Rutherford County, TN - The great granddaughter of the 28th Tennessee Governor who lived in Rutherford County recently passed away. 93-Year-old Mary Hoover Johnson, who was born on January 11, 1930, died this past Thursday (02/23/2023). WGNS’ Steve Thornton has more... Her great-grandfather, John P. Buchanan served as the Governor of Tennessee between January 19, 1891 and January 16, 1893.
Governor Buchanan was born in Williamson County where he attended school and eventually joined the Confederate Army as a Private in the Fourth Alabama Cavalry in 1864. At the time, he was only 17-years-old. After the war, he moved to Rutherford County and began raising livestock and farming. At age 39, he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives and then re-elected 2-years later in 1888.
Buchanan was elected to the seat of Governor in 1891 at the age of 43. He maintained his seat as a Democrat up until January 16, 1893. To date, Buchanan was the only governor from Rutherford County, TN.
After serving in office, he returned to farming and never again sought a public office. He died in Murfreesboro at the age of 82 on May 14, 1930, 123 days after his great granddaughter Mary Hoover was born. The Murfreesboro Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Mary Hoover Johnson.
