Talk:Buchanan, Tennessee

Latest comment: 10 years ago by Zakgreene in topic Named after President James Buchanan

Named after President James Buchanan edit

I wanted to elaborate on my edit. The previous revision cited ''Tennesse Place Names'' by Larry Miller which claims, "At the time this locality was being settled—the first part of the 1840s—President James Buchanan held office. So residents applied his name to the hamlet." This is either very misleading or erroneous. Buchanan held presidential office from 1857-1861. He was a PA senator from 1835-45, and Secretary of State from 1845-49. It seems highly unlikely that, if indeed the town was incorporated in the 1840s, a comparatively minor political figure from another state would have a town in west Tennessee named after him.

My family is from Buchanan, TN. I've visited grave plots in town that date back to the early 1800s, and the name Buchanan is common (as is my sirname, Greene). Therefore it seems most likely that the town was named after the Buchanan family that resided there, not the President. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Zakgreene (talkcontribs) 19:25, 10 November 2013 (UTC)Reply