This intriguing entry appears in the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory:

Did George Farmer own his own barbecue restaurant? (If so, where was it?) Was he a pit master?

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County, we find farm laborer George Farmer, 28; wife Bettie, 25; and children Annie, 7, George, 3, and Mena, 8 months.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: teamster George Farmer, 51; wife Bettie, 46; and children George N., 21, Miner, 19, Aulander, 18, Willie, 17, Johney, 15, and Emma, 12.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Finch’s Rd, George Farmer, 78, livery laborer; wife Bettie, 62; and children John, 18, and Emma, 16. [There’s a 27-year discrepancy in George Farmer’s age over this ten-year period, and 16 years for Bettie Farmer. I’d wager their actual ages were closer to the 1900 designation. Finch’s Road, by the way, was described in the 1912 directory as the “continuation of Kenan at junction of Bynum.”  Today, this would be Kenan past Raleigh Road Parkway. More about this African-American neighborhood here.]

George Farmer appears to have died before 1920.

We salute George Farmer and honor his place in the pantheon of barbecue masters whose tradition Ed and Ryan Mitchell carry on!