Windham

GOODHUE, Homer

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 160 
(portrait p 160)

Homer GOODHUE, of Westminster West [Windham County, Vermont], was born 04 
March 1811 in Westminster [Windham County, Vermont], son of Deacon Ebenezer 
and Lydia (RANNEY) GOODHUE. [The Ebenezer GOODHUE who was born in 1768 in 
Dunstable County, Massachusetts, son of Josiah GOODHUE and Elisabeth FLETCHER; 
grandson of Samuel GOODHUE and Abigail BARTLETT? Ebenezer GOODHUE, the 
father of Homer GOODHUE, died in March 1854 in Neenah, Winnebago County, 
Wisconsin.] Homer GOODHUE received his early education in the common schools 
of his native town and at Deerfield [Franklin County], Massachusetts, and 
Bennington [Bennington County, Vermont] Academies, graduating from the latter 
in 1828, when he returned to Westminster and taught school for two winters, 
spending his summers on the farm. In 1831 he went to Charlestown [Suffolk 
County], Massachusetts, where he was employed as an attendant in the McLane 
Asylum for the Insane, from which place he was promoted, after three years of 
service, to that of supervisor, which position he held for eighteen years, 
when he resigned and returned to Westminster in 1852. In 1853-1854 he 
traveled extensively in the United States and British provinces, in the 
company of a private patient under his care. [Was this patient Samuel B. 
GOODHUE? See also the combined biographical notes for Nathaniel and Samuel B. 
GOODHUE in the Caledonia County, Vermont, biographies.] After his return Mr. 
GOODHUE took a leading part in town affairs, and since that time has held all 
the various town offices, and represented his town in the Legislatures of 
1863 and 1865. He was also elected state senator in 1866 and 1867, and 
filled the position creditably to himself and acceptably to his county and 
state. He served as county commissioner from 1860 to 1875, and was appointed 
by the Legislature in 1867 a commissioner of the insane, and reappointed in 
1868. In 1882 he was chosen one of the state board of supervisors of the 
insane, which position he has continuously held since that time, serving the 
board as chairman during the past eight years. Mr. GOODHUE has never yet 
failed to be present at the regular monthly meetings of the board in 
Brattleboro [Windham County] and generally in Waterbury [Washington County]. 
He has had more practical experience in the care and management of the insane 
and insane asylums than any other man in Vermont, and probably in New 
England. His judgment has often been sought by persons engaged in this 
specialty. On 08 March 1855 [at Westminster West, Windham County, Vermont] 
Mr. [Homer] GOODHUE was married to Delyra, daughter of James and Patience 
(HALLETT) TUTHILL; she died 21 November 1893. [The subject of this 
biography, Homer GOODHUE, appears to have been a younger brother of Rev. 
Josiah F. GOODHUE, born 31 December 1791, who authored an 1861 history of 
Shoreham, Addison County, Vermont. Material in brackets added by submitter, 
who is not researching this family, to clarify information presented in the 
biography and raise questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly