NELSON READ
Nelson Read was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, February 1, 1815. When fourteen years old he, in company with his mother and an elder brother and others, emigrated to Ohio, going overland. His father remained in New Jersey to close up his business, and died there soon after. The family settled in Cincinnati, which was then a town of some fifteen or twenty thousand population, and remained there a little more than a year. They then went to Warren county, where Nelson grew to manhood. In 1832 he engaged as clerk in a store in Franklin, continuing there until August, 1839. He then engaged in farming in Montgomery county, and remained there and in county until 1855. In 1854 he visited Iowa with a party prospecting for a location. In 1855 he left Darke county, accompanied by his family, and came to Jasper county, Iowa, driving the entire distance with a pair of horses and wagon. They were on the road from May 10 to June 14. He settled on government land, which he improved and lived upon till 1881, when he sold out and removed to Cass county. He purchased an improved farm on section 25, Noble township, which is now his home. He was married January 12, 1837, to Sarah M. Johnson., She was born in Warren county, Ohio, April 7, 1818. Eleven children were born to them, eight of whom are living -- William T., John H., Rebecca H., Julia A., Sarah J., Ellen E., Amanda J. and James A.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 662-663.
