Biography of James A Read Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess County, Chapman Brothers 1889 Read , James A. There are few people passing through this part of the county who fail to notice the fine farm which has been built up by the energy and industry of Mr. Read, one of the oldest settlers of this section of Illinois. His estate embraces 240 acres of land, eligibly located on section 16, and of which he secured possession in 1870. it then bore little resemblance to its present condition, and it is hardly necessary to say that in the transformation effected there has been expended years of labor and thousands of dollars. The whole forms a monument to the industry and perseverance of a man who began life for himself, without other resources than his stout muscles and resolute will. Mr. Read has erected his permanent home a long distance from the place of his birth, which occurred in County Donegal in North of Ireland, March 24, 1835. He was one of nine children, the offspring of David and Sarah (Ellis) Read, who were also natives of Ireland, and of Scotch descent. His make-up thus embraces some of the best elements of character to be found on the face of the globe. He was the second son of his parents, and lived with them under the old roof-tree in his native country until a lad of ten years. The father then desirous of something better for himself and his family, resolved upon emigrating to America. They started out, equipped with a limited amount of hard cash , and making their way to Londonderry, engaged passage on a sailing-vessel, bound for the city of Quebec, Canada, where they landed after a voyage of one mouth. The Read family only tarried briefly in the Dominion, their destination being the Far West in the United States. They made their way by the Erie canal and Great Lakes to Chicago, Ill., and from that point journeyed in a freight wagon to this county. They settled on a tract of land in Elizabeth Township, and made themselves as comfortable as possible amid surroundings which, at the present day, would be called anything but luxurious. The father a year later departed this life, leaving the widowed mother with seven children. Young Read obtained his early education in the subscription schools of this county, and was obligated to look out for himself mainly after the death of his father. With the exception of odd times spent in mining he has nearly all his life been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In the early days he secured a good team, and engaged in breaking prairie-land for the settlers around, having in view the steady purpose of securing, as soon as possible, a home of his own. With this determination he was married, April 17, 1865 to Miss Ann Funston. This lady was also born in the North of Ireland, the date thereof being Oct. 25, 1835. Her parents David and Elizabeth (Virtue) Funston, were natives of the same county, where the father engaged in farming until his emigration to America, in 1843. He settled in first in West Galena Township, and prepared to receive his family, who joined him the year following. Later he moved to Irish Hollow, in Rice Township, where he took up a piece of Government land, and there spent the remainder of his days, his decease occurred in November, 1853. The mother survived her husband a period of twenty-four years, dying in Rice Township, Oct. 21, 1877. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are living. In their lives they had displayed those sterling qualities which made them friends wherever known, and gained them the esteem and confidence of their neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Read commenced their wedded life in a humble dwelling in East Galena, and labored hand in hand in the acquisition of a comfortable home and property, which should enable them to give their children the advantage which they desired for them. Of these, fifteen in number, ten are living, viz.: David E., Maggie E., Frank E., Lizzie E., James F., Thomas E., Sarah A., George W., Wesley G., and Robert B. The deceased are: Adam B., John B., William, Ada B., and Charles W. Removing from East Galena Township, where he had resided, Mr. Read, in 1871, came to his present farm. He has been prospered in his labors, and remarkably fortunate in his investments, and has not suffered the cares and responsibilities of looking after a large property to interfere with the duties which every intelligent man should take upon himself in connection with the moral and social welfare of his community. He is in favor of schools and churches-and in fact every enterprise calculated to improve the county and elevate society. As a member of the School Board of his district he has officiated as a Director seven years. In the spring of 1886 he was elected Commissioner of Highways of Elizabeth Township for a term of three years. The beautiful cast-iorn bridge which has been erected across Apple River is the results of the efforts of himself and Mr. John Bluett. Few enterprises are set on foot in Elizabeth Township in which the aid of his excellent judgment is not solicited. He cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and politically, is a Republican of the first water. Both he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Read has officiated as Steward, and to which he has uniformly given a liberal support. The first few years of the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Read were spent in hard labor and close economy, but that season is long passed, and they are now enjoying the fruits of their labors, surrounded by friends, and the comforts to which they are so justly entitled. ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: D Read