Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 2nd ed., 
1885, Butler Co.

WILLIAM WASHINGTON READ was born in Butler County, Ky., on April 24, 
1819.  He is a son of Cunningham Read, a native of Hanover, Va., born 
in 1790; wo came to Kentucky when a lad of ten years, with his father 
Moses Read; he was married to Margaret (Ewing) Porter in 1814, in Butler 
County; she died September 16, 1824, leaving five children, William W. 
being the third.  His second marriage was with Eliza McReynolds and to 
them were born three children.  Cunningham Read was a farmer; he died in 
August 30, 1834.  Moses Read was a Scot by birth.  After his marriage he 
emigrated from Scotland and settled in Virginia where he remained and 
followed the life of a farmer until his death, which occurred in ------.  
William W., after the death of his father, remained with his mother and 
supported the family by his labor until he was eighteen years of age.  
Then for one year he was overseer on a plantation, afterward followed 
the river trade, flat-boating and rafting for three years, until 1840.  
On May 14, in that year, he was married to Servary B. Ewing, of Butler 
County, Ky., they the parents of five children, all of whom lived to be 
married, though only one now survives - Mrs. Minerva Woods, of Coffee 
County, Kas.  After marriage Mr. Read removed to Todd County, where he 
learned the tanner's trade, which he has followed in connection with 
farming up to the present time.  In December, 1857, he bought 500 acres 
of land on Mud River, in Butler County, where he now resides.  His farm 
is one of the best in his section, 100 acres of it being well fenced 
and in a fine state of cultivation and improved with good comfortable 
dwelling, large barn, also a tanyard and shoe-maker's shop, and orchard 
of 150 fruit trees.  Mr. Read gives most of his attention to raising of 
grain.  He had few advantages for school education but has acquired a 
fair business education, through his own efforts.  He is practical, and 
manages his business with tact and success.  He is a Master Mason in 
Rochester Lodge No. 270; also a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and favors the temperance cause by example as well as precept.  
He is a Republican and during the Rebellion was a strong Union man.  Mr. 
Read is a public spirited citizen and does much for the improvement of 
the county around him.

Read Porter Ewing McReynolds Woods
=
Hanover-Hanover-VA Scotland Coffee-KS Todd-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/butler/read.ww.txt