WI BIO - Kewaunee Co - READ, John Milton

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, vol II, p 
431

John Milton READ was born 03 November 1842 in Louisville [Jefferson County], 
Kentucky, and moved with his parents to St. Louis [St. Louis County], 
Missouri, the same year [1842], thence to Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, 
Territory of] Wisconsin, in 1847 [Wisconsin became a State 29 May 1848], and 
the following year [1848] to Manitowoc [Manitowoc County], Wisconsin. He 
received a common school education, early in life learned the printing 
business in a Manitowoc printing office, and followed that occupation until 
the breaking out of the [Civil] War.

John Milton READ enlisted as a private in Company E, Fourteenth Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, was appointed Sergeant in his company the same year 
[1861?], and Sergeant Major of the regiment in 1862. He was commissioned 
regimental Adjutant in 1863, was detailed A. A. A. G. [Acting Adjutant 
General, thus responsible for recruiting and record keeping for who served, 
postwar pensions being based on these reports] of the brigade in February 
1864, and acted as such until the close of the war. [The Civil War ended 09 
April 1865.] He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Nashville, 
the assault on Vicksburg, and in the Red River campaign and movements around 
Mobile. He was wounded at Vicksburg and at Spanish Fort, and was taken 
prisoner at Corinth.

At the close of the war he went to Warsaw [Benton County], Missouri, where he 
was engaged in publishing a paper, in company with Sewell W. SMITH, but 
returned to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the following year. In December 1868 he 
removed to Kewaunee [Kewaunee County], Wisconsin, and purchased the Kewaunee 
"Enterprise" of Edward DECKER, and continued the publication of that paper up 
to the time of his death. John Milton READ was elected County Superintendent 
of Schools in 1870, and held that office altogether for nearly nine years. In 
1874 he was elected to the State Senate from the Second District, composed of 
the counties of Brown, Door, and Kewaunee, and served with honor to himself 
and the district he represented. In 1880 he was elected to the Assembly from 
Kewaunee County, but did not take his seat on account of poor health.

Mr. READ had been in poor health for two years previous to his election to 
the Assembly, but did not think his end was so near. He thought best to go 
to a milder climate to spend the winter. He spent several weeks in Albany 
[Dougherty County], Georgia, but found no relief for his malady. He was 
advised to return to his home. On his way home he rapidly grew worse. John 
Milton READ died in the [railroad] car at Louisville [Jefferson County], 
Kentucky, on 09 March 1881. He was buried 13 March 1881 at Kewaunee, 
Wisconsin.

John Milton READ was, in every sense of the word, a man, a warm, true friend, 
a public-spirited citizen, a kind man in his family, and very popular in the 
community in which he lived. He was a successful publisher, and a good 
writer. He was never afraid to write or speak the truth, and this one trait 
of his character won him the confidence of all who came in contact with him. 
In politics he was a Democrat, and rendered invaluable service to the party. 
He was active in forwarding public enterprises, and his counsel was sought at 
all times when matters of public welfare were considered.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly