JOHN D. WYNNS was born in Hopkins County, Ky., November 18, 1848, a son of John D. and Sarah A. (Bruce) Wynns, natives of North Carolina and of English descent. John D. Wynns, subject's father, when a boy, came with his parents to Hopkins County, Ky., where he was married and where he was mainly engaged in farming all his life. For several years he owned a steam saw and grist-mill, which he operated in connection with farming. He was for several years a justice of the peace. He died in October, 1857, aged thirty-six years. He and wife were members of the United Baptist Church. Our subject, after his father's death, remained on the home farm with his mother until he was fifteen years old. He then farmed on shares for about five years, and in the early part of 1870, bought a farm of his own between Providence and Nebo, Hopkins County. In the fall of 1872 he went to Kansas, where he located a claim, but in 1873 returned to Kentucky and engaged in the grocery and hardware business at Providence about a year. He then engaged in the drug business at that place and has since carried on that business. For the past five years his brother, George W., has been a partner in that business, which is conducted under the firm name of J. D. Wynns & Bro. They also carry a line of hardware and groceries, their entire stock amounting to about $6,000; their annual sales about $15,000. Mr. Wynns was married, October 6, 1875, to Miss Eliza G. Givens, a native of Hopkins County, Ky. Four daughters have been born to them—all living. Mr. and Mrs. Wynns are members of the United Baptist Church; he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has held several official positions, and has advanced to the Royal Arch degree. He is a Democrat.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 1053-1054.