Albert B. Reed is president of the Belden Machine Company, one of the reliable manufacturing institutions of New Haven, which has for fifty years been a feature in the business life of the city, standing up well under the strain of all the country's financial panics and meeting the various vicissitudes thereby imposed. The company is engaged in the manufacture of drop forgings and hardware specialties and the progressive and straightforward policy inaugurated by the company has been maintained to the present time, when Albert B. Reed is efficiently controlling its affairs. He was born in Ontario, Canada, September 30, 1852, and is a son of Thomas B. and Letitia (Ellison) Reed. The mother was born in Danbury, Connecticut, while the father was a native of England and as a young man went to Canada, where he engaged in cabinet making. In 1859 he removed to Danbury, Connecticut, where he continued to work at his trade until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he joined the army as a member of Company B of the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, serving throughout the entire period of hostilities, after which he returned to Connecticut and resumed cabinet making. His wife passed away in New Haven in 1907.
     Albert B. Reed is the sole survivor of their family of three children. In his boyhood he attended the schools of Danbury and when twenty-two years of age embarked in business on his own account as a grocer. He continued in that line for twenty years and won a substantial measure of prosperity, but at length misfortune overtook him and the entire savings of two decades were swept away. He then came to New Haven, in 1897, to make a new start and in June of that year became connected with the Belden Machine Company, which forty-seven years ago had been established by R. A. Belden shortly after the close of the Civil war. It is today in a more prosperous condition than at any period of its history and is one of the most reliable manufacturing concerns of the city. Mr. Reed became connected therewith as secretary, in which capacity he continued until the death of Mr. Belden in 1899, when he was made president and general manager. Under his direction the business has steadily grown and developed and the plant is now being run to its full capacity in the manufacture of drop forg-ings and hardware specialties.
     In May, 1881, Mr. Reed was married to Miss Alice A. Belden, of Danbury. a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R, A. Belden, the former the organizer of the Belden Machine Company. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have a son, Russell A., who was born in Danbury, was graduated from the New Haven high school and is now in business with his father as secretary of the Belden Machine Company. He is a member of the New Haven Grays and the Naval Reserve Corps, is a Mason and is identified with a number of clubs of the city.
     In politics Albert B. Reed maintains an independent course. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Red Men. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and to the Civic Association and is interested in all the plans and projects which have been organized for the development of the city and the upbuilding of civic standards. He also belongs to the Edgewood Club and is a consistent member of St. James Episcopal church, of which he is serving as vestryman. Mr. Reed's life record indicates what may be accomplished through determination and indefatigable industry. Since coming to New Haven he has not only retrieved his lost fortune but has won a most substantial measure of success and as the years have gone on he has gained recognition as one of the foremost business men of the city, winning the respect of all with whom he has been associated.