- John Reader And Elizabeth Featherstone
John Reader was born February 21, 1803 in Headcorn, Kent County, England. He married Elizabeth Featherstone in December 1821. Elizabeth was born October 18, 1803 also in Headcorn, Kent County, England. June 24, 1824 they arrived in the United States and settled at Waterville, Oneida, New York. In February of 1837, John left New York and headed towards Big Foot Prairie, Walworth, Wisconsin. He spent the Spring and Summer building his cabin and breaking the land. He returned to New York to collect his family. They returned to Walworth County that October. When the Baptist church in Walworth was organized he became one of the constituent members in 1844. He was its first deacon. In 1864 he went to the town of Delavan. On October 22, 1868 Elizabeth passed away. On Christmas Day 1878 John passed away. Both are buried in the Brick church cemetery.
Their Children:
(1) Elizabeth - 1822
(2) Phoebe - 1824
(3) John - 1827
(4) Richard - 1828
(5) Mary - 1830
(6) James - 1832
(7) Martha - 1833
(8) Caroline - 1834
(9) Eliza - 1835
(10) Rebecca - 1840
(11) Rachel - 1843
[12) Stephen - 1844
(13) Amanda - 1847
http://www.angelfire.com/co/readersandguillaumes/Deacon_John_Reader.html
From Alan Reader:
Delavan Republican, January 3, 1879
OBITUARY
DEACON D. J. READER
Deacon D. J. Reader died of pneumonia on Wednesday morning, December 25, 1878, in the midst of his family and friends and in the peace and triumph of the righteous.
Deacon Reader was born February 21, 1803, at Headcorn, Kent county, in England. He was married in his native land December, 1821. In June 24, 1824, he came to the United States and settle at Waterville, Oneida county, New York.. He came to Big Foot Prairie, Walworth county, Wisconsin, February, 1837. One settler had proceeded , an old friend and neighbor, who made his claim and built his cabin a few months before his arrival at the head of Geneva Lake not far from Mr. Douglass' present home. Deacon Reader was the first settler on what is generally known as Big Foot Prairie. He spent the spring and summer after his arrival in building his cabin and breaking land. He returned to the State of New York in the autumn for his family - and returned with them about the first of October of the same year. On the claim he selected in that early day he spent about thirty years of his life, and saw what was then a wilderness, grow up from its very foundation into what is now one of the richest and most beautiful portions of the country. During all these years he was identified with everything pertaining to the growth of and prosperity of the neighborhood, an active and influential member of the new and growing society, and held in the highest honor and esteem by his neighbors and friends. Whan can be said of so few men can be truly said of him, he had scarcely an enemy. He lived a blameless life, and as a neighbor and citizen his record was without blemish.
Good and true as he was, he was no less esteemed as a Christian. Indeed it was his humble and sincere piety that made him the kind neighbor and the blameless citizen. He made a profession of religion about four years after coming into the country and was baptized by Elder Henry Topping and became a member of the Delavan Baptist church. He was the first person baptized in Walworth county.
When the Baptist church in Walworth was organized he became one of the constituent members 1844. His services in this church, of which he was about a quarter of a century a member, were fully appreciated.
He was its first deacon, which office he held while he remained a member. Elder Henry Topping who became his pastor at Walworth used to speak of him as the best deacon he ever knew. As his personal friend counselor he prized him very highly. The building of the present meeting house devolved largely upon him. To the accomplishment of this object he gave his time, his counsels and his money. He lived to see this house he built for the Lord often filled with the glory of God in the salvation of his children, his neighbors and friends. In short, his services to this church are held in grateful remembrance.
He came to Delavan to reside in 1864. Four years after his removal, his wife died. This affliction was very severe. She had shared with him all the hardships of frontier life. He hoped to have spent the evening of his life with her in comparative quiet and comfort. But the Lord took her. There were born to Mr. Reader fifteen children, thirteen of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, and eleven of whom still survive.
In September, 1869, he was married to Mrs. Marriot, who survives him. He was passing his last days very pleasantly, esteemed and loved by the members of the church of which he was member, and by whom his loss is mourned with unfeigned sorrow. His old age was beautiful because it was found in the way of righteousness. He was an aged man; the days of his pilgrimage were three score and fifteen years. He was an old disciple for he had followed Christ for almost forty years. He was a man greatly beloved. "Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his."
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History of Walworth County - 1882 - page 716-717
DEACON John READER, deceased, was born in Head Corn, Kent Co., England, February 21, 1803; is the son of Thomas and Elisabeth Reader; was brought up a farmer. In 1822, he was married to Miss Elisabeth Featherstone. They had one child, Elisabeth, born in England and in 1824 emigrated to America. On arriving in the United States, he located in Oneida Co., N. Y., where he was engaged in farming until the fall of 1836, when he left the East for Wisconsin Territory. On arriving in Walworth County, he selected a site for a home in Sharon. There he kept bachelor's hall until the following year, being the first white man to effect a settlement in that town. In 1837, he returned to the East, and, in September of that year, brought his family to Wisconsin and settled on Big Foot Prairie, Sec. 18, town of Walworth. He was eventually owner of 400 acres of land. Nine children were born to them in New York, so they came to Wisconsin with a family of ten--seven daughters and three sons. Elizabeth is Mrs. Edward Hall, of Beloit, Wis.; Phebe is the widow of James Bending, of Chicago; John J. is a resident of Delavan (see sketch); Richard was an enlisted mechanic in the late war, and died in 1864 from disease contracted in the army; Mary is now Mrs. D. Searl, of Rockton, Ill.; James married Almena Judd, and lives in California; Martha is the wife of Franklin Trahern, of Rockford, Ill.; Caroline is the wife of David Jacobie, of Sharon, Wis.; Eliza in now Mrs. Robert Spensley, of Walworth; Rebecca married Jasper Voorhees, lived in California, and died July 5, 1873; Rachel is the wife of Elias Harriss, of Delavan; Stephen married Emma Van Wort, and resides in California; Amanda is now Mrs. Richard Wilson, of Delavan, Wis. Mr. Reader and family endured many privations and hardships during the early days of their settlement in Walworth--more than usually fall to the lot of pioneers. Having a large family, of whom the oldest were all girls, Mr. Reader had none on whom he could rely for assistance, or who could share his responsibilities; his log house, hastily build of green poplar logs, and plastered with clay, had no floor, except a few split logs or "puncheons," as they were called; as they only covered a small space about the stove, the balance of the room was covered with brush at first, and, after being cleared, presented a surface covered with stubs, muddy when wet, or rough with nubs when frozen. The youngest child, an infant at the breast, was sick on the road, and died within two weeks after they had taken posession of their new home. The father had to make the coffin and bury the baby with his own hands, unaided, for neighbors he had none to assist him. In January, 1838, he was obliged to go to Chicago for provisions with his ox team, leaving scant supplies to subsist his family while away. Soft weather set in, which opened up the streams and marshes, which were then unbridged, and made it impossible for him to return until many days after the time set. The mother economized her scanty stores until they were reduced to some corn-meal bran; this meal sifted and re-sifted, and finally the hulls eaten, starvation seemed inevitable, when late, at night, the welcome rattle of the wagon was heard by the watchful wife and mother, who had spent many hours in listening for that same joyful sound. Hastening out, she stopped her husband some distance from the house, that he might not wake the children, who were sleeping the troubled sleep of hunger, until she could prepare some food for them. Hunger had not been their only trouble. The weather had set in cold again, and all were now more or less frozen, especially about the feet. As spring approached, the cattle began to show the effect of the poor quality of hay on which they were kept. Mr. Reader, coming so late, was unable to do his haying till after the frost had cut the grass. Consequently, the cattle failed and grew weak, until it was necessary for the family to turn out in the morning and assist in getting them on their feet. The new grass soon came, and they rallied. Ground was broken, and potatoes and corn planted, when again the provisions grew scant. The pork which had been bought at Chicago in the winter at $27 per barrel had turned out to be mostly hog's heads. The flour that cost $18 per barrel was exhausted. Another trip was made to Chicago as soon as the oxen were strong enough to travel. This trip lasted sixteen days. Again the provisions gave out, and the former experience was likely to be repeated; but the mild spring weather had brought out a bountiful supply of yellow-blossomed cowslips in the meadows, which made excellent greens, and for a few days constituted their only food. After the first crop was grown, they had no further trouble for the want of provisions. Mr. Reader prospered, and became one of the leading men of the town. He always enjoyed the confidence and warmest regards of his neighbors and fellow-townsmen. For eighteen years, he served as Chairman of the town, and at different times held other minor offices. At an early day in the history of the Baptist Church at Delavan, he had become a member, and on the establishment of the church in Walworth he was elected Deacon which position he held until his removal to Delavan in 1864. In October, 1868, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his faithful wife, who has so nobly shared his struggles in his dark days, and gladdened the happier hours of his prosperity. He survived her a little more than ten years, his death occurring on Christmas morning, in the year of 1878.
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History of Walworth County Wisconsin
by Albert Clayton Beckwith
1912
B. F. Bowen & Company
Indianapolis, Indiana
Pages 1342-1344
DEACON John READER
The good resulting from such a noble, self-sacrificing and public-spirited life as that led by the well remembered pioneer, Deacon John Reader, can not be adequately reckoned or properly expressed in words; it is too far-reaching in its ameliorating effects and will continue to grow more and more bright "unto the perfect day."
John Reader, who is believed by many to have been the first white settler in the town of Walworth, was born in Headcorn, Kent, England, February 21, 1803. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Colison) Reader, both natives of Headcorn, the father born on February 21, 1780, and the mother on June 12, 1781.
When eighteen years old John Reader married Elizabeth Featherstone, who was born at Headcorn on October 18, 1803. Their oldest daughter, Elizabeth, was born November 1, 1822, in England. In 1824 John Reader brought his wife and daughter to America and located at Waterville, Oneida county, New York, and later his parents came over and settled at the same place. In 1836 John Reader came to Walworth township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and entered land from the government, in the southeast quarter of section 18, also entered land in Sharon township, being the first settler there and he broke the first ground in that township, having settled first in section 27, where he built a small log cabin at what is now known as Reader's Grove. He had no neighbors and could not finish his cabin alone, so he went back to New York for his family, in the fall of 1837. The Godfrey family came at the same time and were his first neighbors, Mr. Reader helping them build their cabin, sleeping in his covered wagon meanwhile; in turn the Godfreys helped him roof his cabin. Here he prospered, having worked hard, and he became the owner of four hundred acres or more of good land, and he became prominent in various local affairs, holding a number of offices in the township. Later in life he moved into the township of Walworth. He endured all the hardships and privations incident to a life in the wilderness in those days. At one time he went to Chicago for provisions, being away from home longer than he had anticipated, being delayed on account of bad roads and other circumstances, and when he reached home his family had been four days without anything to eat but a few dry crusts of bread.
John Reader and his wife were baptized and joined the Delavan Baptist church in 1841, and in 1844 they were helped organize the Walworth Baptist church, and Mr. Reader was its first deacon, which office he held with much credit until he moved to Delavan in 1864.
Thomas and Elizabeth (Colison) Reader, parents of John Reader, came to New York in an early day and later moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin, their son, John, building them a house in a corner of his yard and there they made their home until Thomas Reader died on June 2, 1856, his widow surviving until 1876, reaching the advanced age of ninety-six years. A family picture shows her and four generations of her descendents, the five generations in one picture being published in a number of papers. Thomas Reader was a soldier in England when his son , John, was a little boy.
Deacon John Reader was an active and influential member of the new and growing settlement and he was held in the highest esteem by his neighbors and friends, and he had scarcely an enemy, for he lived a blameless life, and as a neighbor and citizen his record is without blemish, and he was a devout Christian. He was the first person baptized in Walworth county and the first person received into the church at Delavan on a profession of faith. He was one of the constituent members of the Walworth Baptist church, the building of the brick church devolving largely upon him, and to that he gave his time and attention, money and counsel, his services to the church being held in grateful remembrance. His old age was beautiful because found in the way of righteous. His wife was called to her rest on October 22, 1868, at Delavan, in her sixty-sixth year. The death of Deacon John Reader occurred at Delavan on Christmas Day, December 25, 1878, at the age of seventy-five years and ten months.
They were the parents of a large family, fifteen children, one of whom, William, died in childhood soon after the family came here. John Reader went alone to the lake and dug the grave, burying the child in a coffin he had made himself; also and infant, Mary, died two or three years after the arrival of the family here. The other thirteen children all grew up and married, Elizabeth married Edward Hall, a merchant who kept a store in Walworth, later one at Delavan, then at Beloit and finally at Janesville, where he and his wife died. Phebe, the first of the family born in America, married James Bending of Chicago, and they lived at various places. Mr. Bending died in Chicago, and his wife died later in Beloit. John J. Reader lived in Delavan, Richard was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted from his home town, Rochester, Minnesota, and he died of disease while in the service. Mary married Dwight Searle and lived for years near Walworth, then moved to Beloit and there they both died. James lived a short time in Illinois, where he married, and he and his wife spent the rest of their lives at Sweetland, California. Martha married Franklin Trahern, of Rockford, and there they spent their lives. Caroline married David Jacobie and they spent their lives in Sharon township on a farm. Eliza is the widow of Robert Spensley, deceased, and lives in Walworth. Rebecca married Jasper Voorhees and they spent their lives at Vallejo, California. Richael married Elias Harris, of Delavan, later moved to Rockford where he died, leaving two children, and she is now the wife of Richard Wilson, of Delavan. At one time all these thirteen children lived within a day's drive of their father's home, and they all used to gather there on the 21st of February to celebrate the father's birthday. Now all are scattered, some dead. These children were reared carefully and the result of their wholesome home training is seen in their daily lives, making them popular and highly respected in the communities in which they live
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News article in paper - scrapbook of Malissa Boorman Lloyd
By Way of Reminiscence
Mrs. Flora Rouse who has recently returned to her old home in Walworth after residing in Benton Harbor, Mich., for some time has again favored us with some interesting reminiscences of the past. Her letter follows:
"I am assured that my reminiscences are kindly received by old friends. Tho some of my "Yesterdays" may seem simple, I feel that our lives are interspersed with sad and happy interests. I will first state the mere chance that allowed me to be here after all these years.
When the log schoolhouse was still used on the "Brick Church" corners, there was to be a spelling school. My brother and sister were to attend. As I was too small I was to stay at Mr. Reader's. But I persisted in going home. There were no fences or houses on the way, and some spots of snow. Mary Boorman carried me a short distance then I trudged along.
It soon grew dark and I grew tired. Later Mrs. Reader put her little boy John, on a horse to go see if I got home. He drove to my father's house at Bell's Corners. As all was quiet he returned. I distinctly remember that I was so afraid the horse would step on me as I sat on the ground.
Later in the evening some cattle came to my father's house and he went to drive them away. He drove them on the road toward Delavan. He heard a noise and thot it was a wolf. He listened and hearing it again followed the sound and found me crying and so tired, cold and sleepy, I thot it so hard that he made me walk.
The cattle that he drove away were strange and he drove them the wrong way or I would not be here after all these years wondering why? Many times through my life we are assured that "There is a Destiny" that shapes our ends.
Deacon Reader lived where Theodore Pearce does now. He was a pioneer. He came in 1837 as did Mr. Bell. Chicago was their post office, 25¢ the price of a letter and no wagon roads on the way.
Mr. Reader was one of a large family who came from England. There are still numerous remnants of the family. The Bormans, Featherstones and Hamers. As I find in my mother's scrap book I will reproduce a part of it. "Died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Hamer, May 3rd, 1876, having nearly completed her 96th year, Mrs. Elizabeth Reader.
She was the mother of ten children, six of whom survived her. She had thirty grandchildren, eighty-eight great grandchildren, making a total of one hundred and twenty-eight, all living at the time of her death.
Bert Spensley, of Walworth, is a great grandson of hers.
Flora Rouse.
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"A History of the Hanover Society"
The Early Settlers of the Town of Marshall, Oneida Co., New York Together with a Genealogical Mention of Many Prominent Families
by Ada Marie Peck - 1901
There is the mention of John Reader in this publication. In Chapter XIII there is a part about the schools in the area... "The names of ancestors on ... families of both towns contained in the report of school district No. 3 formed partly out of the adjoining town of Sangerfield and partly out of the town of Marshall. The trustees in 1831 were R. Tower, A. Stafford and Dr. W. P. Cleveland; parents and number of pupils for Sangerfield as follows." Then about 70 names of parents are listed. Just near the end it, in its entirety, is the mention of John Reader.
"John Reader 2" so he had two children in the school district No. 3. That's it. It then goes on to list various, about ten, Marshall, Hanover Green, Moore's Corners, school districts, etc and has about 500 names at least. No names of students, just parents and the number of children attending. (Information provided by J.J. who has a copy of orig. 1901publication.)
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1803 - 1878 (75 years)
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