Grundy-Cook County IL Archives Biographies.....Reading, James N ? - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 10, 2006, 4:20 am

Author: "History of Grundy County, Illinois", 1882

James N. READING, lawyer, Morris, whose portrait appears in this work, was 
born at the homestead of his maternal grandfather, Dr. John F. GRANDLIN, at 
Hamden, N. J., where his son, John GRANDLIN, now resides. He was named after 
his grandmother GRANDLIN's father, Dr. James Newell, whose wife was a 
LAWRENCE, and sister of the father of Commodore LAWRENCE. James N. READING is 
the son and eldest child of Joseph READING, who was the youngest child and 
only son of John (3), he being the eldest of John (2), who was the eldest son 
of Gov. John READING. He commenced his academic course at Flemington, under 
Charles BARTLES, Esq., who then had charge of the academy. He was prepared for 
college at the Princeton Academy, then entered Nassau Hall in 1827, and 
graduated in 1829, taking the fifth honor in a class of twenty-six; studied 
law with Samuel L. SOUTHARD in Trenton; was admitted to the bar in 1832, and 
became a counselor at law in 1836. He married, February 10, 1835, Sarah C. A. 
SOUTHARD, niece of the Governor. From 1832 to 1850, he practiced law in 
Flemington, fifteen of which years he was Prosecuting Attorney for Hunterdon 
County. During his residence in Hunterdon County, he took considerable 
interest and quite an active part in military affairs. His first appointment 
was to the office of Brigade Inspector; resigning after two years' service, he 
was appointed Colonel of the Third Regiment of Hunterdon Brigade, which with 
the office of State's Attorney, he held until he moved to the West. In 1850, 
he removed to Jefferson Co., Mo., and for two years was President of a lead 
mining company. He returned to New Jersey, settled up his private business, 
and in the fall of 1858 moved to Morris, Grundy Co., Ill., which has since 
been his place of residence, with the exception of the years 1859-1861, when 
he resided in Chicago and practiced law, in copartnership with Mr. (afterward 
Judge) WALLACE. He was elected a member of the State Legislature of Illinois 
in the fall of 1856, and filled the position until the fall of 1858, when he 
officiated as Clerk of the Circuit Court, filling a vacancy. In June, 1861, 
his partner having joined the Union army as a Major of the cavalry branch of 
the service, Mr. READING closed his law office in Chicago, and returned to 
Morris. During the war, he was Deputy United States Marshal for Grundy County, 
and also United States Commissioner, at the same time continuing his legal 
business. In 1865, he was elected County Judge, which position he held for 
three successive terms - twelve years - and then declined a re-election. He is 
an indefatigable worker, having, in addition to his legal practice and 
official duties, been largely engaged in the real estate business ever since 
his removal to Illinois. He is an able lawyer and jurist.

[Source: "History of Grundy County, Illinois", Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 
Historical Publishers, Lake Side Building, 1882]

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/reading107nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 3.5 Kb