Jacob Read

Updated 23 January 2005

READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS

JACOB READ⁵

542. JACOB READ⁵ (John M. Read⁴, Isaac Read, III³, John Read², Joseph Read¹) was born 1847 in Walnut Valley, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died March 1926, at the home of his daughter Grace Read Smith in Kingston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (obituary of Jacob Read). Jacob first appears on the census in 1850. The census gives his age as 4 years (although he was actually a month short of his third birthday when the census was taken). He lived with his parents on their farm in Blairstown Township. His parents's household is listed on the census between that of his paternal grandparents—Isaac and Catherine Read—and that of William and Maria Mackey. The latter were the parents of Elias Mackey, who was 5 years old in 1850. He and Jacob appear to have been life long friends. When Jacob sat for his photograph in the late 1860s or perhaps 1870, he sat with his friend Elias Mackey (see family album).

Jacob, his parents and his four younger siblings (Isaac, John, Mary and Sarah) lived in Walnut Valley in 1860. Jacob and his two younger brothers attended the Walnut Valley School. His sisters were still to young to go to school (1860 United States Federal Census, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page , Post Office Walnut Valley). Jacob still lived at home with his parents in 1870. He was 23 years old, single and worked on a farm (1870 United States Federal Census, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 31, 29 June 1870, Post Office Columbia).

Jacob married Mary Cevillah Hardern, daughter of John Thorpe Harden and Martha Wilson (daughter of Walter Wilson and Lanah Titman). The wedding took place between 1 June 1870 (the cut off date for the 1870 census, and 1871, when their eldest son Walter was born. Mary was born 2 August 1852 in Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey (Blairstown Township Birth Records; LDS Batch #C509751) and died March 1933 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (Dennison Cemetery Records).

Jacob and Mary Read appear on the 1880 United States Federal Census as residents of Knowlton Township in Warren County. The census spells the last name as "R-E-A-D-E." Jacob was employed as a wheelwright. He and Mary had had four children since they married: Walter Wilson, Arthur Eugene ("Gene"), John "Clark," and Grace. Walter and Gene were in school (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 201, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 455A, 15 June 1880). The family moved to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania sometime after the birth of their son Sylvanis on 22 September 1881 in Warren County, but before the birth of their daughter Ethel in 1887 in Luzerne County. Jacob is not listed in the 1886 Weaver and Kern Directory of Warren County. They probably moved from Warren County, New Jersey to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania between 1881 and 1885.

In 1889, Jaco and Mary lived with their children at 81 Academy Street in Wilkes-Barre. They had had one additional child since arriving in Pennsylvania, their daughter Ethel had been born in 1887. The 1889 and 1890 city directories for Wilkes-Barre give Jacob Read's address as 81 Academy Street. in 1891, his address was 45 Academy Street. By 1892, the Reads had moved to 9 Wright Street in Wilkes-Barre. By 1910, all of the Read children had left home, with the exception of Ethel. Jacob, Mary and Ethel lived at 297 North Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre. The family was renting the home, which appears to have been either a duplex or a single building with two apartments. The Charltons lived in th eother portion of the building. They were newlyweds and Nellie Charlton was about a year older thatn Ethel. While Nellie Charlton was a homemaker, Ethel Read worked as a book keeper in a department store in Wilkes-Barre. Jacob Read was still employed as a house carpenter. According to the census Jacob and Mary had been married 39 years (which would place their wedding in 1870 or 1871). They were the parents of seven children, one of whom had died before 1910 (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 166, Wilkes-Barre City, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 2A, 16 April 1910).

In 1920, Jacob and Mary lived with their youngest daughter Ethel at 358 Market Street in Dorranceton Borough, Luzerne County. They were renting the home, which appears as a single dwelling on the census, although a 1921 photograph of the family (see family album) shows the house as a duplex. The census lists Jacob's occupation as a carpenter for a mine colliery. Ethel was employed as a book keeper by the Chamber of Commerce (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 26, 4^th Ward, Dorranceton Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, sheet 3A, 3 January 1920). Jacob was employed by the Lehigh Valley Coal Company at its Exeter Colliery. His 1926 obituary states that he had been employed as a mechanic by Leigh Valley Coal Company for 23 years (obituary of Jacob Read, see below). This would mean that he went to work for the coal company in about 1903. However, this is in opposition to the 1910 census which gives his occupation as house carpenter.

Jacob died in early March 1926. He was at the home of his daughter Grace Read Smith when he died. It is not known if Jacob and Mary had moved in with Grace, or if Grace was simply caring for him during his last illness. Ethel worked full time and Mary was 74 years old in 1926. It is possible that Jacob was at Grace's because Mary needed help to care for her husband. Jacob was buried on 5 March 1926 in Section 16, Lot 26 Dennison Cemetery, Swoyersville, Kingston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (Dennison Cemetery Records). Jacob's obituary was printed in a local Wilkes-Barre paper and is as follows:

Jacob Read, 79, died this morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. G.M. Smith, at 101 Bedford Street, Forty Fort. He was taken sick on Sunday but his condition had not been considered critical. Complications caused death. He had been a resident of Wyoming Valley for more than 40 years.

Mr. Read was born in Walnut Valley, N.J. During his early years he taught school, later becoming a carpenter. For the last 23 years he had been employed as a mechanic for Lehigh Valley Coal Company at Exeter Colliery. Of a studious nature, with a rich vein of humor, Mr. Read had a very companionable and lovable nature, who did not seek but nevertheless made many friends.

Besides the widow the survivors are one sister, Mrs. William Knitz, of Blairstown, N.J., and the following children: W.W. Read, Philadelphia; A.E. Read, 65 Sullivan Street, Wilkes-Barre; Vanis J. Read, Syracuse, N.Y.; Mrs. G.M. Smith, Forty Fort; Ethel H. Read, 65 Sullivan Street, Wilkes-Barre. The first death in the immediate family occured on Christmas three years ago, when J. Clark Read, a son, was killed while employed by the Pennsylvania R.R. at Blairsville, Pa.

Funneral Services will be held Monday from the home of his daughter Mrs. G.M. Smith, at 101 Bedford Street, Forty Fort. Interment will be in Dennison Cemetery, Forty Fort.

Ethel Read married Charles Mitten three years later. The 1926 obituary maes it clear that Ethel was living with her brother Arthur Eugene "Gene" Read. By 1930, Mary Read, as well as Ethel and Charles Mitten were living with Gene Read. Gene Read and his very large extended family lived in the city of Wilkes-Barre at 76 Lockhart Street. The household included Gene and his wife Alberta "Bert" Post; three of their children—Natalie Read, Jay Read and Juanita Read Stanley—Juanita's husband John G. Stanley and their infant daughter Alberta Stanley; Arthur's sister Ethel Read Mitten and her new husband Charles Mitten; and Arthur's mother Mary Harden Read. There were ten individuals in all. The census was taken alittle over five months after the 1929 stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression. Arthur Read and Charles Mitten were both carpenters who worked as building contractors, Charles was employed, Arthur was not. Arthur's son Jay worked as driver for a retail grocer, he too was unemployed. However, John Stanley, who was a taxi driver for one of the local taxi companies was employed. Natalie Read was employed as a clerk in a dry goods store and Ethel Mitten was employed as a clerk in a doctor's office. Mary Read, her daughter-in-law Bert Read, her granddaughter Juanita Stanley and her great-granddaughter Albert Stanley did not work. The three older women stayed at home and kept house for the others and cared for baby Alberta. The family rented the house on Lockhart Street, they payed $50 a month in rent (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 40-263, 15^th Ward, Wilkes-Barre City, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, sheet 10B, 9 April 1930).

Mary Read probably spent the last three years of her life with her son Gene. She died in March 1933 and was buried on 11 March. with Jacob in Section 16, Lot 26, Denison Cemetery, Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Cemetery records place them in both the east and west half of the lot (Dennison Cemetery Records). Mary's funeral was handeled by Lewis P. Kniffen's Son, Dr. Funeral Director. They were located at 465 South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. A surviving receipt for payment of the funeral costs indicates that A.E. Read (that is Gene Read) paid Kniffen's $95 on 24 December 1937 for one third of the funeral cost. The bill also indicates that this was the final payment on the account. The bill gives the date of 27 March 1933 on the itemization line for the funeral expenses (Read family papers). However, this date appears to for the first invoice and not of the funeral, as the cemetery records indicate that burial was on 11 March 1933.

Jacob Read and Mary Cevillah Harden had 7 children, who were born betweeen 1871 and 1887. They had at least 17 grandchildren who were born between 1894 and 1920. I have identified 30 great-grandchildren; 69 second great-grandchildren; 60 third great-grandchildren (the most recent in 1996); and 11 fourth great-grandchildren. Total identified descendants equals 187.

Children of Jacob Read and Mary Cevillah Harden
References

Family Photo Album
Surname Index
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CHILDREN OF JACOB READ AND MARY CEVILLAH HARDEN:

1189. (i.) WALTER WILSON READ⁶, was born 1871 in Walnut Valley, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died 26 January 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Dennison Cemetery Records). He married on 22 February 1893 in Scranton, Lackawana County, Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre Record, 24 February 1893), Mary Euphemia "Mamie" Thomas, the daughter of Joshua Thomas and Harriet Alice Boone. She probably died in Mobile County, Alabama on 10 May 1915 (Read, personal communication, 3 January 2001). Walter married second, Esta A. Reed. She was born 1883 and died 1960. Walter and Ester are buried in Section 16, Lot 26 E 1/2, Dennison Cemetery, Swoyersville, Kingston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

1190. (ii.) ARTHUR EUGENE "GENE" READ⁶, was born 13 August 1873 in Walnut Valley, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died 13 May 1954 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Gene married Alberta Cassandra Post, in Luzerne County on 1 June 1898. Alberta was the daughter of Gideon Post V and Loranda Brittain of Huntington Township, Luzerne County. She was born in Huntington Township and died 28 June 1939 in Wilkes-Barre. They are buried in Dodson Slope Cemetery, Huntington Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

1191. (iii.) JOHN CLARK "CLARK" READ⁶, was born 9 January 1875 in Walnut Valley, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and was killed by a train 19 December 1922 in Blairsville, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He married Nina Morris, on 19 June 1902 in Dorrenston, Pennsylvania. She was born 23 February 1880 in Sweet Valley, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and died 27 September 1943 in Indiana, Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

1192. (iv.) GRACE READ⁶, was born 28 September 1877 in Walnut Valley, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died August 1960 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. She was buried 22 August 1960 (Dennison Cemetery Records, Obituary of Grace Read Smith). Grace married George Melvin Smith, Sr. He was born in 1864 and died April 1940 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He was buried 22 April 1940 (Dennison Cemetery Records). George and Grace are buried in Secton 16, Lot 26 W1/2, Dennison Cemetery, Swoyersville, Kingston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

1193. (v.) SYLVANIS J. "VANIS" READ⁶, was born 22 September 1881 in Walnut Valley, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died 7 May 1957 in Utica, New York. He married first, Edith Viola Merryweather. She was born 17 June 1881 in New Castle Garden, England and died 6 June 1928 in Syracuse, New York. Vanis married second, Ethel Rider. There is an Ethel Read listed in the Social Security death index. She was born 12 March 1887 and died November 1983 in Vermont. Her social security card was issued in New York state. Her last known residence was Belmont, Vermont. In 1920, Vanis and his first wife, Edith, lived at 107 West Colade Street in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York. Vanis was a plumber (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 225, 19^th Ward, Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, sheet 7A, 7 January 1920). Children of Sylvanis and Edith Read:

1500. (i.) EARL "MANCEL" READ⁷, was born 6 December 1902 in Avalon, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and died 12 March 1951 in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York. In 1920, Mancel lived at home with his parents and attended school (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 225, 19^th Ward, Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, sheet 7A, 7 January 1920). He married Harriet Rahrle on 16 March 1927 in Syracuse, New York. Children of Earl and Harriet Read:

1501. (ii.) THELMA READ⁷, was born circa 1905 in Pennsylvania and died unknown. In 1920, she lived at home with her parents and attended school (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 225, 19^th Ward, Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, sheet 7A, 7 January 1920). Thelma married first, Robert Pirong; second, John Kelly; and third, Gilbert Sweeny. There is a Gilbert Sweeny listed in the Social Security death index. He was born 30 April 1890 in New York and died November 1986. His last known address was Merrick, New York. In 1960, Thelma and Gilbert Sweeny lived in Indianapolis, Indiana. There is no Thelma Sweeny listed in the Social Security death index. There is a Thelma Kelly listed in the index. She was born 28 August 1904 and died 28 December 1994. Her social security number was issued in Indiana. Her last known residence was Linden, Indiana.

1194. (vi.) ETHEL HARDEN READ⁶, was born 1887 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and died 1975 in Ashley, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. In 1920, Ethel lived at home with her father and mother in Dorrancetown Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. She worked as a book keeper for the Chamber of Commerce (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 226, 4^th Ward, Dorrancetown Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, sheet 3A, 3 January 1920). Ethel married first, between 1926 and 1932, Charles E. Mitten. After his death, Ethel married second, by 1956, Gywn Evans. He was born in Wales in 1894 and died 1985. Gwynn and Ethel are buried in Section 16, Lot 26, E1/2 Denison Cemetery, Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Ethel did not have children. Gwyn was a music teacher (organ, piano and voice). He was also the organist and director of music for Ashley United Methodist Church, Ashley, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

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This web site was produced by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98,
Questions regarding content should be directed to Esther Doyle Read readgen@adelphia.net