This person is either Jessie or William H Thurman.
The earilest Thurman we have is Jessie Thurman. According to the "Giles County Lineage Book", Eliza Ann Thurman was recorded as stating that her grandfather (father of Wm Thurman) was Jesse Thurman. A "candidate" for this Jesse is Jesse Thurman b. 1772/1773 in VA and the husband of Mary Montgomery. The only data on Jesse is a 1820 census record showing him living in Pulaski, Giles, Co, Tenn. This person still needs some research. We belived Jesse had 5 children: Willis, Joseph, Meredith, William Riley and Sarah E.
Work done by Bill & Jeri Gammill of Annapolis, MD content this person is William.

According to the TN in Civil War Vet Questionaires for James Mason Thurman, his father Meredith was born in Scottsville, Allen, KY.

CENSUS: 1820 Jesse Thurmon
Pulaski, Giles, Co, TN M_33_ R124, Bk 1, p 26
Males: 2<10, 1<16, 1<19, 2<26, 0<45, 1>45
Females: 3<10, 0<16, 1<26, 0<45, 1>45
Others -0, Slaves - 4

CENSUS: 1840 Wm Thurman
Giles Co, TN
Males: 0<5, 0<10, 1<15, 0<20, 0<30, 0<40, 0<50, 1<60, 0<70, 0<80, 0<90
Females: 0<5, 0<10, 0<15, 2<20, 1<30, 0<40, 1<50, 0<60, 0<70, 0<80, 0<90

1. Nancy THURMAN b: ABT 1807 in KY
2. Willis H THURMAN b: 1809/1811
3. Joseph THURMAN b: 1811 in KY
4. Lockey Leona THURMAN b: ABT 1813 in TN
5. Meredith R THURMAN b: 14 OCT 1814 in Scottsville, Allen, KY
6. William Riley THURMAN b: 1817 in KY
7. Sarah E THURMAN b: 2 DEC 1818
8. Martha THURMAN b: ABT 1826
9. James THURMAN b: ABT 1827 in TN

1. Title: US Census - 1900
   Abbrev: US Census - 1900
   Note: William Thurman - Dist 15, Giles Co, TN
2. Title: Thurman, Loren A. - Ancestry.com
   Abbrev: Thurman, Loren A. - Ancestry.com
   Note:
   Match on William R Thurman and siblings