Rufus King Goodenow (April 24, 1790 – March 24, 1863) was a

United States representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

. Born in

Henniker, New Hampshire Henniker is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2020 census, the reported total population of the town was 6,185, although the figure, 27.9% greater than the 2010 population, has been questioned by local officials. ...

, he moved with his parents to

Brownfield, Maine Brownfield is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,631 at the 2020 census. Brownfield is home to the Stone Mountain Arts Center. History The area was once territory of the Pequawket Abenaki Indians, whose main ...

in 1802. He received limited schooling, subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits. He also made several voyages to European ports and served as a captain in the Thirty-third Regiment, United States Infantry, in the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

. He moved to

Paris, Maine Paris is a town in and the county seat of Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,179 at the 2020 census. The census-designated place of South Paris is located within the town. Because the U.S. Post Office refers to the entir ...

in 1821. He was the brother of

Robert Goodenow Robert Goodenow (April 19, 1800 – May 15, 1874) was a U.S. Representative from Maine, brother of Rufus King Goodenow. Born in Henniker, New Hampshire, Goodenow moved with his parents to Brownfield, Maine, in 1802. He attended the common schoo ...

. He served as clerk of the Oxford County Courts from 1821 to 1837. Goodenow was elected a member of the

Maine House of Representatives The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 voting members and three nonvoting members. The voting members represent an equal number of districts across the state and are elected via p ...

. He was a delegate to the Whig National Convention at

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...

in 1839. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and practiced in the courts of Maine. He was elected as a Whig to the

Thirty-first Congress The 31st United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1849, ...

(March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851), and died in Paris, Maine. He was interred in Riverside Cemetery.

References

1790 births 1863 deaths People from Henniker, New Hampshire United States Army personnel of the War of 1812 People from Brownfield, Maine Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Maine 19th-century American politicians People from Paris, Maine United States Army officers {{Maine-politician-stub