Reed, Henry Gooding

He attended the public schools and Taunton Academy, and during vacationshelped his father in the store. rn early life he spent his leisure makinguseful articles for the family and neighbors and miniature ship and othertoys for his playmates. When eighteen he became an apprentice in the shopof Babbitt & Crossman, of Taunton, and remained with them and theirsuccessors until 1831, when he attained his majority. During thisapprenticeship he thoroughly mastered his trade and laid the foundationof a successful future career. He continued in the various departments ofthe Taunton Britannia Manufacturing Company until 1835, first as ajourneyman and afterward as time-keeper and superintendent, and when thatcorporation was compelled to suspend, in the latter year, the managingagent contracted with him and Charles B. Barton to carry on the business.In 1837, in connection with Mr. Barton and Gustavus Leonard, Mr. Reedbegan the manufacture of britannia ware, employing twelve hands. Thebusiness has been continued ever since, and is noticed in detail onanother page of this volume. The product consists of electro-plated andsterling silver ware, having a wide and unexcelled reputation, andfurnishes employment in times of ordinary prosperity to eight hundredpeople. The company is known not only in this country, but in all otherlands with which we trade, and is composed of Henry G. Reed, GeorgeBrabrook, and the representatives of the estate of Henry H. Fish.
Mr. Reed is one of the leading manufacturers of southeasternMassachusetts, and is probably the oldest engaged in active business.Seventy years ago he became an apprentice, and for sixty-three years hehas been a proprietor, furnishing employment to hundreds of operatives,and distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars among his fellowcitizens. He has never held political office, but has always taken anactive interest in the growth and prosperity of his native town, and hasheld several positions of trust and responsibility. He has been adirector of the Taunton National bank since 1851, a trustee of theTaunton Savings Bank since its organization in 1869, a director of theTaunton City Mission and Associated Charities from their beginning, andpresident of the Reed Family Association of Taunton since 1873. He isalso an interested and liberal life member of the Old Colony HistoricalSociety. He is a public spirited, enterprising and patriotic citizen,imbued with the highest sense of honor, and endowed with rare businessand executive ability. He is a man of unquestioned integrity, and-.hasalways enjoyed the confidence and respect of the entire community.