The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-11
DR.. J. B, READ DEAD
AFTER A WEEKS ILLNESS FROM
PNEUMONIA
cITY'S OLDEST PHYSICIAN.
n,ssED AWAY AT GREEN COVE
SPRINGS, FLA.

c,+nrv-SerVed Through the Con-
t.dernte War in the Field and
4, the Hospitals-Was Member
of the First Faculty of the Savnn-
nah Medical College and Had
served the city and County in
various Onices-Hls Remains Will
u. brought to Savannah for In
.or,uent-News of His Death Re-
ceixed with Deep Regret.
mr. James B. Read died at 5 o'clock
Yesterday afternoon at his home in
Green Cove Springs, Fla, after
,,,eelss illness from pneumonia. AL
though his death had been looked for
several days the news was received
with deep regret in Savannah, where
mr. Read had spent nearly his entire
ne and where for half a CEN
tnrv he had practiced his profession. B..
DR. and. Mrs. Read were in Savannah
about two weeks ago and spent sew
eral days. Shortly after returning to
Florida DR.. Read contracted severe
cold Pneumonia set in and in short
time both lungs were affected. Last
saturday Mr.. J. M. Solomons, his life
long friend, received a telegram an
nouncing DIR. Reads critical illness.
The next morning he started for Flor
ida. accompanied by DR.. st. j. B. Gra-
ham. who had been DR.. Reads physi-
clan during his visits to Savannah, and
a trained nurse.
DIR Graham spent two days with DR..
Read. He found him critically i'll and
with practically no hope of living more
than a few DAVIS at the longest. He
was fully conscious and recognized Mr.
Solomons and DR.. Graham and greet
ed them cordially. Everything possible
was done for him. Mrs. Read, Miss
Alice Read of Baltimore, niece of DR..
Read, and a local physician were with
him when DR. Graham and Mr.. Solo
mons arrived. There had been little
hope from the first and the telegram
last night from Mr.. Solomons announc-
ing the end caused no surprise.
The remains will be brought to Sa-
vannah and the funeral will take place
from the Cathedral of St. John the
Baptist, though the time has not yet
been fixed.
The Georgia Medical Society of which
Dr. Read was an honOred member
was in session. when the news of his
death was received. No formal ac-
ton was taken further than a resolu-
ton to pay the last tribute of respect
by attending the funeral in a body,
but there were many expressions of
deep regret at the death of the nestor
of physicians in Savannah, one whom
the younger members had been ac-
custo1ned to look to for counsel and
advice, and of sympathy and con-
dolence for his family.
James Bond Read was born in Sa-
vannah in 1927. He received his
early education here and at st.
Mary's College, Maryland. He was
graduated in medicine in Baltimore
from the University of Maryland in
1S49, and located in Savannah for the
practice of his profession, which he
continued up to a short time before
he went to Green Cove Springs to live
in 1898. He was the oldest physician
in Savannah, his contemporaries being
Or. r. ]. Mum, DR.. ]. c. LeHardy
DIR. w. H. Elliott and DR.. R. B. Harris
though each of them was several
years his junior. He was a member
of the first faculty of the Savannah
Medical College in 1858 as professor of
pathological anatomy. He had al
talynr nj in the
various medical associations of the
city and of the state, and had fire.
quently contributed to the literature
of his profession.
DR.. Read was identified with the
militia organizations of Savannah in
ante-bellum DAYS. When the Confed-
crate war began and the fortified
places of the United. States within the
boundaries of Georgia were seized, he
served for a short time in the states
service. In the spring of 1861 he was
chosen captain of the Irish Volunteers.
Company A of the First Volunteer
Regiment of Georgia. He served with
the command six months and was mus
tered out.
few months later he re-entered the
Confederate States service as an Off
Ger of the medical department and was
assigned to the Seabrook Hospital at
Richmond, Va. After two months
service there he was transferred to
Hospital No. 4, the officers hospital at
Richmond, of which he was given
charge. This was his line of duty
during the remainder of the war until
the surrender He made a wide rep
utation as a surgeon and executive Of
flcer
On the cessation of hostilities he re-
turned to Savannah and resumed his
practice in civil life. He was recog-
hlzed as one of the leading physicians
OF the state until his retirement, five
years ago. He had served the city
ana county in various capacities. For
SIX years he was County Commits
sioner, and gave much of his time to
public affairs.
ana his entry upon his profession Dr.
Read married Miss Dugan, the daugh-
yer OF Frederick Dugan, a prominent
iaWyer of Baltimore, who survives him.
lhey had no children.
Or. Read had a large circle of rela-
yves in Savannah, and few men will be
more sincerely mourned. He was a man
VI warm friendships, kind-hearted and
syInpathetic in his meetings with peo-
PIE of every position in life, and I'M
yer all circumstances and conditions.
Always with word of encouragement
ana comfort for those who needed it,
~ ~ was close to the hearts of
muse with whom he came in contact,
OoOh IN professional and private life.
-s
Greater Georgia.