Lamoille

HENDEE, George Whitman

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 190-192

George Whitman HENDEE, of Morrisville [Lamoille County, Vermont], was born 30 
November 1832 in Stowe [Lamoille County, Vermont], son of Jehial P. and 
Rebecca (FERRIN) HENDEE. Educated in the common schools, and at the People's 
Academy at Morrisville. His parents were poor, and all his educational 
advantages were obtained by his own strenuous and unaided exertions. At the 
age of twenty he commenced the study of law in the office of W. G. FERRIN of 
Johnson [Lamoille County]. Admitted to the Lamoille County bar in 1855. It 
was an era of frequent justice and jury trials. The industry, pleasing 
address, and clear insight of the young advocate were soon rewarded with 
ample and constantly increasing practice. A large proportion of the more 
important cases were soon committed to his charge, and nearly all of his 
recent practice has been in the county and supreme courts of the state and U. 
S. circuit and district courts.

During the last twenty-five years the discharge of important political 
duties, and the management of great business enterprises have at times 
withdrawn the attention of Governor HENDEE from his professional labors. He 
was one of the pioneers in the construction of the P. & O. [Portland and 
Ogdensburg] Railroad, and gave his entire time to it for a period of seven 
years, and is now the only director who has given the railroad continuous 
service since the organization of the corporation. He has been for three 
years, and is now, the president of the Montreal, Portland & Boston Railroad 
of Canada. His connection with banking interests has been varied and 
extensive; is a director and vice president of the Union Savings Bank and 
Trust Company of Morrisville; was receiver of the National Bank of Poultney, 
and of the Vermont National Bank of St. Albans; and was national bank 
examiner from 1879 to 1885.

Republican. When he was twenty-one years old he was elected to the office of 
superintendent of schools, a position he has since repeatedly and worthily 
filled, and during the almost forty years since that time there has been no 
year in which he has not been called by the public to discharge some official 
trust; has many times acted by order of court as auditor, trustee, and 
special master; was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives for 
Morristown [Lamoille County] two sessions, 1861-1862; state's attorney for 
Lamoille County 1858-1859; deputy provost marshal during the war; senator for 
Lamoille County 1866-1867 and 1868; and Lieutenant Governor in 1869. Sworn 
in as Governor by Judge STEELE on the death of Gov. P. T. WASHBURN, he served 
the remainder of the term; was a member of the forty-third, forty-fourth, 
and forty-fifth Congresses, and there served on the committee on private land 
claims, and on the District of Columbia; was largely instrumental in drafting 
and securing the passage of the law which made an entire change of the form 
of government of the District, under which it has since existed, and which 
has placed it on an entirely sound financial basis.

During his long public career Governor HENDEE has served his town in many and 
varied capacities, and the grateful appreciation in which his services, both 
public and private, are held, is well known. He is now serving his third 
term as president of the board of village trustees. During the last ten 
years he has sought relaxation in agricultural pursuits. He is largely 
interested in the breeding and development of first-class light carriage 
horses of the Morgan type and blood. Member of the Masonic fraternity. On 
17 November 1855 he [George Whitman HENDEE] married Millissa, daughter of 
Stevens and Caroline (JOHNSON) REDDING. Their only child was Lillian 
Frances, now deceased. His wife [Millissa HENDEE] died in 1861. On 23 
December 1863 he [George Whitman HENDEE] married Viola S., daughter of Loren 
and Fidelia (PAINE) BUNDY.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly