Thomas Goode (October 31, 1787 in

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Mecklenburg County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,319. Its county seat is Boydton. History Mecklenburg County was organized on March 1, 1765, having split from Lunenburg County in 1 ...

– April 2, 1858 in

Bath County, Virginia Bath County is a United States county on the central western border of the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the West Virginia state line. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,209, the second-least populous county in Virginia. Bath's county ...

) was a Virginian physician who purchased the Warm Springs resort in Virginia and helped establish European style hydrotherapies there.

Biography

Thomas Goode was born in 1787 to Colonel Samuel Goode who was a member of the U.S. Congress from 1799-1801. He was the father of at least seven daughters and two sons. An enthusiastic politician, he was buried near the Hot Springs Hotel. Dr. Goode was acknowledged as "the proprietor during the heyday of the 'Springs Tour'." He was a medical doctor trained in Philadelphia and Edinburgh. He toured the spas of Europe and applied that knowledge to the services he offered at the hot springs, including something he called a Spout Bath, a bath with "three to four inch columns of water pockets falling from a height of six feet" that was directed to massage the desired area of the body."

Legacy and death

In 1832, Dr. Thomas Goode purchased the "Homestead" resort and spa from the family of

Thomas Bullitt Thomas Bullitt (1730 – February 1778) was a United States military officer from Prince William County, Virginia and pioneer on its western frontier. Early and family life Thomas was born to Benjamin and Sarah (Harrison) Bullitt in 1730 in Princ ...

. Today, it is known as

The Omni Homestead Resort The Omni Homestead Resort is a luxury resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, United States, in the middle of the Allegheny Mountains. The area has the largest hot springs in the commonwealth, and the resort is also known for its championship golf cour ...

, "He r. Goodewas a prominent physician and is responsible for the European style of many different spa therapies." Dr. Goode authored several pieces of work on the healing powers of springs and waters. Dr. Goode died on April 2, 1858 in Bath County, Virginia. His grave is next to his wife, Mary A. Knox Goode, at the Presbyterian church in

Hot Springs, Virginia Hot Springs is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bath County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 738. It is located about southwest of Warm Springs on U.S. Route 220. Hot Springs has several historic resorts, fo ...

. An inscription reads: "An Eminent Physician; Ever Strenuous and True; A Wise and Good Man; Without Fear and Without Reproach.""Dr. Thomas Goode"
/ref> Brent's daughter Lucy married

George William Brent George William Brent (1821–1872), was a Virginia lawyer and politician, and a Confederate officer during the American Civil War. He represented Fauquier County, Virginia, Fauquier County and Rappahannock County, Virginia, Rappahannock Counties ...

, a prominent citizen of

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Downto ...

, and had three sons and five daughters by him.

References

Bibliography

* Goode, Thomas. The Invalid's Guide to the Virginia Hot Springs: Containing an Account of the Medical Properties of These Waters, with Cases Illustrative of Their Effects. 1839. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/488613917 * Goode, Samuel, and Thomas Goode. Some Account of the Medicinal Properties of the Hot Springs, Virginia; Also an Analysis of the Water, with Cases of Cure of Gout ... Etc. Richmond: Printed by C.H. Wynne, 1857. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7809839 * Goode, Thomas. The Invalid's Guide to the Virginia Hot Springs: Containing an Account of the Medical Properties of These Waters ... Also, an Account of the Medicinal Application and Effects of the Waters of Weisbaden, Wildbad, and Carlsbad. Richmond: J.W. Randolph, 1854. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/23028565 * Goode, Thomas, James Johnson, A. B. Granville, and Edwin Lee. The Invalid's Guide to the Virginia Hot Springs: Containing an Account of the Medical Properties of These Waters, with Cases Illustrative of Their Effects; Also an Account of the Medicinal Application and Effects of the Waters of Weisbaden, Wildbad, and Carlsbad : Three of the Most Celebrated Hot Springs of Germany. Richmond, Va: J.W. Randolph, 121, Main Street, 1854. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/80193596 * Tardy, Thomas Goode, Williams, Cameron, and James Alfred Jones. Cameron's Ex'ix V. Goode's Ex'r, &C. Note for Tardy and Others, Defendants. 1860. Notes: Caption title. At head of title: In the Circuit Court of Albemarle. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24904411 * Goode, Thomas. anuscript Concerning Procedures and Treatment of Diseases 1810. Notes: Spine title: Physick's surgery. Handwritten manuscript. 220 pages. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/244250258 * Goode, Thomas. The Invalid's Guide to the Virginia Hot Springs: Containing an Account of the Medical Properties of These Waters ... Also, an Account of the Medicinal Application and Effects of the Waters of Weisbaden, Wildbad, and Carlsbad ... from the Works of ... Drs. Johnson & Granville, & Mr. Edwin Lee. Richmond: P.D. Bernard, printer, 1851. 88 pages. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/16638494 {{DEFAULTSORT:Goode, Thomas Physicians from Virginia 19th-century American physicians Balneotherapy Hydrotherapy 1787 births 1858 deaths People from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina People from Hot Springs, Virginia