The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-11-20
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 4s.

which institution he was es faithful and
devoted trustee for the last twenty-five years
of his life. In company with Chief Justice
Tenney ho retired from tho bench Of tho
Supreme Court in 1852, at tho ago Of 60;
and although ho had 50 nearly reached tho
allotted three score years and ten when after
such laborious lifc most men would feel
justified in declining farther professional toll,
yet, as II young man just buckling on his
armor for the battle Of life, he was intend.
Ing to return to the arena when death mot
him and he entered into rest.
It may not bo inappropriate to close this
obituary notice by glance at come Of the
prominent traits Of Judge Goodenows char
acter.
As man he was noted for selfreliant on.
orgy and perseverance. These traits wero
specially prominent and specially developed
in his earlier years when battling heroically
with innumerable obstacles for the prize Of
an education. And he had become so accus.
toned to sec difficulties disappear before his
tonacity Of purpose that ho had como to be
habtually hopeful and even sanguine.-
What he saw ho saw clearly and distinctly;
and until satisfactory evidence Of error was
adduced, he held to his belief calmly and
firmly, whatever might DO the opinions Of
others. "7o thine o,cn self Be true" was .
maxim which regulated his cntiro life, intel.
lectual as we'll as social and religious. Ho
was remarkably sincere man. His charae-
ter had not littlo Of tho transparent artless-
ness of childhood. There was not only no
guile in his heart, or life, or speech, but ho
had an inexprcssiblo contempt for all artful
trickcry in others. He believed that .
straight line is tho shortest distance between
any two points and acted accordingly. Ho
was straightforward, direct, PRACTICAL
With his cyo distinctly upon tho mark no
pushed directly for II, alike in word and
deed. And in tho full belief that "what
man has done man can do" no kept pushing
through whatever obstacles until no gcncr.
ally reached tho point aimed at.
Asa husband and father no was perhaps
mors distinguished for sclf.forgctiul tender
mess than for anything else. I have never
known man whose benevolent regard for
othsrs' comfort and happiness was moro
naturally and II I may 90 speak, moro un.
consciously manifested on oil occasions, than
his. Ho was as polite as Frcnchman and
as hearty in It as an Irishman. His polite
ness was not an acquired art but tho out
flowing Of a benevolent nature, tho visible
smile Of tender and loving heart. Such
man could not but make most affectionats
husband and parent. He was twice married.
His FIRST wife was daughter Of Hon. john
Holmes, widely known for her beauty and
accomplishments. She had four children,
the youngest Of whom died in infancy. Tho
eldest Is the wife Of Rev. VIM. II. Wilcox,
Of Reading, Mass. The other two arc young
lawyers in our own State-Hop. John Holmes
Goodenow, at present residing in Alfred, and
Henry Clay Goodcnow, Of Lewiston. The
mother Of these children died in 1910. The
second wife Of Judge Goodenow (whom ho
married In l848), Is q daughter Of tho lato
Judge Dana, Of Fryburg, and was tho widow
Of Henry B. Osgood, Esq, Of Portland
They had ono daughter, who Is still living.
As might be expected Of one possessing 90
much child.like transparency and affection.
ateness, Judge Goodenow was very fond ot
children and always won his way at once to
their discriminating little hearts. His own
children while revcring him as father. at
the same time confdingly loved him as
companion and friend.
As lawyer and judge he was character
lied by tho olearpess and prornptncss with
which he looked through all side issues upon
ths main point in tho controversy. Ho had
an cminently practical mind. He always 70.
eardod bis profession and tho entire machine
ry of jurisprudence not as an end but simply
as means for tho attainment Of public jus.
tico and Tho promotion Of tho public wol-
fare; and always keeping these ends in view
no was much moro disposed than arc somo
Of his profession 10 sacrifice tho letter Of
tho law rather than tho spirit. when. as will
,omctimcs happen. there was an evident col.
lision between them. lie believed that law
was made for man and not man for law
When in any doubt In regard to the applica-
ton or Interpretation Of statute his mind
would at once fall back not merely upon vcr-
bal niceties or even judicial precedent, but
upon tho broad principles Of jus.
tice which undorllo all human legislation.-
He was not thcorist nor an abstraction.
let. but eminontly common.senso lawyer
and judge.
As christian no was humble and trust.
ful. In carly life he united with the church
in Brown6eld, and after his removal to Al
fred though prevented by certain phrascolosy
Of the creed from uniting with tho church
thcrc, he was yot wont ,as long as tho bylaws
Of the church would allow, TO testify his
lovo for tho Savior by meeting with his poo
plc around tho sacraucntal table. lilo was
not q speculative, but as might DO expected
from tho cast Of his mind, practical chris
ss.A