Harry L. Reader is president of the Galvin Fruit & Commission Company and their business has reached gratifying proportions, being in excess of many in the same line in New Haven. The most envious should not grudge Mr. Reader his prosperity, for he came to America a poor boy and through individual effort and unfaltering perseverance he has become one of New Haven’s representative merchants and citizens. He was born in Russia on the 17th of April, 1877, and is a son of Joseph and Rebecca Reader, who were also natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives, the father being engaged in commercial pursuits. He passed away in 1909, while his wife died in 1913.

  Harry L. Reader was the fifth in order of birth in their family of nine children and after obtaining his education in the schools of his native country he sought the opportunities offered in the new world, making his way direct to New Haven, where he arrived in 1893. He was employed in various ways, scorning no occupation that would yield him an honest living, and at length he secured a position in connection with the general fruit and produce business, working for others until 1905, when he established himself in business in a similar line, developing an enterprise which is now well known under the name of the Galvin Fruit & Commission Company and which has developed into one of the largest enterprises of this character in New England, with Mr. Reader as the president and Wolf Jacobs as the vice president and secretary. The former has charge of the outside interests of the firm and from Monday until Friday is in New York, buying produce and supplies for the home trade.

  On the 10th of March, 1901, Mr. Reader was married to Miss Annie Umanoff, of New York city, a daughter of Max Umanoff, and they have one child, Edward, who was born in New Haven, November 23, 1912. Mr. Reader is a Master Mason and is a member of the B’nai B’rith. He is also identified with the Chamber of Commerce and is interested in all those forces which feature as factors in the upbuilding of his adopted city, the extension of its trade relations and the upholding of its civic standards.