The Republican journal., 1913-05-08
CHAPTER VIII. (lsOS-9.)

The three years prior to this, 1903,
were years of prosperity. During those
years there had been large influx of
population and of the right class; men
who did not come to spy out the leanness
of the land nor squeeze out its fairness,
but to lay the foundation of homes for
lifetime. Their energy, enterprise and
industry contributed largely to building
up the place, developing its resources,
and carrying it through the dark period
in its history upon which it was now to
enter.
Among them came one who deserves
something more than a passing notice,
Nathan Read; better known to those
who remember him, as Judge Read. Of
those who came here contemporaneously
with him there were many, doubtless,
energetic business men, who contributed
more largely than he did to the material
I wealth of the place; but no one of them
who labored so earnestly and persistent
ly to promote the moral and intellectual
welfare of its people; no one who felt a
deeper interest or was more active
worker in every cause which had tor its
object the advancement of the public
welfare.
Judge Read was born in Warren,
Mass, 1853, graduated at Harvard Uni
versity in 1871, and was for nearly four
years a me mber of its Board of Instruc-
ton. After resigning that position he
commenced the study of medicine; but
soon abandoned it for pursuits more con-
genial to his taste, agriculture and the
mechanic arts. While residing at Dan
vers, where he owned and carried on a
/ large farm, he invented and obtained
| letters patent for the nail machine, since
that time extensively used for cutting
and heading nails at one operation. He
was the inventor of several valuable i'm
provements in agricultural implements,
and it is claimed that he was the inven-
tor of the multi-tubular boiler and port
able high-pressure engine, and the dis
coverer of the true mode of applying
steam-power to navigation and railways.
The mass of facts and testimony collect
ed in the biography of him compiled by
his nephew, David Read, seem to estab.
fish concusively the justice of the claim.
1t was while he resided in Danvers
that he represented Essex South District
in Congress. He was a member of the
House at the time of the contest for the
Presidency between jefferson and Burr.
In 1902 he was appointed by Gov. Strong
Special Justice of the Court of Com.
mon Pleas for the county of Essex, and
after his removal to this place he presid-
ed for several years as Chief Justice of
that Court for the county of Hancock.
Attracted by the glowing accounts,
then rife in Massachusetts, of 'Down
East, 'ss the beauty of its scenery, the
wealth of it's forests, the fertility of its
soil, he came here on tour of eXplora-
tion in the fall of 1905, and was so favor
ably impressed that he made large in
vestment, for those days, in land, pur-
chasing at that time and in the year fol
loving four hundred acres lying on each
side of the road leading from Nesmith 8
Corner to Little River. In 1907 he came
here with his family to reside, and here
he passed the remainder OF his days, de-
voting them to agricultural pursuits, ex-
periments and inventions in the mechanic
arts, and the study of the natural
sciences, always taking, as his biograp-
er we'll remarks, "a lively interest in
all matters of public character, es-
pecially such as were designed to i'm
prove the moral condition and advance
the intellectual and social improvement
of the people among whom he lived. "
He died Jan. 20, 1849, in his ninetieth
year, in the full possession of his intel
lectual powers until within few days of
his decease; enjoying during his long and
somewhat chequered life, the respect
and esteem of all who knew him best.
The laying Of the Embargo by Con-
gress. Dec. q, 1907, was the first dark