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Ask Matt ... about Zeb Corn

Q. Who was Zeb Corn? There is a road off Howard Gap Road that must be named for him.

I hooked up with Zebulon Vance Corn's grandson, Dennis Corn who lives on his family's property off Zeb Corn Road in the Clear Creek area. The Corn family members are descendants of John Peter Corn, a Virginian who served under George Washington at Valley Forge. John Peter Corn settled in Henderson County after the Revolutionary War.
Dennis spoke highly of his grandfather. "He farmed his land like most people in the county did in the early 1900s. At the end of the season, all Zeb had left was just enough to feed his family of nine children and his mule – that's how poor the land was out here," said Dennis.
Zeb Corn was a deputy sheriff in the county during prohibition. "He served warrants and had a reputation as being a nice guy but Zeb Corn was all business. If you didn't show up as agreed, Zeb would come get you," said Dennis. Zeb was also known for being a pretty good shot with a gun which, of course, didn't hurt.
Dennis also me a story of when Jimmie Rodgers, the famous country singer from Mississippi once came through Hendersonville, got drunk, and landed in jail. After Jimmie sobered up the next day, Deputy Corn brought the celebrity home to meet his family.
Another Zeb Corn story goes this way. Deputy Corn got a report of a dog killing sheep nearby so he laid down in a ditch waiting on the culprit. Soon he heard noises from the sheep. When he saw a shadow jump over the ditch he shot and dropped the sheep killer. It was his own dog! Then, to add to the pain, he had to pay the man for the sheep his dog had killed.
Zebulon Vance Corn died in 1937 at the young age of 47 and is buried at the Ebenezer Church Cemetery one mile from the road that bears his name.

Q. What are they building at the intersection of US 64 West and Howard Gap Road?

AutoZone. This will be the second AutoZone in the county. The other AutoZone is on South Main Street in Downtown Hendersonville. The company, which has its headquarters in Memphis, has over 5,200 stores. A competitor, Advance Auto Parts (checkered flag logo), has four stores in Henderson County among some 5,400 nationwide. Oh yeah, don't forget to check your antifreeze.