Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-07
HEIRS IN ESTATE
OF TEN MILLIONS
So Reported Concerning Lucky
Lancaster Citizens.
George and Ed. Phiney Seem to be In
Line to Get in the Millionaire
Class.

If reports be true George and Ed.
Finney OF Lancaster are entitled to
share In an estate of $4,000, 600
left by their uncles Owen and
Lawrence Goodman, of Australia.
The following newspaper account
explains all IN so far as it is correct>
Spokane, Wash, March Mrs.
Ida FInney, L. A. Gonniea and
Timothy Gonniea of Spokane and
Mrs. j. F. Gonniea of Blair, Wis.
are four of the eight heirs to an
estate of $40, 1000 left by John
and Lawrence Goodman in Aus
tralia. according to letter and cable
advices received from Sydney,
where counsel for Mrs. Finney, I1v-
ing at 209 Fourth avenue, has been
nearly eight months searching the
records and settling affairs prepara-
tory to distributing the fortune.
Four other heirs are IN Wisconsin
and Iowa.
Mrs Finney is the widow of John
FL. Finney, who operated in the
mining districts tributary to Spok-
ane more than II years ago, dying
in 1905. He was a nephew Of the
Goodman brothers, who went from
Los Angeles to Australia 40 years
ago to seek their fortunes in the
mines. They were in correspond
ence with relatives in Iowa and
Wisconsin until % years ago, when
they asked Finney to join them In
Australia. FinneY did not go. Five
years later John Goodman was
killed in mine, soon after Which
his brother succum bed to a disease
Their estate was net settled, the af-
fairs going into tho hands of part
ner of Lawrence Goodman and he
attempted to hold it.
Mrs. Finney received a letter from
Australia two years ago, saying
there was some money awaiting the
Goodman heirs, and an attorney
was sent to Sydney eight months
ago. Suits were instituted against
the partner, who had taken control,
with the result that quit claim deeds
have been obtained from him cover
ing the entire property"
John Goodman, spoken of in the
article is known as Owen by his
nephew in this city He and his
brother Lawrence, before they
sought their fortunes in Australia,
we're in California on a similar
search. This was in the early fifties
and word received from them at
that time indicated that they were
prospecting. For years however let
tiers from them were few and far
between. The last letter was re-
eeived from Lawrence in January.
1876, -32 years ago instead of % as
stated in the article quoted above.
Owen and Lawrence Goodman
were both unmarried and their heirs
are the children of their deceased
sisters, Mrs. Rosie Finney and Mrs.
Bessie barrow. In two cases where
heirs have died their wives and
families will be entitled to their
share of the fortune. Mrs. Ella.
barrow, OF Potos1, wife of Will
barrow deceased and Mrs. Ida
Finney, of Spokane, Washington.
wife of John Finney also deceased.
become heirs, in this way.
The other heirs are: James Fin
ney and Mrs. Mary Needham, Du-
buque, Ioga; Mrs. Anna Moore and
Thos. Ffnney Of Cassville; Mrs.
Jennie Gonniea, Of Blair, Wis;
George and Ed Finney, of Lancas-
ter; and Rosie Huntiner, of Cotton,
South Dakota. The latter is a sister
in-law Of Mrs. Ella barrow, of
Potosi and IS a daughter of Mrs
Bessie barrow. The others are all
children of Mrs. Rosie F1nney.