My Genealogy Hound

George H. Palmer, planter and stock raiser, of Bird Township, was born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1848, son of Samuel and Louisa (Means) Palmer, of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The father was a pioneer of Kentucky, married there, and in 1849 came to Jackson County, Ark., in Jefferson, and the winter of the same year came to Bird Township, locating on the farm where our subject now resides, taking a claim of 520 acres of timber land, which he cleared and improved, erecting a house and planting an orchard. He died in Jackson County, in 1866, his wife surviving till 1884. George H. was the fifth of the family, the others being Margaret (wife of Joel Bandy), George H., Fannie (wife of William Haynes), and Joseph H., all residing in Bird Township. George H. was reared to farm life, educated in the subscription schools of Bird Township, and aided at home in clearing and developing the homestead. He commenced farming for himself at the age of twenty-two, and in 1870 was married in Jackson County, to Laura Steen, a native of Jackson County, daughter of John and Nancy (Stancell) Steen, who were among the early settlers of Jackson County. The father died about 1858; the mother is still living. Mr. Palmer owns a good farm of 120 acres, with about sixty-five acres under cultivation, having cleared the most of it himself. He raises principally cotton and corn, and considerable stock. He is a Democrat, though not active in politics, and served as magistrate for two years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Kirkpatrick Lodge No. 192. Mrs. Palmer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Palmer remembers this country as a dense timber tract, and has always been interested in everything for the good of the county. There are three children in his family: Oda L., Samuel Tilden and Maggie Cordelia.