1925 obit-Harvey Goodell- Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT Date: 5/7/98 7:27:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: tess@sover.net (Terry Perham) from the Brattleboro Reformer Brattleboro, Windham County, VT 1925 HARVRY GOODELL DIES AT 35 YEARS END COMES WITHIN FEW WEEKS AFTER WASHINGTON APPOINTMENT SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO ATTY GENERAL Taken Suddenly Ill With Stomach Ulcers Only Ten Days Ago--Leaves Invalid Wife and Five Small Children--Funeral at Wells River. Harvey Edward Goodell, special assistant to John G. Sargent, attorney general of the United States, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Tyler D. Goodell of Spruce street, Brattleboro, died in Walter Reed hospital in Washington late Saturday night. His death was peculiarly sudden and is surrounded by circumstances which make it more than ordinarily pathetic. Only six weeks ago Mr. Goodell had been surprised with a telegram inviting him to Washington where Mr. Sargent offered him the post of Special assistant in the attorney general's office, in the Department of Justic Building. Mr. Goodell, particularly well fitted for such a post, having served under two Vermont governors as secretary of civil and military affairs, accepted the offer. He found his work in Washingrton as a sort of manager of Mr. Sargent's office very much to is liking, and in the few weeks there had shown his ability and tact in a way that had won him recognition. A week ago Thursday Mr. Goodell collapsed at his desk in Mr. Sargent's office. He had, up to almost that moment, considered himself in good health. He was removed immediately to the Walter Reed hospital. Two severe homorrhages occurred as the result of ulcers of the stomach. Blood transfusions were resorted to three different times. While they seemed to help the patient, his resistance had been too far overcome by the hemmorrages. Word received by his parents here Saturday had given some hope of his recovery, but a message at midnight told of his death. His wife, who was formerly Ellen B. Bailey of Wells River, Vt., was with Mr. Goodell at the hospital when the end came. She has been a semi-invalid since an attack of infantile paralysis two years ago, but is able to get about on crutches. She had arrived in Brattleboro from Florida a week ago Saturday with her five children and was at Judge Goodell's home here when she learned of the serious turn in her husband's condition, and left the next morning for Washington accompanied by her own father, Allen H. Bailey of Wells River. In accordance with her wish, Mr. Goodell's body is to be taken to Wells River for funeral services there on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Congregational church and burial in the cemetery there. Judge and Mrs. Goodell and their son Richard from Brattleboro will leave tomorrow for Wells River for the funeral. The date of Harvey Goodell's birth was Dec. 26, 1889. He was one of five children--all boys-- born to Tyler D. and Ida M. (Robertson) Goodell, then residents in Readsboro, which town his father had represented in the legislature for many years. Three of these five boys are now dead. The two who survive are Richard, the younger brother, who lives with parents in Brattleboro, and Earle W., a farmer in Colrain, Mass. Harvery Goodell prepared for College at Drury academy, North Adams, Mass, and Mount Hermon school. He graduated from Middlebury college in the class of 1915. One of his classmates at Middlebury was the young woman who later, on Thanksgiving eve, Nov.28, 1917, became his wife. A predilection for political life was shown by Harvey Goodell at the age of 10 when he spent a week at Montpelier with his mother and father, while the latter was serving in the legislature. His father had served four terms a representative from Readsboro, one term as senator from Bennington county, and later, in 1908, after having moved to Whitingham, he also represented that Windham county town in the assembly. He was also for five years assistant judge of Windham county court. At the age of 17 Harvey Goodell was appointed as executive messenger to Gov. Allen M. Fletcher. This delayed for a year his college course, but when he was graduated in 1915 his career was deflected by a peculiar circumstance. He had, during his last year in college, been a constant sufferer from earaches. A physician's advice was for him to spend some time in a warmer climate. Mr. Goodell went to Wayland, Ky., where, through a college friend, he had found a job as inspector and timekeeper at a new coal mine. He spent a winter there, with some adventurous experiences, but the lure of politics seized him again the following spring. Upon the convening of the Republican national convention at Chicago he severed his connection with the coal business, and was ever after proud to tell how he "hoboed" his way from Kentucky to Chicago to attend the convention. He was particularly interested in Charles E. Hughes, who was nominated for president at that convention, as Mr. Hughes was a member of his fraterninty--the Delta Upsilon. With Frad H. Babbitt as delegate from Vermont and Alexander Dunnett as alternate, Goodell knew he could find some way to get into a convention seat, which he did and thoroughtly enjoyed the great show. Upon his return east Mr. Goodell studied law for a time in the offices of Alexander Dunnett in St. Johnsbury. He than had an invitation to become secretary of civil and military affairs under Gov. Horace F. Graham, and served ably in that capacity during the period of the war, when the duties of the office were greater than at any other time. When Gov. Percival W. Clement succeeded Mr. Graham, Mr. Goodell was retained in this secretarial post and did much to assist Mr. Clement in his office as governor. He was particularly successful in handling people with tact and firmness. Following these two terms Mr. Goodell became attached to the Parker Young Co. of Lincoln, N.H., in which Martin A. Brown of Wilmington and Brattleboro is heavily interested. Mr. Goodell helped to organize here the Vermont Investment Corp., and was later offered for a one-year interval the office of superintendent of the Parker-Young interests in paper mills and other industries in New Hampshire, the interval being during the absence of the superintendent on account of illness. Mr. Goodell then bought half interest with L.A. Brown in the Child's Tavern garage at Wilmington, a business which both men sold out a year ago last fall. The seizure of Mrs. Goodell with infantile paralysis led him to buy a small place in West Dover, which they were to fix up for a summer place, but last fall they went to Hollywood, on the east coast of Florida, for the winter, where she found that swimming helped to restore the use of her limbs. In order to pursue this treatment they had arranged to spend the coming summer on a farm at Hall's Pond near her home in Wells River, where she might have a daily swin. About two weeks ago Richard Goodell went from Brattleboro to Florida to bring his brother's wife and family home. On the way north by automobile they reached Washington the very day that Harvey Goodell was taken to the hospital and they visised him there. Upon being assured that he was not in a serious condition, she proceeded to come north whith her five children. She had barely reached Brattleboro a week ago last Saturday when she had a telegram that her husband's condition was worse land in care of her father, who had come from Wells River, she went immediately to Washington. Her brother, Fred Baily, has a home in Washington. He is secretary to General Lord, director of the budget. It was at Mr. Bailey's home that Harvey Goodell was living during his term at the capitol. The five children that survive him are all under seven years of age. They are David, Tyler, Bailey, Margaret, Harvery Edward, jr. and John Weeks Goodell, the latter named after Judge John E. Weeks of Middlebury, commissioner of public welfare, who had been an intimate friend of the family. Mr. Goodell was known throughout the state, and Washington letters had indicated he was becoming as popular at the department of justice as he had been at Montpelier. When Mr. Sargent was attorney general at Vermont he became acquainted with Harvey Goodell and recognized his special ability. Mr. Goodell's father and mother moved to Brattleboro from Whitingham a year or more ago, purchasing a house near the corner of Spruce and Myrtle streets. Mrs. Goodell will make her future home at Wells River. ************************************************************************ (c)1998, Terry Perham Courtesy of Terry Perham Hinsdale, NH tess@sover.net ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. 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