Harold Henderson "Doc" Earthman (April 13, 1900 – February 26, 1987) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Tennessee.

Harold Earthman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 5th district
In office
January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947
Preceded byJim Nance McCord
Succeeded byJoe L. Evins
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1931–1932
Personal details
Born(1900-04-13)April 13, 1900
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedFebruary 26, 1987(1987-02-26) (aged 86)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Mary Wilson Moore
(m. 1920)
Children4
Parents
  • Vernon King Earthman (father)
  • Virginia May Henderson (mother)
Alma materSouthern Methodist University
University of Texas at Austin
Cumberland School of Law (LLB)
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
RankPrivate
UnitStudent Army Training Corps
ConflictWorld War I

Biography

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Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Earthman was the son of Vernon King Earthman, a physician, and his wife Virginia May Henderson Earthman.[1] He attended the public schools, Webb School at Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Southern Methodist University at Dallas, Texas, and the University of Texas at Austin. He married Mary Wilson Moore in 1920, and they had four children: Harold, Mary, Virginia, and Ben.[2][3]

Career

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During World War I, Earthman served in the United States Army as a private and was assigned to the Student Army Training Corps. After moving to Nashville, Tennessee, he engaged in the banking business from 1921 to 1925. Admitted to the bar in 1926, he commenced the practice of law in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, engaged in agricultural pursuits and was owner of Earthman Enterprises. He resumed the study of law and was graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1927.

Earthman was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1931 and 1932.[4] In the Tennessee House, he aligned with himself with Tennessee political boss E. H. Crump.[5] He served as associate administrator of war bonds for the State of Tennessee from 1940 to 1946, as well as judge of Rutherford County, Tennessee from 1942 to 1945.[4]

Elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-ninth Congress, Earthman served in that capacity from January 3, 1945, to January 3, 1947, representing Tennessee's 5th congressional district.[6] He sought renomination in 1946, but lost in the primary to Joe L. Evins. After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law and pursued business interests, establishing the first self-service laundry in Murfreesboro.[2]

Death

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Earthman died on February 26, 1987, in Murfreesboro. He is interred there at Evergreen Cemetery.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Hale, Will Thomas; Merritt, Dixon L. (1913). A History of Tennessee and Tennesseans: The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce, Industry and Modern Activities. p. 2295.
  2. ^ a b REGINA FORSYTHE (9 October 1995). "ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW WITH BEN EARTHMAN" (PDF). MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE: Q. M. SMITH ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University.
  3. ^ "Marriage certificate". Rutherford County, Tennessee. 1920-08-04. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  4. ^ a b "Harold Earthman". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  5. ^ "IMPEACHMENT FIGHT OPENS IN TENNESSEE; Governor Horton Attacked and Defended as the House Takes Up Eight Charges" (PDF). New York Times. June 5, 1931. Earthman ... said that Congressman Crump is 'in a conspiracy with 2,600,000 people in Tennessee to rid this State of grand larceny and I'm one of them.'
  6. ^ "Harold Earthman". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Harold Earthman". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
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  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 5th congressional district

1945–1947
Succeeded by