Earliest known Read ancestors are Dennis and Mary (unknown maiden name) O’Donoghue, born Ireland 1780 and 1782, their son:
- Dennis Donoghue (1803-87)(dropped the ‘O!) married Elizabeth Cronin (b. 1821), Feb. 21, 1841, in County Kerry, one of their twelve native Irish children,
- Elizabeth Ann “Bessie” (photo – 1848-1931) married Charles Read of Westerloo, Ontario (1847-1911), they are in Holyoke, MA by 1870, then Springfield, where one of their six children,
- Francis Joseph (1885-1941) meets Mary Berenice Swift (1890-1959), ward of cousin Mary Reilly. They marry in Maysville, KY, return to Springfield, then move to Toronto.
Springfield Republican files
Dec. 10, 1911 Spfld Repub. – Chas. Read 64, dies at home, 55 Adams St. about midnight, besides widow, four sons, Chas. J. architect Toronto; Wm. J. Attleboro, MA, James J. Frank J. of Spfld. Born May 10, 1847 Westerloo, Ont. Came to Springfield aged 16, returned home to learn cabinetmakers trade; 13 yrs foreman T.M. Walker Co. then 4 yrs foreman T. Shea Co.
