James Booker Ross was a lumber manufacturer and dealer in the Center area for some years after the turn of the century. He held an interest in a sawmill with J. B. Cain about six miles north of Center, possibly on Flat Fork or Smith Creek in 1906 at least. In 1905, he was in operation for himself east of Shelbyville. That year he mortgaged to J. W. Bird, a sawmill owner in Center, a boiler from the Pigg and Fowler sawmill, a steam engine, a Dixie right-hand standard feed sawmill, Dixie head blocks, a cutoff saw, and a 52” circular saw. He mortgaged to Dilley & Son a double surfacing and matching heavy-duty Economist wood planer and matcher with all cutting heads. On July 10, 1907, he mortgaged to First National Bank of Center half a million feet of dry lumber at his mill, and his entire plant and machinery, buildings, and equipment. In 1910, Ross mortgaged to O. L. McKnight 75,000 feet of lumber at his mill and his entire output of ties and lumber.