EUGENE BRUCE READ'S JOURNAL was handwritten, probably dictated to his daughter, Minnie Minshall Read Peaslee

I was born at 152 Greenwood Street, New York City, February 5, 1837. In January 1840 the family removed to Paterson, N.J. We lived here nearly 5 years, until I was 7 years old. My first recollection of going to school was at Paterson, first to Miss Mary Miller and then to Mr. Tirnus[?]. They were both private schools. I have a very vivid recollection of Paterson--the house we lived in--the Factory--the Race--the Falls--the River--the Town. We removed in the fall of 1844 from Paterson to the "Good Intent Factory" near Philadelphia, 1 3/4 miles west of Market St. Bridge, across the Schuylkill River. I do not remember the journey from Paterson to Philadelphia, although I remember well our arrival at "Good Intent." This factory (cotton) was owned by an English firm, Butterfield Bros. & Co. Ed and I went to school at the West Philadelphia Public School. We lived at Good Intent three years, and then removed to "Burnside on Cobb's Creek, 3 1/2 miles from the city (Philadelphia) (For further particulars as to Good Intent and Burnside, see pg. 10 and 11.) My brother Ed. died at Burnside Aug. 7, 1849 of dysentery. The following January (1850) the family moved west to Alton, Illinois. At this time I was in the first class W. Philadelphia Grammar School and the next Sept. would have entered High School in the city. It was the last of my schooling. In going to Alton we went by railroad from Philadelphia to Cumberland, Michigan, via Baltimore. At Cumberland we took a stage and crossed the mountains to Brownsville, Pa. On the Monongahela River, from there to Pittsburgh by steam boat and from there to St. Louis by the steam boat "Niagara." The Ohio River was very high, out of its banks in many places. Just before reaching Wheeling, little Willie, the baby, 2 1/2 years old, was attacked with scarlet fever and was doctored so successfully by Dr. Vastine[?], a homeopathic physician of St. Louis, who was on board, that the family became homeopaths. At St. Louis we changed boats again, taking the "Tempest," and in a couple of hours or less we reached our destination (Alton, Illinois) February 2, 1850, having made the journey from Philadelphia. In ten days, which was considered a very fast trip, owing principally to the flood in the Ohio River. My father's object in coming west was to engage in the mercantile business in company with Cousin James E. Starr. The firm was Read and Starr. I was now 13 years old, and as I was far in advance of any school in the city (although Shurtliffs College was at Upper Alton, 2 miles away) I entered the store as a boy clerk at $10.00 a month, half of which ($5.00) I paid Father Read for my board. My duties were to open and close the store, sweep and dust it, keep things neat and clean, and wait on customers when there was a rush. I was much interested in learning the trade mark. It was something entirely new to me and was as follows:

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The store was a large one on the river side of Second Street and the stock, which was general merchandise with many fine goods (silks, etc.) For the city trade, invoiced something over $10,000. Two years after the store opened (1852) a very high flood (the second highest in history) in the Mississippi River paralyzed business and so damaged the stock that it resulted in a failure in the business. The firm dissolved and Father Read took the goods to Pittsfield, Pike Co., Ill., in an attempt to recover from the disaster. The family moved in the spring of 1852. I continued in the store until the first crash came in 1856 when the business was closed up. I then received employment as clerk with Keys and Furry at $400.00 per year, but as Father Read could get no employment, my salary went to support the family. In about 2 years Keys and Furry=s store took fire and burned up. But I immediately secured another position with James A. Kenny at a salary of $500.00 a year. I then bought a piano for mother, $350.00 cash; the amount was advanced by Mr. Joseph Baldwin (a great friend of the family) and I paid him in monthly payments. The rest of my salary went to the support of the family until the spring of 1858 when James A. Kenny failed in business, when it was suggested that the family go on to a farm. Mr. Baldwin agreed to advance the money. Father Read made the selection of 160 acres in Montgomery Co., Ill., 2 1/2 miles S. W. of Rosemond. Mr. Baldwin not only paid cash for the land, but he stocked the farm with cattle and advanced the money for expenses as needed. Father Read sold the house we lived in in Pittsfield for $1,600.00 and put that into the farm, which was raw prairie. On the 23^rd of March 1861 I was engaged to be married to Miss Ophelia M. Putnam and the next fall, Nov. 7, 1861, we were married. We commenced married life at Father Read's and lived there through the first winter. In the spring of 1862 I rented what was called the Simpson Place, north east of Rosemond. It was unfenced, but the agent agreed to fence it, which he did, but so poorly that in the fall the cattle on the prairie broke it down and ate up the crop. The next year, 1863, we rented the Frizzell place in Rosemond, on the north side of the Rail Road. This was also unfenced on the west side and along the railroad. I took the contract to fence it, and did so. We lived here until the spring of 1864, when I enlisted in the army (April 20, 1864). I was mustered in at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Ill. As a private in Co. M, 3^rd Ill. Cav. Vols. And joined the regiment at Memphis, Tenn. May 27. On the 29^th of June I was ordered to report for duty in the Adjutant's Office, Regimental Headquarters. On the 29^th of July 1864 six companies (B, C, F, H, I, and M) were ordered on a scout. We went on board two steam boats and landed at Hickman, Ky., July 31. Then marched across the country to Paducah where we arrived Aug. 3. We were ordered Aug. 10 to Mayfield. We started at 6 a.m. and marched until 7 a.m., rested 1 1/2 hours for breakfast. We then marched all day, resting for dinner and going into camp at night. We reached Mayfield, the County Seat of Groves Co. Ky. About 9 o'clock the next morning.

From Sept. 12 to 22 I was at home on a furlough on account of Ophelia's sickness. On Oct. 15 Mayfield was abandoned and we fell back to Paducah. Nov 9-19 I was at home again on furlough on account of birth of Dwight. The Detachment was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 18, 1864 by steamboat to join Lt. Thomas. We reached Nashville Dec. 24, after the battle. Most of the command started at once in pursuit of Hood, but I was left behind in charge of Headquarters property. On January 12, 1865 those of us left at Nashville were ordered by boat down the Cumberland and up the Tennessee to Gravelly Springs, Ala. We reached there January 22 and rejoined the Regiment. We had been separated since July 29, 1864. We found the Colonel in great trouble. The non-veterans (men whose terms of enlistment had expired and who did not re-enlist) went home in the fall of 1864, and since then they had men unable to make out a correct monthly report. They had no one who could do it, and the War Dept. threatened Col. Cornaham with dismissal if it was not forth coming immediately. I made it out correctly, to the Colonel's great relief. We moved camp to Eastport, Miss. Feb. 6, reaching there the next day. April 22, 1865 I was made Com. Sgt. Of Co. "A," to date from April 18. May 17 I was promoted to be 2^nd Lieutenant, Co. "A" and acting Adjutant of the Regiment. June 28 I was promoted to be First Lieutenant and Commissary of the Regt. (3^rd Ill. Cav. Vols). May 11 the command was ordered from Eastport to St. Louis by steam boat. We reached St. Louis May 16. I now got the Colonel's permission to visit home for a few days. Reached Rosemond May 23^rd at 10:30 p.m., stayed home until May 28, when I rejoined the Regt. At St. Louis. June 6 we left St. Louis on steamboats for Fort Snelling, Minn. As the Regt. is to be sent west against the Indians. Arrived at Fort Snelling June 7. Left Fort Snelling for Devil's Lake, July 7. We got back from Devil's Lake Oct. 1, not having seen a single hostile Indian. I was mustered out of service at Fort Snelling, Minn., Oct. 10, 1865, and reached home at Rosemond Oct. 21, rejoiced to be at home again, and oh so thankful that our country is saved.

Nov. 4, 1865 I bought 30 acres of land at Bell's Grove of Mr. Dale @ $25.00 per acre and 10 acres of Father Putnam joining us @$20.00 per acre, making a square of 40 acres costing $950.00. I paid Dale $700.00 and note for $50 and Father P. $100 cash and 3 notes 1 yr. $40., 2 yr. $30. And 3 yr $30. Nov. 13, 1865 we went to Lebanon, Mo. To visit Milan and Minnie Beckwith, reaching there on the 18^th. We cane to Rolla, Mo. By RR and from Rolla to Lebanon (60 miles) by stage. Milan had just bought an interest in a store and he offered me a position as clerk, which I accepted temporarily. We stayed at Lebanon 9 mos. And then returned to Rosemond, put up a little house on our 40 acres, and commenced clearing it, for it was covered with brush and timber. I borrowed $1000. Of Frank Minshall, paid off any notes to Date and Father Putnam and hired men to fence and clear the place. In Aug. 1868, Frank Minshall came on from Marietta and offered me $1000 a year to keep books for him. I accepted it and in Sept. 1868 we removed to Marietta, Ohio. We first moved into a house on Sacra Via St. but after six months we found a house we liked better on Front Street near the Fair Grounds. Here Mabel was born. Kate and Dwight were born at Father Putnam's and Minnie was born in the little house on the 40 acres in Bell's Grove. We lived in the house by the Fair Grounds until July 1870 when Frank failed. Ophelia then went to Rosemond with the children on a visit. I sold Frank the 40 acres in Bell's Grove and in that May paid the $1000.00 I owed him. In October 1870 I accepted the position of Bookkeeper with D. C. Skinner and Co. at a salary of $1500.00 per year. I was also commissioned a Notary Public which added some $300.00 more to my income. I remained with D.C. Skinner and Co. until they failed May 1875. In October 1870 I went to Rosemond for Ophelia and the children and we moved into a house on Green St. In the spring of 1871 I bought a house on Second St. next to the M. E. Church (Whitney Chapel) and we moved into it. It cost $2100.00. Little Dwight died April 24, 1874 aged nearly 9 1/2 years. In Sept. 1874 Ophelia took charge of the College Boarding House, a new undertaking to furnish cheap and good boarding to the students. We stayed there but one term when we returned to our own house. We started the Post St. Sunday School and Prayer Meeting in 1874 and built the little chapel at a cost of $450.00 subscribed by the merchants and citizens. April 27, 1875 we adopted Maud. She was 17 mos. Old. May 1, 1875 I was employed as City Missionary @$50.00 a month, a Union work. Prof. Mills raised the salary by subscription, payable monthly. The Woman's Temperance Crusaders, who had just finished their labors (Ophelia being one of them) recommended that one be employed. Oct. 13, 1875 I was examined by the Marietta Congregational Conference, and licensed to preach for 4 yrs. July 1, 1876 I received a call to the pastorate of Marietta Second and Little Muskingum (Cornerville) Congregational Churches. We rented our house on Second St. to Mr. Fred Morse and moved out to Cornerville. Oct. 29, 1876 I was ordained by Council at the Little Muskingum Church. After living at Cornerville a year, at the request of the Second Church we moved over there and the next year we moved to town, and as our house was rented, we rented a house on Washington St. at the request of the Conference and consent of the churches. I preached at Lowell on the Muskingum River after Oct.1, 1879 every other Sunday, and at the 2^nd and Cornerville churches on the alternate Sundays. On February 17, 1880 I resigned the pastorate at both churches and was dismissed by Council, resignation to take effect April 1, 1880. We went from Marietta to Father Putnam's. I visited the church at Rockford, Mich., and also at Lockport, Ill., going first to Lockport and the next Sunday at Rockford, and stopping again at Lockport over another Sunday. I received a call from both churches on the same mail. We were led to accept the call from Lockport, but had to wait until Sept. 1 for the parsonage to be finished as there was no vacant house in the town. In 1883 I had an attack of nervous prostration, but the church refused my resignation, and recommended rest, so I was away for a month in the spring and again for two months in the fall, but as I was not much improved, the church voted that I be requested to avoid all study and to repeat the sermons that I had preached the year before. However, I was finally obliged to resign Nov. 23, 1884. The connection was severed Dec. 9, 1884, and in January 12, 1885 I accepted a call from the Union Tabernacle Church of Chicago. The previous May 1, Kate and James A Milne were married in the church by myself and lived with us in the parsonage until we left Lockport. The family moved into the Union Tabernacle Parsonage Jan. 27, 1885. March 9 I was installed by Council pastor of the church. In June 1887 Minnie's health failed. She had been poorly for years, and the Dr. ordered her to Colorado for 5 years; this of course meant a resignation. I accordingly resigned June 22, 1887, and was dismissed by Council July 5. Ophelia, Minnie, and I went at once to Denver, Colo. July 17 I preached at Plattville and received a call from the church, but declined it at the request of Bro. Sanders, the Home Missy. Supt. As he wished me to visit Montrose on the other (west) side of the Rocky Mts., which I accordingly did. Aug. 1, 1887 I received and accepted a call from the Montrose Congregational Church and Ophelia and Minnie, who were at Denver, came right on. We had left Mabel and Maud at Kate's and in Oct. they joined us. In the spring of 1890 my nervous prostration returned and I was unable to do any mental labor, so I resigned the pastorate Aug. 1, 1890. I took up a ranch (it was "dry" as all land "under the ditch," i.e. that could be irrigated, had already been "entered") in the spring, hoping it would benefit me and Sept. 1, 1980 I bought a little store of J. T. Turner. In February 1891 I commenced preaching at 3 country school houses (Riverside, Colona, and No. 10) until July. Sept. 26, 1891, following Dr. Johnson's (our family physician) advice, I applied for Soldiers' Pension under the "Invalid Pension Act." In Nov. 1891 C. O. Chapin of Chicago (a former member of Union Tabernacle Church) offered me a position to travel for him and sell his blank check, receipt, and not books, which I accepted turning the little store over to Minnie. I left Montrose in Mr. Chapin's employ Dec. 1, 1891 and traveled clear across the continent and arrived in New York City in January 1892. I left there for Chicago in April and accepted a position as book keeper with Lehner, Johnson and Co. of Chicago April 1892. On Sept. 8, 1892 I commenced preaching at Homer, going down Saturday p.m. and returning Monday a.m. (Still holding my position with L. J. and Co.) On Nov. 7, 1892 Minnie and Mabel were married, I going on from Chicago to marry them, and George going on with me. It was a double wedding Minnie and Herbert C. Peaslee and Mabel and George H. Rogers. George, Mabel and our family, including Elmer whom we had adopted Nov. 10, 1890 when he was 10 1/2 mos. old, returning east, Herbert and Minnie remaining in Montrose. We sold most of our furniture in Montrose. I returned immediately to Chicago, but Ophelia visited Waller Putnam, Minnie Beckwith and her parents and friends at Rosemond until Christmas when she came to Chicago with Mother Read, I going down to Rosemond to accompany them. In the meantime I had rented a house (No. 1111 Elston Ave.) And bought new furniture, and had everything ready for their coming. May 6, 1894, we moved to Lombard expecting to raise chickens; we rented a house with that understanding. But after we had moved out there the landlord claimed not to have understood it and refused to allow us to keep chickens. (I didn't propose giving up my position with L. J. and Co., the chickens were in addition). So in August 1894 we moved back to the city to No. 62 Clara Place. Dec. 1, 1894 I received a call to become pastor of the Homer Church. I accepted it, and resigned my position with Lehner, Johnson and Co. and the family, including Ma, of course, removed to Homer. June 1, 1896, I received a second call to Lockport which I accepted and we were once more in the parsonage at Lockport. We remained here until Feb. 1, 1900, when Mr. Chapin offered me a position as Book keeper which I decided to accept, so resigning the pastorate at Lockport, I bought Jim Milne's cottage on 7^th St. for $1000 and build an addition to it, as Ma could have a room. We lived at Lockport and I went up every week day to Chicago, returning at night. This continued until Aug. 1, 1902, when the Homer Church gave me a second call, so I resigned my position with C.O. Chapin and Co. and accepted the call of the church, rented our cottage and moved out to Homer. In the summer of 1904 I sold the cottage and bought a farm of 116 acres, 3 1/2 miles east of Russellville, Ark., and Oct. 1, I resigned the pastorate of the church of Homer and removed to Russellville. As the house on the farm was occupied by the tenant, and as I didn't propose to farm myself, we built a new house. Oct. 8, 1905 the Washburn Memorial Presbyterian Church of Russellville asked me to come in every Sunday morning and preach for them. I did so until April 1, 1906 when they called me to be their pastor. I accepted the call, and we rented a house in Russellville (called the "Old Baylis House") and moved in. I asked and received a letter from the Fox river Congregational Association of Illinois. I presented it to the Washburn Presbytery, was examined, and accepted and so became a Presbyterian minister Oct. 4, 1906. My health failing, I resigned the pastorate April 1, 1908 and we spent the summer and fall visiting at Lockport, Lombard, Rosemond, E. St. Louis, Carthage and Coffeyville. Father Putnam died Aug. 19; we were at the funeral. We spent the winter with Minnie and Russellville. We left Russellville April 13, 1909, to make our summer home with Kate and our winter home with Mabel. Dec. 1910 I sold the farm near Russellville for $1500. In January 31, 1911, I signed a contract with Sherman, French and Co. of Boston, Mass. To get out a book to be entitled "Devotional Poems for the Quiet Hour," at a total cost of $564.00, S. F. and Co. to take 1/4 and I 3/4 interest. The book was published in April 1911. Geo. Rogers opened a store in Wheaton, and the family moved there and we decided to make our permanent home with Kate, so we moved most of our things to Lockport April 26, 1912. I asked for a letter from the Washburn Presbytery of Arkansas And joined again the Fox River Association April, 1915, so I am again a Congregational minister. As the other girls objected to our spending all our time at Lockport, we decided to divide it between the, and Oct. 28, 1914 we went to Oak Park to spend 3 or 4 months with Minnie's family.

Eugene B. Read

Died at Lockport, Ill. Oct. 25, 1918.

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their work do follow them. Rev. 14. 13.

OPHELIA MARIA PUTNAM READ’S JOURNAL was handwritten, probably by her daughter, Minnie Minshall Read Peaslee

She was born in Hinsdale, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, November 7, 1838. She attended the Public School and Academy at Hinsdale until she was 14 years old. She then taught her first school at Charlesmont, Massachusetts, boarding with her uncle, Orlando M. Hawkes. She taught for 16 weeks at $1.25 per week, making $20, $12.00 of which she gave to her father and $8.00 she spent on herself for clothes. At the age of 17 she came west with her father’s family and taught the first school in Rosemond in her father’s unfinished house in the summer of 1856. It was a private school. In 1857 she taught the first school in Pana, three months at $20.00 a month. In the same year she taught 9 months in Taylorville, first as assistant at $25.00 a month, but was after the first term made principal at $3.00 per pupil for a 3 month term. She boarded most of the time with Judge Frink. In 1858 she taught in the new Public School building at Rosemond. In 1859 she went east on a visit, and spent six months in Massachusetts visiting in the vicinity of her old home. On returning home she accepted a position as teacher in the Rosemond schools. In the fall of 1859 the Rosemond people organized a Lyceum that met every Friday night and was continued through the winter. When the officers were elected, in a spirit of banter and fun Miss Ophelia Putnam was nominated for President and Miss Mattie Russell for secretary and by a large majority they were elected and in response to the spirit in which they were elected, they accepted the positions. And the ease and graceful manner in which the president-elect acknowledge the compliment in a neat little speech, quite won the heart of at least one unsophisticated youth in the assembly, and he forthwith became her most ardent admirer.

And strange to tell, in spite of stormy weather, Old Cupid tied at last their hearts together. They were engaged to be married the night of March 23, 1861 and were married at Father Putnam’s November 7, 1861. From that time, like two streams uniting, their lives have flowed together—for the account of it see Pages 46-85.

Ophelia Maria Putnam Read

Died at Oak Park January 18, 1918

If we believe that Jesus died and we again, from even so then also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. . . .

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout . . . . and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

You can reach me by E-mail:  peaslee@pitt.edu  Czech diacritical marks are visible when these pages are viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Photographs and written material are the property of Margaret Heřmánek Peaslee, unless otherwise noted.  Copyright, 1998-2007, Margaret Heřmánek Peaslee.

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