Ferdinand Phinizy was an American cotton merchant and financier.
Background
He was born on January 20, 1819 at Bowling Green (now Stephens), Oglethorpe County, Georgia, United States. He was of Italian ancestry on his father's side, his grandfather, Ferdinand, having come to America during the latter part of the eighteenth century. He was the eldest son of Jacob and Matilda (Stewart) Phinizy.
Education
After attending the county schools he entered the University of Georgia, at Athens, whither his family had moved. Here he was graduated with honors in 1838.
Career
For few years after studies he managed the family plantation at Bowling Green, but his business enterprise and sagacity soon led him into a venture of his own. He secured the contract for grading the first eleven miles of the new Georgia Railroad, leading out of Athens to Augusta.
He entered the cotton trade in Augusta, setting up first with his classmate Edward P. Clayton under the firm name of Phinizy & Clayton. When by mutual agreement this partnership was dissolved, he organized with two of his kinsmen the firm of F. Phinizy & Company.
He did not enlist in the Confederate army during the Civil War, but instead became a fiscal agent of the Confederate government, and in the course of the four years of the war collected vast amounts of cotton which was run through the Federal blockade. He also marketed many Confederate bonds. The war levied heavily upon his fortune, but he was able to regain his financial position.
At various times was a director of the Georgia Railroad & Banking Company, the Augusta & Savannah Railroad, the Atlanta & West Point Railroad, the Northeastern Railroad of Georgia, and the Augusta Factory. He was also a director and dominating force in the Southern Mutual Insurance Company, a director of the Bank of the University (Athens), and a trustee of the University of Georgia.
After the war he continued to show an interest in his former slaves, moving one couple to Athens, where he cared for them throughout their lives.
He made Athens his home after the Civil War, and there he died.
Achievements
Religion
Though he did not belong to a church until late in life, when he joined the Methodists, he was always interested in religious affairs and often entertained in his home visiting Methodist bishops and other churchmen. His religious tastes were simple - almost primitive - and in the rural churches he found his greatest delight. He was much opposed to instrumental music in the churches, and his support of certain congregations was based on their agreement to refrain from introducing it.
Personality
He had great business ability and no political ambition.
Connections
In 1849 he married Harriet H. Bowdre, of Augusta, and to this union were born eight children. His wife died February 7, 1863, and on August 11, 1865, he married Anne S. Barrett, of Augusta; of this union three children were born.