My Genealogy Hound

W. B. EARTHMAN & CO., manufacturers of red cedar lumber, of Murfreesboro, Tenn. For the past eight years Murfreesboro has grown to be a cedar market of greater importance and reputation than any other city in the country, considerably overshadowing many other cities of a much larger population. This result has been attained on account of the superior advantage Murfreesboro has in locality, being surrounded by immense cedar groves, and because the above named firm has had the necessary capital, capability and push. The business of this firm reaches out over a large extent of territory; their chief markets are St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville and Indianapolis. The business was first established by W. B. Earthman & Co. in 1878, and they have been very successful in the business. They started in with no capital but that which nature had endowed them with, and the fact of their owning the building and yards in which they do business gives them superior advantage now. William W. Earthman was born December 3, 1818, and is a son of James and Margaret (Webber) Earthman, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Mississippi. The father was a farmer and afterward a merchant of Winchester, Miss. He came to this State in 1829 and died in the spring of 1830. The mother died in 1858. The subject of our sketch was reared on the farm and secured a fair education at the common schools. At the age of fifteen he went into business for himself. In 1847 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bumpas, a native of this State, and to them were born five children: William B., Ira Ella M., V. K. Stephenson and Fannie, who died in 1884. Mr. Earthman is an old line Whig in politics. Himself and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. William W. Earthman is one of the oldest and most reliable business men of the county, and is justly recognized as a moral, upright citizen. William B. Earthman, a native of this State, was born December 3, 1848, and is the son of William W., senior member of the firm, and Elizabeth Earthman, both natives of Tennessee. The father engaged in farming in the county for many years, and also engaged in the lumber business in this place in 1847. William B. was reared on the farm and secured a good common school education. At the age of eighteen he engaged in the mercantile business and afterward, in 1878, engaged in his present business. In 1877 he was united in marriage to Miss Mattie T. Frost, a native of this State, and to them were born four children: Hewett F., Weber B., John B., Christine R., all of whom are still living. Mr. Earthman is a Democrat in politics, and himself and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is classed among the enterprising and successful business men of the county. Ira Overton Earthman, junior member of the firm, is a native of this county, and was born January 3, 1852. He is a son of William W. and Elizabeth Earthman. Ira Earthman was reared on the farm and secured a good common school education, afterward attending the Union University, at Murfreesboro, and Franklin University, near Nashville. At the age of nineteen he began the mercantile business, which he continued for three years; he was then employed by Hodge & Smith, and remained with them for five years. In 1878 he engaged in his present business. December 1, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Bivens, a native of this State. Mr. Ira Earthman is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.