Born in the town of Alburgh, Grand Isle county, Vermont, on October 1, 1846, his parents being George and Jane Reed. The father was born near Belfast, Ireland, and was married to Miss Jane Sherry, also a native of that locality. They came to the United States about 1830, settling in Vermont, where Mr. Reed devoted his time and attention to the occupation of farming until 1855, when he brought his family to the middle west, establishing his home in Albion township, Howard county, Iowa, in 1856, near what is now Cresco. Henry spent his boyhood days in the vicinity of Cresco upon his father's farm, attending the public school and a private school; studied law and was admitted to practice in 1872, and thereafter followed its practice until March, 1904, when he was appointed United States district judge for the northern district of Iowa to succeed the late Oliver P. Shiras of Dubuque. In 1868 Judge Reed was married to Miss Laura J. Webster, daughter of Julius F. and Eliza J. Webster. In 1876 Mr. Reed was elected to the State Legislature as Representative from Howard County. He served one term in the Legislature and then continued in private life until his appointment as Federal Judge. He was a member of the Congregational Church.