RUFUS K. BLACKMAN (deceased) was born in Tennessee October 9, 1826, son of Bennett and Ann (Chinton) Blackman, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. The father moved from North Carolina to Tennessee about 1790. He was an extensive farmer and died in 1888. The mother died in 1849. Our subject was reared on the farm and received his education in the district schools. At the age of eighteen he began operating the farm of his widowed mother, and followed farming and stock raising on the old homestead place up to the time of his demise, which occurred August 10, 1883. He was a leading member of the Christian Church, and was classed among the enterprising and successful business men of the county. He was extensively engaged in raising and breeding fine stock. He also operated a saw and grist-mill in this county for many years. He was always strictly exact in his business transactions, and was a moral, upright citizen. In 185I he wedded Eliza Eichbaum, a native of Davidson County, Tenn., and daughter of William and Catherine (Stevens) Eichbaum, natives, respectively, of Ireland and Massachusetts. The father immigrated to this country about 1824. and married soon after. His wife was one of the first educators of Nashville, and was for many years a teacher in the Nashville Female Academy. Her death occurred about 1860. The father died in 1871. By her union with our subject Mrs. Eliza W. Blackman became the mother of nine children, all of whom are living: Bennett, Ada L., Mary, Willie, Anna, Edwin, Louisa, Charlie and Albert. Mrs. Blackman and family are leading members of the Christian Church, and are classed among the leading families of the county.

Source: History of Tennessee: From the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall Counties. Nashville, Tenn: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1886.