Addison

READ, Carleton W.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 334-335

Carleton W. READ, was born 21 October 1834 in Charlotte [Chittenden County, 
Vermont], son of Orrin and Julia (POWELL) READ. He is of English lineage and 
his earliest ancestors in this country date back to John READ, 1598, who 
settled in Rehoboth [Bristol County, Massachusetts], near Boston. [The town 
of Rehoboth, organized in 1654, was originally part of Plymouth Colony.] His 
family was afterwards scattered, emigrating to different parts of the 
country. John READ, ancestor of the subject, was related by marriage to 
Governor John WINTHROP. He [John READ] possessed a large estate, and acted 
as referee and commissioner, and was high sheriff of his county for several 
years. Carleton W. READ received a common school education at Charlotte, and 
supplemented this by a course of study at Bakersfield Academy, Bakersfield 
[Franklin County, Vermont], under the tutorship of J. S. SPAULDING, 
principal. Mr. READ is Republican; and has been unusually honored by his 
town and county, yet he is of a retiring disposition; in 1882 was a member of 
the state Senate and acted on the committees of railroads and agriculture; 
was a delegate to the Republican national convention in Chicago in June 1888 
and cast his ballot for Benjamin HARRISON; has been town treasurer since 1884.

Mr. READ's social and business connections with prominent men throughout the 
state, and his extensive dealings in wool, stock, etc., make him favorably 
and widely known. He was one of the first interested in the Farmers' 
National Bank at Vergennes [Addison County, Vermont], having been a director 
for ten years, and is at this time its president. He is quite liberal in all 
his views, both religious and political. His father's advice to him when a 
boy was to be a farmer; he therefore moved to Addison County in 1858 and 
shouldered a debt of seven thousand dollars on two hundred acres of land, 
which has been paid, and more property added to the original purchase. On 31 
October 1855 at Charlotte Mr. [Carleton W.] READ married Vienna M., daughter 
of Deacon Homer and Alvirah CLARK. Of this union [Carleton W. and Vienna M. 
READ] were two daughters: Edna J. (deceased) and Carlotta C.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly