 In 1875 , McCreary was one of four men , all former Confederate soldiers , who sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination — the others being John Stuart Williams , J. Stoddard Johnson , and George B. Hodge . Williams was considered the favorite for the nomination at the outset of the Democratic nominating convention , despite attacks on his character by newspapers in the western part of the state . However , McCreary defeated Williams on the fourth ballot . 
