Howard Reed is a man well known throughout the State as a successful breeder of thoroughbred stock and a Twentieth century farmer. He was born February 13, 1859, at Galesburg, Ill., and is a son of Sylvester and Emily (Hand) Reed, the former a native of New Hampshire, and the latter of Ohio. Sylvester Reed, the father, emigrated from New Hampshire to Galesburg, Ill., in 1859, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until 1878, when he removed to Frankfort, Kan., where he also engaged in the mercantile business and, in addition, was an extensive land owner in the country surrounding Frankfort. He continued in active business until 1907, when he retired and resided in Frankfort until the time of his death, September 20, 1913. His wife died in 1872. Sylvester Reed was a man who took an active part in politics, but never sought public office himself. His pleasure in politics seemed to be in helping his friends. He was a successful business man, a good citizen, and made the world better by having lived in it.

Howard Reed, the subject of this review, was reared in Galesburg, Ill., receiving his early educational discipline in the public school, and graduated from the high school. He then entered the Illinois State University at Champaign, taking the agricultural course and graduated in the class of 1882. After leaving college he engaged in farming and stock raising in Illinois. He made a specialty of pure bred Poland China hogs, and had the first pure bred herd of hogs in Illinois, and he and his father were charter members of the American Poland China Record Association. Mr. Reed remained in Illinois until 1885, when, in March of that year, he came to Kansas. He located at Osborne, where he was engaged in the implement business until 1889, when he came to Frankfort and was associated with his father in the implement business until 1897. In the meantime he and his father had been engaged in breeding Poland China hogs in a small way on their different farms. They brought to Kansas a part of their herd of thoroughbreds from Illinois, and they were the first to engaged in this business in Northern Kansas. Mr. Reed bred and raised the highest priced boar ever bred and raised in the State of Kansas, "Lails Perfection," No. 119667, sired by "Elite Perfection," No. 119375, which was sired by the world's champion, "Mischief Maker," No. 81481. In 1897 Mr. Reed left the firm of S. & Howard Reed and was employed by the Cox Stove Company, of Philadelphia, Pa., as traveling salesman, and remained in that capacity until 1901, when he engaged in the pure bred hog business again, and located on a farm south of Frankfort. He raised Poland China hogs, but more extensively than ever before. He finished off for sale each year an average of 300 pure bred hogs, usually holding two sales annually, but one year he held three. Sometimes he sold as high as 400 head during a year. His herd was headed at first by "Indiana Second," the highest priced six-months old pig ever sold, at the time Mr. Reed bought him, and later "Lails Perfection" No. 119667 took the head of the herd. The trade mark of the farm where Mr. Reed was engaged in the hog business was "Spring Farm," and consisted of 640 acres, which he still owns.In 1907 he sold out the hog business on account of his health, and since that time has devoted himself to looking after his various interests in a general way. During the last eight years he has taken an active interest in the farmers' institute, and filled various offices in that organization, including president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. He is a leading spirit in the movement to educate the younger generation how to farm properly, which is certainly a commendable mission. In 1910 he was elected township trustee on the good roads platform, and was one of the first good roads advocates in the State, and the roads of the township of Vermillion bear testimony to his efforts in that direction. Mr. Reed was married April 14, 1897, to Miss Nancy Heddington, a daughter of Emmett and Sarah (Laizure) Heddington, natives of Ohio, where the father was engaged in the mercantile business until 1880, when he came to Kansas and settled in Marshall county, where for a number of years he was engaged as a trainer of race horses. He died in Frankfort, in 1888, and his wife still survives. Mrs. Reed was born in Harrison county, Ohio, and received her education in the public schools of her native State and Kansas. She graduated in the Frankfort High School in the class of 1893, after which she spent one year in a private school in the East. To Mr. and Mrs. Reed has been born one child, Gail Campbell, a girl who died in infancy. Mr. Reed is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and politically is a Republican. He is thoroughly qualified by education and experience, and is a recognized authority throughout the State on important matters of agriculture and stock breeding. His efforts to improve farming methods and to raise the standard of stock will be worth millions to the future generation of farmers.