READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS

JACOB READ5

JACOB READ5 (John M.4, Isaac, III3, John2, Joseph1) was born 1847 in Walnut Valley, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died March 1926, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (possibly in Kingston). He was buried on 5 March 1926. Jacob married Mary Cevillah Hardern, daughter of John Harden and Martha Wilson. She was born 1853 in New Jersey and died March 1933 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (possibly in Kingston). She was buried on 11 March 1933. Jacob and Mary are buried 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. Jacob and Mary Read appear in the 1880 United States Federal Census in Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey. Jacob is not listed in the 1886 Weaver and Kern Directory of Warren County. Their fifth child was born in New Jersey in 1881, their sixth child was born in Pennsylvania in 1888. They probably moved from Warren County, New Jersey to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania between 1881 and 1885. They lived in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania for awhile and later moved to Kingston. The 1880 census lists Jacob's occupation as wheel wright. By the time of his death in 1926, he was a carpenter for the local schools.

Jacob Read and Mary Cevillah Harden had 6 children born betweeen 1871 and 1887. They had at least 17 grandchildren who were born between 1894 and 1920; 23 great-grandchildren; 44 great great-grandchildren; 28 third great-grandchildren (the most recent in 1996); and 5 fourth great-grandchildren. Total identified descendants equals 123 over a 125 year period (1871-1996).

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Children of Jacob Read and Mary Cevillah Harden

 

Photograph of the Read family, dated 31 July 1921. The back of the photo states that it was taken by the Ellisons, who where probably the Read's neighbors in Kingston. Note the house number, 358. The house is a duplex. Bottom row, left to right: Grace Read, Mary Harden Read, Jacob Read. Second Row, left to right: Walter Wilson Read, Esta Reed Read, Mildred Stephens Read. Top row, left to right: Grace Read Smith and Robert Walter Read. Collection of Esther Doyle Read.

 

CHILDREN OF JACOB READ AND MARY CEVILLAH HARDEN:

(i.) WALTER WILSON READ6, was born 1871 in Walnut Valley, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died 1932. He married first, Mary Euphemia "Mamie" Thomas. She died in Alabama. Walter married second, Esta A. Reed. She was born 1883 and died 1960. Walter and Ester are buried in Sectoin 16, Lot 26 E1/2 Denison Cemetery, Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Child of Walter and Mamie Read:

(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. He married Alberta Cassandra Post, on 1 June 1898. Alberta was the daughter of Gideon Post V and Loranda Brittain. She was born in Huntington Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and died 28 June 1939 in Wilkes-Barre. They are buried in Dodson Slope Cemetery, Huntington Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

(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 Dorrenston, 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, Pennsylvania.

(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. She married George Melvin Smith, Sr. He was born in 1864 and died April 1940 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He was buried 22 April 1940. George and Grace are buried in Secton 16, Lot 26 W1/2 Denison Cemetery, Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. George Smith, Sr. was the co-ower of Smith Brother's Food Market on N. Washington St. in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The family resided in Wilkes-Barre and later West Pittson, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They also lived for awhile in New Jersey. Their final residence was in Kingston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

(a.) LEOLA READ SMITH7 was born 19 February 1904 and died April 1924 in Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. She was buried 24 April 1924 in Section 16, Lot 26, W1/2 Denison Cemetery, Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Leola never married. She was a 1920 graduate of west Pittson High School. She was also a graduate of the Wilkes-Barre Business College. Between 1923 and 1924 she was employed by the McLean Insurance Company.

(b.) GEORGE MELVIN SMITH, Jr.7 was born 24 January 1906 and died 18 December 1961. He was buried 21 December 1961 in Section 16, Lot 26, W 1/2 Denison Cemetery, Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Mel was a graduate of Lafayette College (he was a freshman in 1924). He married Isabel Josephine Campbell, the daughter of J.D. Campbell of Dallas, Texas. Isabel was a graduate of Chicago University. The wedding was held at Grace Read Smith's home in Forty Fort sometime after 1940. Rev. Joseph J. Wesley of the First Presbyterian Church of Forty Fort performed the service. Mel and Isabel did not have any children. They lived in St. Louis, Missouri for awhile. By 1960, they were living in Columbia, Warren County, New Jersey. Mel was the western representative Miller Printing Machinery Company. By 1960, he owned Smith Machinery Company, in Columbia, New Jersey.

(v.) SYLVANIS J. "VANIS" READ6, was born 9 February 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. Children of Sylvanis and Edith Read:

(a.) EARL MANCEL READ7, was born 6 December 1902 in Avalon, Pennsylvania and died 12 March 1951 in Syracuse, New York. He married Harriet Rahrle on 16 March 1927 in Syracuse, New York. Children of Earl and Harriet Read:

(b.) THELMA READ7, married first, Robert Pirong. She married second, John Kelly. And she married 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.

(vi.) ETHEL HARDEN READ6, was born 1887 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and died 1975 in Ashley, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. She 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, <edrtjd@charm.net>