___________________________________________________________________________ History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith 1912 B. F. Bowen & Company Indianapolis, Indiana Pages 882-885 J. J. READER One of the vernerable pioneers who remains to tell the story of the days of the wolf and the Indian and the far-flung forests of Walworth county is J. J. Reader, of Delavan, a man whom to know is to honor and accord the highest esteem, for his life has been exemplary and has resulted in much good to those with whom he has been associated. The history of this locality and that of his own career are pretty much one and the same, being intertwined indissolubly, for he came here some three-quarters of a century ago and during the subsequent periods of development he has played no inconspicuous part. Mr. Reader was born in Waterville, Oneida county, New York, April 6, 1827, and he is the son of Deacon John Reader, whose family was long a prominent one here, in fact the father played such an important part in the history of the county and was such a sterling character that it is but just that the biographer go somewhat exhaustively into his record, before proceeding with that of the immediate subject of this review. Deacon John Reader was born in Headcorn, Kent county England, February 21, 1803. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Reader, both natives of England, where they grew up and were married and where their oldest child, Elizabeth, was born. The family emigrated to America in 1824 and located in Oneida county, New York, where they followed farming until the fall of 1836, when they came to Wisconsin, locating in Sharon township, in fact were the first white settlers at what was later the town of Sharon. The elder Reader returned to the East in 1837 and brought his family here in September of that year, his son J. J., of this sketch, having come with him on the first trip, remaining at the home of a Mr. Sanders at the head of Geneva lake. They settled on Big Foot Prairie, in section 18, Walworth township, where the father finally became the owner of over four hundred acres of land. The following children were born to John Reader and wife, some in New York, seven daughters and three sons: Elizabeth married Edward Hall, of Beloit, and is now deceased; Phoebe married James Bending, of Chicago, and is also deceased; J. J., of this sketch; Richard, who became an electrical mechanic in the Civil war, died in 1864, from disease contracted while in the army; Mary, who married D. Searle, of Rockford, Illinios, is deceased; James, deceased; Martha married Franklin Trahern, of Rockford; Caroline married David Jacobie, of Sharon; Eliza married Robert Spinsley and she lives at Walworth; Rebecca, who married Jasper Voorhees and lived in California, is deceased; Rachael married Elias Harris, of Delavan; Stephen is now deceased; Amanda married Richard Wilson, of Delavan. The Reader family endured many hardships after coming to this country. Having a large family, the oldest of whom were daughters, John Reader had no one on whom he could rely for assistance or who could share his responsibilities. Upon arriving here he built hastily a house of green poplar logs and plastered it with clay. A few split logs served for a floor, in part, brush covering the rest of the earthen floor. The youngest child became ill on the road and died a few weeks after coming here, the father being compelled to make a coffin and bury it with his own hands, for he had no neighbors to assist him. In January, 1838, John Reader was obliged to go to Chicago for provisions, and, the roads being bad, he was delayed. Upon reaching home he found that his family had been without anything to eat, save a few crusts of bread, for four days. The cattle, too, became weakened from insufficient food, and he found it hard to put out his crop the following spring. the pork which he had bought in Chicago at twenty-seven dollars per barrel, had proved to be mostly hog's heads, and the flour that cost eighteen dollars per barrel, was gone, and another trip was made to Chicago for provisions as soon as the oxen were strong enough to travel, having now for their food the green grass. This trip lasted sixteen days. Again the provisions gave out and the former experience was likely to occure again, but the mild spring had brought out the cowslips and greens were made from them, and this constituted the food for the family for a few days. They had no futher trouble after the first crop was grown, for want of provisions. In due course of time Mr. Reader prospered and became one of the leading men in the township, and enjoyed the confidence and warmest regards of his neighbors. For a period of eighteen years he served as chairman of the township and at different times held other minor offices. He became a member of the Baptist church at Delavan in a very early day, and upon the establishment of the church at Walworth he was elected deacon, which position he held until his removal to Delavan in 1864. He brought the first two settlers from Chicago, William and Samuel Phoenix. to Delavan. In October, 1868, Deacon John Reader was called to mourn the death of his wife, his faithful and courageous life companion. He survived a little over ten years, being called to his reward on Christmas morning, 1878. J. J. Reader, of this sketch, grew to manhood on his father's farm in Walworth county and assisted with the general work about the place, receiving such education as the early schools afforded, which he found time to attend during brief winter sessions. He continued farming with his father until he was twenty-five years old, when he went to Minnesota, remaining in that state four months, when he was driven out by the Indians. He returned to Walworth county and engaged with Wood & Gormly in the pump business, soon becoming an expert and his services were in damand all over the country, those in position to know regarding him as the best in the state. He continued with this firm until Mr. Gormley's death, after which he engaged in business for himself until the year 1903, when he sold out and retired from active life, after a very successful business career. He has made his home in Delavan since 1863. Mr. Reader was married on December 11, 1852, to Charlotte W. Hitchcock, of Walworth, this county, a daughter of Amos and Julia Hitchcock, an excellent pioneer family of Walworth. Mrs. Reader was born in Rochester, New York, and came here in early life. She is now eighty-three years of age, and they have been married sixty years. Six children blessed this union, namely: Ida M., now Mrs. James Davidson, of Delavan; Leonard J. lives in Pipestone, Minnesota; Amos H. and John B., both of Delavan; Edward L. lives in Pipestone, Minnesota; Gertie L., now Mrs Clarence Engles, of Austin, Illinois. (Note: Robbie died as an infant, about 7 months old. age) Submitted By: Allan Reader (areadr@excite.com)