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Benjamin Earnshaw, my great great grandfather, built and lived in this home in 1878 . The house still stands near the corner of Johnson Drive and Quivira, in Shawnee, Kansas. When I think of house lifting, Kansas proved to be a wonderful state to work in and this homestead is where it all began. Earnshaw men have been doing farming, construction, or house moving ever since. When I moved to college to study business and earn money house lifting, Manhattan, KS became somewhat of a family homestead as well. Many of my brothers, nephews and nieces have and will call Manhattan home. However, Shawnee is our original home town.
My grandfather, Bob Sr., owned Earnshaw Feed and Grain Company. Back in the 1960's and 1970's, the family had the Kansas City Stockyards as a customer. It was the good ol' days. We also served many farms thru out the midwest. While it was well before the time of college and house lifting, Manhattan, KS was a market we served even back then. Our special brand was Big E Horse feed and the molasses laden sweet feed was a favorite across central-kansas.
My father was Jim and he began moving houses in 1974. The opportunity presented itself when Earnshaw Grain Company closed and Dad was left with numerous trucks and equipment. Now committed to house moving and house lifting, Kansas and Missouri are where we have continued to learn, practice, and master this trade. Dad passed in 1989. I am John Earnshaw. I am a master house mover. What follows is a brief profile of the past 36 years. What a ride its been.
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