George Walter Kirkman

George Walter Kirkman, with his brother, Grant Kirkman, is associated in the general merchandise business at Exeter, Tulare County, under the firm name of Kirkman & Co.

Mr. Kirkman was born in Wayne County, Indiana, December 4, 1853. His grandfather, George Kirkman removed from North Carolina to Indiana in an early day, when his son, John Kirkman, father of the subject of this sketch, was a lad of seven years. George Kirkman spent the rest of his life and died in Indiana, and his son John was reared there and married to Elizabeth Thornburgh, a native of Indiana. Seven of their eight children are still living. He moved with his family to Missouri, and farmed there ten years, and in 1882 came to the Golden West. They settled on the plains, near the present town of Exeter, took lip a Government claim of 160 acres of land, and engaged in raising wheat. Prosperity attended their labors, and soon they were enabled to purchase 200 acres more.

In 1890, when the railroad was built to Exeter, the Kirkman brothers came to the town, built a store and dwelling and became the first merchants of the place. They keep a general stock of merchandise, and in this growing town and country have a thriving trade. At this writing, 1891, Exeter is only a year old, and the prospects for its future growth and development are flattering indeed.

George W. Kirkman was married, in 1874, to Miss Delilah Yarnall, a native of Missouri, by whom he has four children,-John M., Dessie Maud. Carrie Minerva, and Bertie Ervin.

Both Mr. Kirkman and his brother are Republicans. They are obliging business men, and are still conducting their farming operations.

Transcribed from the 1892 book, "A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California," from Lewis Publishing, Chicago, Illinois.