My Genealogy Hound

George M. Floyd was born in Spartenburg District, S. C, on May 4, 1845, his parents being Enoch and Sarah (Scott) Floyd, natives of South Carolina. They are now deceased. The father was a farmer by occupation, born in 1806, and died in Georgia, in 1850; his wife, whose birth occurred in 1809, passed away in Hot Spring County, Ark., in 1871. They were married in South Carolina, and afterward moved to Bartow County, Ga., living there until separated by death. The widow, in 1871, settled in Rockport, Ark. She became, by her marriage with Mr. Floyd, the mother of ten children, six of whom are now living. George M. Floyd received his education in Bartow County, Ga., remaining with his mother until her death. When but nine years of age he began to help in the duties about the home farm, continuing to aid in the support of the family until Mrs. Floyd’s death. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Eighth Georgia Battalion, in which he served till the surrender at Greensboro, N. C., in 1865, having participated in many battles, among which were those at Savannah, Ga., Charleston, S. C, and Jackson, Miss. He was in the Georgia campaign from Dalton, and took part in all the battles around Atlanta, receiving a flesh-wound from a gun shot at Kenesaw Mountain, which disabled him and he was furloughed for thirty days. Afterward he was in the battles at Franklin and Nashville, and was taken prisoner at Jackson, Miss., but making his escape, he returned to Georgia. Here he farmed until October, 1868, when he came to Arkansas, his outfit consisting of one twenty year old mule, a wagon, $35, his wife and baby. After six weeks on the road, he stopped in Boone County, and farmed for one year, then coming to Hot Spring County, where he has since made his home. Farming first received his attention, after which he went to Malvern, and one year later opened the Floyd Hotel, conducting this well-known hostelry one year. He next opened a livery, feed and sale stable, which he has since continued to run, meeting with good success. In November, 1884, he lost his stable and business house on Main Street by fire, but not discouraged speedily resumed. Again, in October, 1888, fire visited his property on Olive Street, consuming eleven head of good horses and all his livery rigs. Although suffering many set-backs in business, Mr. Floyd upon the whole has been very fortunate. In 1874 he was elected sheriff of Hot Spring County to fill the unexpired term of Thomas D. Farris, serving eighteen months. He has been elected mayor of the city of Malvern several times, besides being called upon to serve various town offices, now officiating as alderman. In January, 1867, he was married to Miss Nettie Pierce, who was born in Georgia, in 1850. She died in this county in 1871, leaving two children, one of whom, Minnie, is the wife of T. J. Laughlin, liveryman at Hot Springs, Ark.; Alice died at the age of eleven years. In 1873 Mr. Floyd was married to Miss Bettie Kieth, who was a native of this county. She only survived her marriage one year. His third marriage was to Miss Agnes House, also of Arkansas, who died in November, 1882, at the age of thirty-one years, leaving a family of three children, two now living: James A. and George M., Jr. Agnes L. died in infancy. Mr. Floyd is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Democratic party. He is one of the public-spirited men of the county, heartily indorsing all public improvements, and the many capacities in which he has served leave no doubt as to the position he occupies in the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. Hot Spring County has in him a warm advocate.