brower. That estimable woman was born in the Empire State and came west with her parents when she was quite young. She departed this life in Bates Co., Mo., in 1868. She was the mother of five children, one of whom is now deceased, William, who died when 21 years old. Aliva is the wife of Robert Johnson, a farmer in Garfield County, Kansas; Hebe is the wife of Neal Thorp, a farmer living near Winchester, this state; Philip married Alice Hobb and lives on a farm in Fairmount Township.

Mr. Read contracted a second matrimonial alliance in Bates County, Mo., his wife being Miss Amanda Bennett, who was born in Indiana and was quite young when she accompanied her parents to Missouri. She breathed her last in Perry in 1880, her dying hours cheered by the faith of the Christian Church. She had borne her husband one child, who is still with his father. The third wife of our subject was Miss Nancy Bradbury, whose demise also took place in Perry, where her entire life was spent. She was the mother of three children; John, Ruth and Gilbert G. The present Mrs. Read was born in Peoria County, but reared and educated at Perry, where her marriage to our subject took place. Prior to that event she was known as Mrs. Lucy V. Burch, nee Langley. She is a capable housewife, an enterprising woman and receives her due share of the esteem of the members of the community.

Contributed by Rosemary Reeves
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, IL, V.2, Published 1891