Gradually, Read was able to attract others to the beautiful, yet fertile river valley.  In 1849 he performed a great duty for his new settlement when he built a sawmill on what later became known as Read's Creek, on which he built a dam.  At that time, the creek ran almost along our present day Highway 14, flowing south at about the intersection of highways 131 and 14. The mill stood for about 10 years, when it was replaced by a better one, erected near the site of the old. This mill stood until 1881, when it was torn down.

     In September 1851, Read made another entry for 40 acres of land, the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 7 Township 11N Range 3W. This land was located on the West Side of the river. One year later he received the patent for it from President Millard Fillmore at a cost of $50.00.