The colored American., 1901-01-12
The Founder, President and General
Manager of The National 90 opera
tive, Industrial, Protective and
Investment Association.
r. PARKER READ. MD. Ref.n.


=, The ne above IS a picture of E. Parker Read
NJ. D., Ref. D., of 1O3I South street Philadel
PHii one OF the leading men of our race" He
Is "a great thinker, planner and all-aPOund busi-
ness man, something that can be said of but
Few OF our men, although they have had the
same opportunity to do just what this man
has DONE who, if he has accomplished ANYTHING
al all. has no one to thank but himself, having
been left in this world to fight Iife's battles
alone; not being blessed with that most valued
Vi an prizes, the counsel, care and protection
oI MS parents, his father having been one of
thoSe valiant soldiers who helped this country
save the Union and left his life on the battle
Also, having the misfortune to lose his mother
d. quite an early age, and he being the youngest
"i seven children, he did not stop to ascertain
NAaJ ms older brothers and sisters, relatives
OF anybody else was going to do to help him,
hut started to battle with the stern realities
oI Jhls world himself, and TO his succeeding,
II can be better judged when we tell YOU that.
although he Is not yet 3S, he has the credit of
having more than $4,000 for each year that he
mas nteh III this world, a feat that but few
men nave accomplished, and he is the first and
only colOred man that know of to manufac-
M tu.e ana sell a preparation to the druggists Of
JhlS country. We name u few of the wholesale
uLuSslStS whom he sold personally large orders
Ol ms goods; Smith Kline, French & Co.. VAL
Snthe IL. Smith x Co., c. II. ButtcrwOTth Co.,
NlIler Drug Co.. ASchenback & Miller, of Phil
adelpha, !. Bailey * Son, II. J. Banks < Co.,
/ y Thomas X Son, Baltimore; Owens & Minor
Dtus Co, POcell, Ladd X Co, Richmond, Va;
W. r.; Armstrong Co, c. l.. Wright & Co.,
petersburg, Va We know of a great many
4loIc, buJ only mention these. John Mitchell, OF
lle Richmond Planet. told Dr. Read that he had
zone more 10 show the white man what a ne
x" could do than all the speeches he had ever
nrard. h addition to being a Physician. this
great man of the race is full-hedged Occulist
Guu Opuclan, he having graduated from the
ihlladeIphia Optical College with the highest
L"hoTS that can be conferred by any similar col
LEe III the United States, that of Doctor of
htifacJon and he is to-day the. only repre-
sentative that 10000 900 of black people have
III JhIs well-knOwn profession. He is also
d member of the Druid's Medical Society OF
america. one of the highest societies of medical
LNh I'D the country. and is the only member OF
LlS race TO occupy position in this vast body of
H',Acu genius. His business ability and fore
Si-AJ are mqueStiOncd. The rapid strides OF
progress made by him in tie many business
operations which he has undertaken has made
ms name known and respected in all parts of
l4' country. He is unqueStiOnably a shrewd
tI"ultf and a tiTelesS worker and before his
nlLhllesS energy, difficulties which would appaIl
anu " discourage man of less nerve fade away
anu leave success to crown his efforts.
among the many progressive enterprises which
L' mas been Instrumental in starting Is the AS
SuIahce and Redemption Association of Peters
-,"V, Va, for buying lapSeG Insurance policies;
ne 'oLSoIdated Beneficial Society of Baltimore
L"' the House Renters Protective Association
1-r Advocate Printing and Publishing Com
t--E OF Philadelphia; the National Co-Opera-
i've Industrial Protection and Investment As
So -. ldJ4n. Read X Christian Manufacturing Com
l-lE HE East Indian Remedy Company. manu-
8 l4S lhTerS OF hair preparations and agents sup
L-',>- also publishers of two books. viz: Co
Gtlduon or Buy and Borrow of Ourselves;
ppgo-laphical Distribution of Animals and the
haCe OF Men.'2