My Genealogy Hound

SYLVADOR T. READ, a leading business man and prosperous merchant of Cassopolis, Cass County, Mich., was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., January 12, 1822. His parents, Titus R. and Esther (Watkins) Read, were both natives of Massachusetts. Reared and educated in their early home, they later journeyed to New York State, where they remained for some time, finally settling in Erie County, Pa. In 1833, they came to Michigan with their family of four children, and made this State their permanent abiding-place, being numbered among the pioneer settlers in this part of the country. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Nathan Watkins, was one of the Revolutionary heroes, and left to his descendants an enviable record of patriotic service, gallant courage and endurance. Grandfather Watkins was but nineteen years of age when he enlisted in the French and Indian War, and for three years the brave lad served among the perilous scenes which daily surrounded him. When the War of the Revolution began in earnest he joined the American forces, being given a commission by Congress as Captain of a company under Gen, Gates.

Capt. Watkins spent the ten years and a-half of the determined struggle for independence upon the field, and was a member of the staff of Gen. Washington at the time the British General, Cornwallis, surrendered at Yorktown. At the close of the war Capt. Watkins signed a receipt in full for the entire term of his service to the Government, without receiving one dollar of compensation. Later, when offered a land-warrant, he sent it back to Congress, saying that the country did not owe him a cent. So strongly did this patriotic gentleman and Christian soldier feel upon the subject, that he added a codicil to his will, enjoining his heirs from accepting the same. The commission of this true and earnest patriot as Captain from Congress, bearing date July 5, 1775; and signed by John Hancock as President, is now in the possession of Mr. Read and is a most valued souvenir of an ancestor whose choicest bequest to his descendants is the memory of his loyal patriotism and high sense of honor.

Titus R. Read, the father of our subject, was a Lieutenant in the War of 1812, and upon the battle-field of Queenstown distinguished himself for bravery and gallant bearing, receiving a very severe wound in the ankle. The paternal grandfather, Robert Read, was a native of Massachusetts, but his good wife was born in France. Her father came to America with the French army and was accompanied by his wife and family. Our subject received his early education in the schools of New York State, but was only nine years of age when with his parents he emigrated to the frontier scenes of Michigan. He grew up manly and self-reliant, and, having just attained his majority, was upon October 14, 1843, united in marriage with Miss Rhoda Ann Hayden, of Chautauqua County, N. Y. Mrs. Read was a daughter of Noah P. and Ruth Hayden. The Haydens were old-time residents of Connecticut and were well known and highly respected. Children brightened with their cheery presence the home of Mr. and Mrs. Read, three daughters now surviving. The eldest, Helen R., is Mrs. McIlvaine, of North Dakota; Ophelia A. is Mrs. O. Phelps, of Cassopolis; Sarah N. is the wife of H. D. Smith, of Cassopolis. The family of our subject are in religious belief Presbyterians, and for many years Mr. Read has been a valued member and active worker of that denomination. He is much interested in the erection of the new structure now being built by that religious society.

In political affiliation our subject is a stalwart Republican, and although willing to aid the party with his most earnest efforts has no desire for office and has repeatedly refused nominations to positions of trust, when, if he had accepted, there was an almost certainty of his election. In 1855, Mr. Read engaged in business as a merchant in Cassopolis and in the varying changes of the past thirty-eight years has continued the even tenor of his daily life and is yet profitably handling dry goods. Prospered financially, he has been a Director of the First National Bank of Cassopolis ever since it was established, twenty-two years ago. For two years our subject was Vice-President of the bank and is now its President. Over three-score years have passed since Sylvador Read came a little lad to Michigan, and in this long period of time, sharing in the changes and rapid development of the State, he has been an eye-witness of the wonderful progress of the last half-century. A man of sterling integrity of character and excellent business attainments, he is one of the substantial citizens who have ably assisted in transforming the once unbroken wilderness into cultivated fields and smiling villages.