This is a photograph of Fred W. Read, a pioneer businessman in Lawrence, Kansas. The photograph was copied from History of Lawrence by Richard Cordley. Frederick W. Read was born in Bedford, Westchester County, New York. When he was ten years old his family moved to Wisconsin territory, and later his father was killed in the Mexican-American War. In 1856 Read went to Lawrence, Kansas territory and opened a general store with his brother. They ended the partnership in 1862, each to run their own store, and then Read lost all his money and possessions in Quantrill's raid on Lawrence in 1863. He later acted as chairman of the Executive Committee of Raid Claims in the 1880s as well as serving on the Lawrence city council.
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