Born in Champaign County, Illinois, Reed moved to Kansas with his family when he was four years old.

After completing a basic education, he taught school for a single year then began work as a federal employee.

[1] In 1910, Reed became personal secretary to Governor Henry J. Allen in Topeka, who was also owner and publisher of the Wichita Beacon.

Reed called an extra session of the state legislature to combat the troubles faced by Kansans dealing with the depression.

Reed won the nomination and the general election, unseating incumbent Democrat George McGill, and was re-elected in 1944, and served in that office until his death.