James Harvey Cummings, known as "Mr. Jim," was born in Cannon County in 1890 and became a farmer, attorney, politician, and statesman. He served in the Tennessee General Assembly from 1928 to 1972, except for 1949 to 1953, when he was Secretary of State, and he was often called the "Dean of the Legislature." He was married to the former "Miss Hesta" McBroom. He died in 1979 and is buried in the family cemetery just west of here.