05/27/2026
Experience Tennessee
For Monty’s Histerical Monument we visited Lewisburg, Chapel Hill, and Verona
to learn of former Governors from Marshall County. Three men called this county home. Each had interesting lives and I hope you will take the time to read more about them. There is not enough room and time for me to print all I wish I could. Let me introduce you to Henry Horton, Buford Ellington, and Jim Nance McCord.
The 36th Governor of Tennessee: Henry Hollis Horton Born February 17, 1866 in Princeton, Alabama, Died July 2, 1934, Buried at his homesite that is now Henry Horton State Park. Preceded by Austin Peay and Succeeded by Hill McAlister.
I previously posted about Henry Horton so see that post for more information about this interesting man.
The 40th Governor of Tennessee: Jim Nance McCord Born March 17, 1879 in Unionville, Bedford County TN, Died September 2,1968, Buried in Lone Oak Cemetery Lewisburg, TN. Preceded by Prentice Cooper and Succeeded by Gordon Browning.
McCord had previously served as the Mayor of Lewisburg from 1916-1942. As Governor he increased funding for education, instituted a state sales tax, and right-to-work legislation.
In 1901 he married Vera Kercheval whose father was the publisher of The Marshall Gazette. McCord eventually bought out his father in law. He also breed Jersey Cattle and Tennessee Walking Horses. In 1935 he helped establish the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders Association.
In 1958 at 79 years old he ran again for Governor against Buford Ellington who previously served as his campaign manager. This campaign was unsuccessful.
He was instrumental in building and equipping a Ladies Rest Room to be built in Lewisburg on the square so ladies would have a proper place to to rest and eat when visiting town.
The 42 Governor of Tennessee: from 1959-1963. And again as Governor from 1967-1971: Buford Ellington Born June 27, 1907 in Holmes Co. Mississippi, Died April 3, 1972, Buried Lone Oak Cemetery Lewisburg, TN. Preceded by Frank G. Clement and Succeeded by Winfield Dunn.
Ellington married Catherine Ann Cheek and relocated to her home state Tennessee. He bought a store in Verona located in Marshall County. He was appointed Commissioner of Agriculture from 1953-1958.
After a career as a salesman he worked on a successful campaign for Jim Nance McCord’s Gubernatorial campaign. This began his career in politics. In 1958 he successfully ran for Governor of Tennessee. He gave raises to school teachers and administrators without raising taxes. Then ordered the state to comply and desegregate public schools.
In 1963 he returned to the private sector working as Vice President of L&N Railroad. In 1935 President Johnson appointed him as the Director of the office of Emergency Planning (later to be known as FEMA).
Take the time to learn about the cool and interesting history we have in The South Central Region of this Great State! Follow along as we show you some snippets of the stories we find. Don’t just Travel Tennessee…EXPERIENCE TENNESSEE!!
