BIOGRAPHY: George Marshall READE, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 206-8
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GEORGE MARSHALL READE, who practiced successfully for half a century before the 
supreme court of Pennsylvania, was one of the ablest and most eloquent lawyers 
that ever resided within the boundaries of Cambria county.
     He was the son of Hezekiah and Susan (Shrum) Reade, and was born in the 
Ligonier valley, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania on the 29th of May, 1819. 
Five generations have passed away since the new-world pioneer of the Reade 
family came from old England to New England, where in all probability, he 
settled in the pathless woods of Maine. Abner Reade entered the Continental 
army, and, after his service in that memorable conflict, he came from Maine to 
Lancaster county, this State, where he died. He was accompanied by his son, 
Hezekiah Reade, who finally settled in the beautiful and historic Ligonier 
valley, in Westmoreland county, where he owned a flouring mill and followed 
farming for an occupation. Of sturdy New England stock, he threw his whole 
energy into whatever he attempted, and made his impress on the community in 
which he lived and died. He married Susan Shrum, of St. Clair township, 
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and to their union were born eight children.
     George Marshall Reade, who stood confessedly in the front rank of his 
profession, was reared on his father's farm, where he was engaged in the usual 
pursuits that fall to the lot of farmers' sons. He received a good common-school 
and academic education, and, having made choice of the law as a profession, he 
commenced and pursued his legal studies in the office of James Potts, of 
Johnstown. He was admitted to the bar of Cambria county on the 8th of October, 
1851, and at once located at Ebensburg, the county-seat, where he practiced with 
success until death closed his professional career on June 22, 1892. His remains 
lie in Lloyd's cemetery. He was a republican in politics, and a trustee and 
attendant of the Presbyterian church, but actively sympathized with all 
churches, and contributed to their support. He was a member of Summit Lodge, No. 
312, Free and Accepted Masons, of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, and Oriental 
Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar, of Johnstown.
     On the 25th of April, 1855, George M. Reade married Cassandra Mathiot, of 
Ross Furnace, Westmoreland county. To this union were born two children, a son 
and a daughter, Helen and Mathiot.
     George Marshall Reade laid broad and deep the foundations of his 
professional success in early life by forming habits of close and thorough 
study, and devoting himself solely to his profession despite the alluring 
temptations of political place and power. His success was such in the county 
courts that he was soon called to the management of important cases in the 
higher district and circuit courts, where he rapidly distinguished himself by 
ability, talent and winning suits in which defeat sometimes seemed inevitable to 
his clients. He argued his cases for all there was in them, and in a few years 
ranked as one of the leading lawyers of western Pennsylvania. He practiced 
extensively before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and for years before his 
death was engaged in every important or prominent case that came up in the 
county courts. As a lawyer he was acknowledge leader in his profession, which 
then, as now, in western Pennsylvania, was distinguished for an array of able 
legal talent. His mind was comprehensive, his judgment, at times, almost 
intuitive, and his sagacity remarkable in discriminating the essential from the 
non-essential. As a pleader he was eloquent and effective, and always wielded a 
great influence over a jury when he appeared before it. The movement of his 
eloquence was forceful and brilliant, inculcating logical truths as well as 
producing pleasure by beauty of language, but could not be adequately reported. 
But few of his efforts have been preserved, and those only in fragmentary form; 
hence he is no exception to Duponceau's remark, that “lawyers leave nothing 
behind but the echo of a name.” But while the remains of his legal learning and 
splendid eloquence are few, yet the echo of his name will never die in the 
courts where he practiced, while his life is a part of the history of his 
country that may be read with profit and for inspiration by all who seek to be 
useful or prominent at the bar. At once an honor and an ornament to the bar, 
George Marshall Reade was equaled by few as a representative of his profession.
     Mathiot Reade, son of George M. and Casandra (Mathiot) Reade, was born 
March 28, 1858. His mother was a daughter of Col. Jacob D. Mathiot, who served 
as a member of the legislature in 1833-34, and was extensively engaged in the 
manufacture of iron at Ross furnace. Col. Mathiot was a son of George and Ruth 
(Davies) Mathiot and a grandson of Jean and Catherine Margaret (Bernard) 
Bathiot, who came from France in 1754. Col. Mathiot's father served in the 
Revolutionary war, and his brother, Hon. Joshua D., was a distinguished lawyer 
at Newark, Ohio, who represented his district in Congress in 1841-42, but 
declined re-election. The Mathiots are of French descent, and trace their 
ancestry back to a French officer, who held a high military position, and obeyed 
the voice of conscience rather than command of the king at St. Bartholomew.
     At a meeting of the members of Cambria county bar, on the 8th day of 
August, 1892, the following memorial was adopted in respect to the memory of 
George M. Reade:
                                "IN MEMORIAM.
     “The Bar of this County is called upon again to mourn the loss of one of 
its able and successful members, George M. Reade, Esq., having departed this 
life on June 22, 1892.”
     “Mr. Reade was admitted to the Cambria County Bar on 8th October, 1851. At 
the time of his admission the way of the young lawyer was a hard one, for he had 
to combat such able men as Judge Thomas White, John G. Miles, Henry D. Foster, 
William Banks, Robert L. Johnston and others, some of whom were in the zenith of 
their power and practice as lawyers at this Bar, and others, who by an adherence 
to the principles of the profession, won a place in the legal history of our 
Courts. He entered the field with an indomitable will, a fixedness of purpose 
and a resolution to fight the battle. He was a close student all the days of his 
professional career, and was seldom confronted in the trial of a cause with a 
legal proposition which he was unable to answer and support by authorities. His 
practice was a large and varied one, and his industry, ability and zeal in 
behalf of his clients secured him a lucrative one. He possessed one of the 
largest and finest law libraries in western Pennsylvania, and it was his delight 
to sit among his books and gain pleasure and profit from their contents. His 
great legal contests were not confined to the courts of the County alone; he was 
well known in the Supreme Court of the State, and in the United States Courts. 
He was for many years the Honored President of our Bar Association, and, at the 
time of his death, Chairman of the Examining Committee. His death was sudden, 
though not unexpected, and now we mourn the loss of a professional brother and 
friend, the community one of its most valued citizens, and above all the family 
an affectionate father and brother.”
     “Resolved, That a copy of this memorial be presented to the Court of Common 
Pleas of this County, with the request that the same be spread upon the records, 
and that a copy be suitably engrossed and transmitted to his family.”