Read's Sporting Goods

Serving Central Illinois since 1884 Benjamin Franklin Read and his wife Liz moved from Philadelphia to Bloomington in 1856. Their son, W.B. Davis. In 1895 W.B. Mr.

Read, worked for the local newspaper owned by W.O. In 1884 they formed a separate wholesale division. Read, C.W. White, and C.S. Lincoln purchased the business for $7,000. The name changed to W.B. Read & Company. Lincoln was bought out a year later and the name changed to Read & White. These two also owned a game board manufacturing company together. 16 years later Mr. White sold his interest to  ...