Burnet County, TX - Bios: G.W. Phinney

February 25, 1999



Submitted by: hennesay@ctelcom.net

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 George William Phinney 

 

G.W.Phinney was born on July 22,1851 and died from a bolt of lightning on July 27,1887, 

while in his Bertram,Texas store.



On Oct.14,1875, he married Martha Jane LaForge, who was born Feb.10,1859. She died 

Oct.03,1950. They had six children:



1.-- Leonard Largen Phinney, b. Nov.13,1876; d.-between 1905-1968. 

He married first M.L.Holland; his second wife was Mary L.Dodgen.



2.--Charles Maxwell Phinney, b.May 15,1878; died March 1976. He married W.Mae Kimble



3.--Alex Ace Phinney, b.Jan.08,1878; died Jan.02,1959. He married Lora Moore



4.--J.W.Phinney, b.Dec.26,1881; died July 11,1886.



5.-- Beulah Barbara Phinney, b.Nov.16,1883; died June 20,1980. She married Israel Lackey.



6.-- Grover Cleveland Phinney, b.Jan.07,1885; died April 1979. 

He married first Etta M.Hale; his second wife was Ethel Moore, sister of Lora Moore.



The Widow Martha Jane LaForge, later married J.W.Hampton Aug.23,1914 in Burnet County. 

They lived on his farm in Bertram, Texas.



There was a special edition paper published on June 20,1957 for the Bertram Enterprise. 

In connection with the Seventy Fifth Anniversary of the establishment of the Town. 

An account of G.W.Phinney's death was also included.



July 27,1887 Lightning Killed Two Men in Bertram Instantly.



Editor's Note: The following account about lightning killing two men in Bertram in 

1887 was written for the Enterprise in 1929 by the late A.B.Marcus:



"On the afternoon of July 27,1887, the writer with several standing in the shade at 

the rear of the George Phinney and A.B.Marcus Stores. These stores were located where 

the rock warehouse of the Griffith Lumber Company (now the Bertram Lumber) now stands, 

and faced the railroad or south.



It was a very warm summer day, and about 3 o'clock in the afternoon while we were 

pitching dollars, a small cloud came up from the northwest.



George Phinney had just stepped in his store and had weighed up some coffee for 

Dr.Haygood and was in the act of tying a string around the sack,having the string 

in his mouth,when a bolt of lightning entered the store building and struck Mr.Phinney, 

killing him instantly.



Dr.Haygood, who was sitting across the floor from Mr.Phinney, was shocked by the 

lightning. The lightning then went through the rear wall of the store building and 

struck James Mack Sanford and Mack Sinclair, killing the latter instantly, and it was 

thought by the crowd that soon gathered at the scene of the catastrophe that Mr.Sanford 

was also killed. Some said Sanford was dead, and it seemed he was breathing his last breath.



The writer and several others who were on the outside of the building with Sinclair and 

Sanford, was knocked to the ground and somewhat shocked by the lightning, and did not 

know anything for several minutes.



I asked the men standing around the scene, to help me carry Mr.Sanford in the store and 

put him on the counter, and said: "We can bring him back to life, if all will help me." 

So we carried him in the store and began rubbing him. We finally brought him to life, 

and I shall always think kindly of the men who helped on this occasion.