Deacon John Reader

Regions: Oneida Co., NY; Walworth Co., WI

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, publ. 1912, Page 1342-1344 DEACON JOHN READER. The good resulting from such a noble, self-sacrificing and public-spirited life as that led by the well remembered pioneer, Deacon John READER, can not be adequately reckoned or properly expressed in words; it is too far-reaching in its ameliorating effects and will continue to grow more and more bright "unto the perfect day." John READER, who is believed by many to have been the first white settler in the town of Walworth, was born in Headcorn, Kent, England, February 21, 1803. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (COLISON) READER, both natives of Headcorn, the father born on February 21, 1780, and the mother on June 12, 1781. When eighteen years old John READER married Elizabeth FEATHERSTONE, who was born at Headcorn on October 18, 1803. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was born November 1, 1822, in England. In 1824 John READER brought his wife and daughter to America and located at Waterville, Oneida county, New York, and later his parents came over and settled at the same place. In 1836 John READER came to Walworth township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and entered land from the government, in the southeast quarter of section 18, also entered land in Sharon township, being the first settler there and he broke the first ground in that township, having settled first in section 27, where he built a small log cabin at what is now known as READER's Grove He had no neighbors and could not finish his cabin alone, so he went back to New York for his family, finishing his rude home upon his second coming when he brought his family, in the fall of 1837. The GODFREY family came at the same time and were his first neighbors, Mr. READER helping them build their cabin, sleeping in his covered wagon meanwhile; in turn the GODFREYs helped him roof his cabin. Here he prospered, having worked hard, and he became the owner of four hundred acres or more of good land, and he became prominent in various local affairs, holding a number of offices in the township. Later in life he moved into the township of Walworth. He endured all the hardships and privations incident to a life in the wilderness in those early days. At one time he went to Chicago for provisions, being away from home longer than he had anticipated, being delayed on account of bad roads and other circumstances, and when he reached home his family had been four days without anything to eat but a few dry crusts of bread. John READER and his wife were baptized and joined the Delavan Baptist church in 1841, and in 1844 they helped organize the Walworth Baptist church, and Mr. READER was its first deacon, which office he held with much credit until he moved to Delavan in 1864. Thomas and Elizabeth (COLISON) READER, parents of John READER, came to New York in an early day and later moved on to Walworth county Wisconsin, their son, John, building them a house in a corner of his yard and there they made their home until Thomas READER died on June 2, 1856, his widow surviving until 1876, reaching the advanced age of ninety-six years. A family picture shows her and four generations of her descendants, the five generations in one picture being published in a number of papers. Thomas READER was a soldier in England when his son, John, was a little boy. Deacon John READER was an active and influential member of the new and growing settlement and he was held in the highest honor and esteem by his neighbors and friends, and he had scarcely an enemy, for he lived a blameless life, and as a neighbor and citizen his record is without blemish, and he was a devout Christian. He was the first person baptized in Walworth county and the first person received into the church at Delavan on a profession of faith. He was one of the constituent members of the Walworth Baptist church, the building of the brick church devolving largely upon him, and to that he gave his time and attention, money and counsel, his services to the church being held in grateful remembrance. His old age was beautiful because found in the way of the righteous. His wife was called to her rest on October 22, 1868, at Delavan, in her sixty-sixth year. The death of Deacon John READER occurred at Delavan on Christmas Day, December 25, 1878, at the age of seventy-five years and ten months. They were the parents of a large family, fifteen children, one of whom, William, died in childhood soon after the family came here. John READER went alone to the lake and dug the grave, burying the child in a coffin he had made himself; also an infant, Mary, died two or three years after the arrival of the family here. The other thirteen children all grew up and married. Elizabeth married Edward HALL, a merchant who kept a store in Walworth, later one at Delavan, then at Beloit and finally at Janesville, where he and his wife died. Phebe, the first of the family born in America, married James BENDING of Chicago, and they lived at various places. Mr. BENDING died in Chicago, and his wife died later in Beloit. John J. READER lives in Delavan. Richard was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted from his home town, Rochester, Minnesota, and he died of disease while in the service. Mary married Dwight SEARLE and lived for years near Walworth, then moved to Beloit and there they both died. James lived a short time in Illinois, where he married, and he and his wife spent the rest of their lives at Sweetland, California. Martha married Franklin TRAHERN, of Rockford, and there they spent their lives. Caroline married David JACOBIE and they spent their lives in Sharon township on a farm. Eliza is the widow of Robert SPENSLEY, deceased, and lives in Walworth. Rebecca married Jasper VOORHEES and they spent their lives at Vallejo, California. Rachael married Elias HARRIS, of Delavan, later moving to Rockford where he died; she now lives in Walworth. Stephen married in California and he died in Rockford. Amanda married Andrew HARRIS, and he died, leaving two children, and she is now the wife of Richard WILSON, of Delavan. At one time all these thirteen children lived within a day's drive of their father's home, and they all used to gather there on the 21st of February to celebrate the father's birthday. Now all are scattered, some dead.. These children were reared carefully and the result of their wholesome home training is seen in their daily lives, making them popular and highly respected in the communities in which they live. Submitted by Carol

See Also: John Butler Reader and J.J. Reader