Chittenden

READ, Ruth

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the 
Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding 
of a Nation. Carleton, ed. Chicago: Lewis, 1903, pp 411-413

On what was once known as the HAWLEY farm, a large and valuable tract of land 
near the village of Shelburne [Chittenden County, Vermont], resides a lady 
who has been conspicuously identified with the agricultural interests of her 
community. She is now the most prominent representative of a widely known 
and influential family who came originally from Lincolnshire, England, and 
who have for generations been active in the industrial, social, and political 
life of Vermont. Some of them rose to positions of great prominence and 
influence, while others in a less conspicuous way were factors in the 
development of their respective communities. Miss Ruth READ herself has 
constituted one of the strongest links in this genealogical line and is 
widely known for her strength of character, business ability and interesting 
personal traits. She manages with marked skill the extensive estate 
inherited from her late father and [exhibits] the same strong qualities for 
which that honored gentleman was noted during his lifetime.

Joshua READ, grandfather of Miss Ruth READ, was born 28 February 1762 in 
Mansfield [Tolland County], Connecticut, son of Amasa READ. Joshua READ came 
from Mansfield, Connecticut, as far back as 1785, and was one of the earliest 
pioneers of this part of Vermont. He located on a tract of two hundred acres 
of land adjoining that now occupied by his granddaughter and erected one of 
the first farm houses in the town. Miss READ cherishes and preserves the 
original deed given by Ethan ALLEN to Joshua READ, bearing the date 30 June 
1785. Most of this land is still held by Miss Ruth READ. He spent most of 
his life on this place and [Joshua READ] died 30 April 1846, at the residence 
of one of his sons, after reaching the age of eighty-four years. He held the 
office of justice of the peace for many years, and was a good business man. 
He [Joshua READ] married [Miss?] Orphena HURLBURT, who was born 05 November 
1766 in Connecticut, and by her had ten children, of whom six grew to 
maturity, but all are long since dead, the mother herself [Orphena] passing 
away 28 December 1812. Her [Orphena's] sister [Desire HURLBURT?] was the 
wife of Remember BAKER, distinguished in the early history of Vermont. The 
HURLBURTs were of Welsh origin. Joshua READ was married a second time, to 
[Miss?] Ruth STEWARD, who is now also numbered among the dead. He was a man 
of enterprise and industry, accumulated valuable real estate, and for many 
years was a lading citizen of the town, where he filled offices of trust. He 
was a member and deacon of the Congregational church.

Myron Alanson READ, son of Joshua READ and father of Miss Ruth READ, was born 
on his father's farm in Shelburne and received his principal education in the 
academy at Burlington [Chittenden County, Vermont]. In 1830 he [Myron 
Alanson READ] purchased the farm now owned by his daughter [Miss Ruth READ] 
and began that business career which is so remarkable for what he did and the 
methods pursued in its accomplishment. His beginning was quite modest, as he 
was only able at first to buy about twenty-five acres of land, but this was 
steadily increased from time to time by industry and persistence until he 
possessed a fine estate of three hundred acres. He devoted his time to 
general farming, but raised a great deal of stock of different kinds and 
managed his affairs with such skill that all the departments were made to 
show profit in the long run. He was a member of the Republican party in 
Vermont, and advocated its principles with great earnestness during the 
formation of that organization [1854]. He held various town offices at 
different times, such as lister and selectman, filling the latter office for 
many years with the good judgment which characterized the management of his 
own affairs. He joined the Masonic fraternity early in life and during all 
the subsequent years was deovt4ed to the principles and active in the 
interests of that ancient order. He was also much interested in whatever 
might benefit agriculture; was a very useful member of the Grange, of which 
he was a charter member, as well as other farmers' associations.

He [Myron Alanson READ] had three brothers and two sisters, all older than 
himself, and each of them filled their parts in various walks of life in such 
a way as to reflect credit upon the family. The most distinguished was Almon 
H. READ [Almon Heath READ, born 12 June 1790 in Shelburne, Chittenden County, 
Vermont], who studied law and practiced his profession with marked success in 
Montrose [Susquehanna County], Pennsylvania. He became quite conspicuous in 
politics, was a member of the legislature and at the time of his death [June 
1844] was a member of Congress from his district. Joshua [READ], a younger 
brother [meaning younger than Almon H. READ, since the biography states that 
Myron A. READ was the youngest; Joshua was born in 1791], was a farmer and 
died in Shelburne [Chittenden County, Vermont] at the age of thirty-five 
years. Orphena [Orpheana?], eldest of the sisters, became the wife of 
Jonathan LYON, and died as long ago as 1828. Ralph [READ], third of the 
brothers, was a farmer in Shelburne all his adult life, filled the office of 
justice of the peace many years, and died in the 1870's when seventy-five 
years old. He [Ralph READ] was the father of seven children, two of whom, 
Dr. Henry Hurlburt [READ] and Miss Cornelia [READ], are now [1903] living in 
Shelburne, on the paternal estate. Clarissa [READ], the youngest daughter, 
married Samuel WHITNEY and died some years ago in Lebanon [St. Clair County], 
Illinois. [Thus the named children of Joshua READ, according to the 
information given in this paragraph, were likely born in the following order: 
(1) Almon H., (2) Ralph, (3) Joshua, (4) Orphena (Mrs. Jonathan LYON), 
(5) Clarissa (Mrs. Samuel WHITNEY), and (5) Myron A.]

Myron A. READ married Julia, daughter of Elhanan W. SPEAR, one of the early 
settlers of Shelburne. The last named [Elhanan W. SPEAR] was prominent in 
business as a farmer and owner of a shoe shop and tannery, and represented 
the town in the legislature. He [Elhanan W. SPEAR] married [Miss?] Louisa 
SAXTON, who died at the early age of nineteen years, after giving birth to an 
only daughter [Julia SPEAR], who became the wife of Myron A. READ. Of the 
latter's [Myron A. READ's] five children, the four now [1903] living are (1) 
Cassius, of New York City; (2) Giles, of Rincon [Dona Ana County], New 
Mexico; (3) Clayton, of Burlington [Chittenden County], Vermont; and (4) 
Miss Ruth [READ], the immediate subject of this sketch. Orpha L., the fourth 
child [of Myron A. and Julia READ], died 11 September 1896, at the age of 
fifty-eight years. She was a person of intelligence and refinement, and a 
fine musician. Naturally of a retiring disposition, she was prevented by ill 
health from taking a very active part in the management of affairs. Both 
parents are now dead, the mother [Julia READ] having passed away 13 January 
1843, at the age of thirty-five, and the father [Myron Alanson READ] on 25 
September 1891, when eighty-five. They were pious members of the Episcopal 
church and exemplary Christians, who taught morality and religion both by 
precept and example.

Ruth Anna Julia READ, youngest of the children [of Myron Alanson and Julia 
READ], was born on her father's farm in Shelburne [Chittenden County, 
Vermont], and there spent the happy days of her girlhood amid the delightful 
home surroundings and under the care of the most affectionate of parents. 
She was given an excellent education in the common schools and the Female 
Seminary at Burlington, after which she taught school for some years with 
flattering success at different places. Eventually she deemed it her duty to 
return home and take care of her father in his old age and by her filial 
attentions repaid this venerable parent for the care bestowed upon herself in 
the days of her youth. Since his [Myron Alanson READ's] death, she has been 
managing her patrimonial estate with an energy and business ability that 
would have delighted him who instilled in her those lessons of economy and 
thrift that ever accompanied his own operations. Besides general farming, 
Miss READ devotes much attention to dairying, that department of agriculture 
so suitable for women, and has one of the neatest establishments of the kind 
in all the country around. Her products enjoy an enviable local fame, and 
there is no greater treat for her friends than to partake of the milk and 
butter of this well-conducted manufactory. She keeps about eighteen cows of 
the best grades for dairying purposes, employing two men in the summer season 
to look after outdoor work, and not other farm of similar size in Vermont is 
better managed than that presided over by this worthy daughter of an honored 
ancestry. Miss [Ruth] READ is chairman of the board of trustees of the 
Shelburne Free Library, and is otherwise interested in the progress of the 
community.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly