BIO: F. B. READ, M. D., Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 932 & 933.
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  F. B. READ, M. D., physician and surgeon at Osceola Mills, Pa., where he is 
proprietor of a drug store, is one of the prominent and active citizens of the 
place, interested vitally in all that concerns the welfare of the community, of 
which he has been a member for thirty-one years.  Dr. Read was born in Lawrence 
Township, Clearfield County, Pa., June 7, 1841, and is a son of Ross and Mary 
(Thompson) Read, and a grandson of Alexander Read.  The latter was a very early 
settler in Clearfield County and in 1800 he conducted the first post office 
between Clearfield and Bellefonte, establishing it on the William Mitchell farm, 
one mile south of Clearfield.  He carried the mail between these places on 
horseback.
  Ross Read, father of Dr. Read, was born in Lawrence Township and followed 
farming until past middle age, when he retired with his wife to Clearfield, 
where both died.  He married Mary Thompson, a daughter of Ignatius Thompson, who 
was of Irish birth.  The mother of Mrs. Read was born in England.  Ross Read and 
wife became parents of eight children, the four survivors of their family being:  
F. B.; Margaret Ella McKendrick, residing at Ebensburg, Pa.; Alexander Ross, 
residing at Akron, O.; and Rebecca Matilda Spackman, now living at Detroit, 
Mich.
  F. B. Read was reared on a farm and attended the local schools and Clearfield 
Academy before beginning his medical studies.  In 1867 he was graduated from 
Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, having been with Dr. Woods, of 
Clearfield for three years before entering college.  Dr. Read engaged in 
practice first at Bigler, Pa., where he remained for fifteen years, and in 1880 
came from there to Osceola Mills.  In 1886 he established his drug store, which 
he has conducted ever since.  In spite of advancing years, Dr. Read still 
attends to a large practice.  He preaches the medical value of fresh air and 
exercise and is himself the best example of these theories, driving out over the 
country in the roughest kind of weather and seemingly enjoying the stimulation 
found in battling with the elements.
  On October 10, 1865, Dr. Read was married to Miss Sue A. Rider, who was born 
at Karthaus, Clearfield County, Pa., a daughter of John W. Rider, at that time a 
well known farmer and lumberman.  Dr. and Mrs. Read have had eight children, 
namely:  Ralph Maynard, who is in a hotel business at Johnstown, Pa., married 
Winnifred Scollins, and has three children; Paul Shelton, who resides at 
Osceola, and married Maggie Scollins; Maude, who is the wife of Frank P. 
O'Brien, who is in the furniture and undertaking business at Osceola Mills; 
Howard W., who lives at Philadelphia; Mae, who is the wife of S. R. Hamilton, of 
Osceola Mills; Haskell, a resident of Philadelphia, who married Bessie Scott; 
Alma, who is a student in her third year at the Women's Medical College, 
Philadelphia; and Charles, who died in infancy.  Dr. Read and family belong to 
the Presbyterian church.  He served some sixteen years as a member of the 
borough school board and a number of times as burgess, possessing together with 
his professional qualifications, the natural capacity which has made him ever 
recognized as a leader in public matters and an example of true citizenship.