The second of five children, George was the son of William P. and Rebecca Kemp Kerfoot. His father made his living as a shoemaker. By 1860, his family had moved to Martinsburg, Virginia, where his father served as Town Sergeant. (Martinsburg would eventually become part of West Virginia.)

In September of 1864, at the age of 14, George enlisted in the Confederate Army. He fought for seven months alongside his father in Company D, Virginia 2ND Infantry Regiment.

In 1870, George was living in Hedgesville Township, West Virginia and was working as a farm laborer. George eventually returned to Martinsburg, where he followed in his father's footsteps as a shoemaker.

On January 22, 1877 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, he married Margaret Pierce. Four of their children would be born here. Making their way north into Pennsylvania, they would live in Markleton, South Connellsville (White Rock), Monongahela, and Dravosburg.

In 1892 George began work as a watchman for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

On May 4, 1899, his wife, Margaret, died shortly after giving birth to their 14th child. The child also died.

In 1907, he started growing a garden outside his work shanty, located at the end of the Riverton Railroad Bridge in McKeesport, PA (pictured).

After the death of his cousin, Robert, in 1918, George returned to Martinsburg, West Virginia to help Robert's widow, Elizabeth. He returned to his trade as a shoe repairman. Although making frequent visits to Pennsylvania, George remained in West Virginia until 1932.

At the time of his death, he was living with his grandson, John Argyle, in Dravosburg, Pennsylvania. His cause of death was listed as chronic nephritis, a disease of the kidney. Arteriosclerosis was listed as a contributing factor.

On Sunday, September 18, 1932, George was buried next to his wife in Monongahela Cemetery. His grave is unmarked.