From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1613
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
MRS. SARAH J. WYNN
Mrs Sarah J Wynn, one of the honored pioneers of Rice county, Kansas, is the widow of Adam Wynn, who was a well known early settler of this locality and a valiant soldier of the Civil war. He was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1838. His father, John Wynn, was also a native of Northumberland county and was of French descent. He married Elizabeth Snyder, who was of German descent, and they became the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters. Two of the sons were defenders of the stars and stripes when the attempt was made to overthrow the Union, and Chambers is now a resident of McPherson, Kansas. The father followed the occupation of farming as a life occupation, and of the Methodist Episcopal church both he and his wife were worthy members. His death occurred in Pennsylvania, and she was called to her final rest in McPherson, Kansas.
Adam Wynn was reared to the quiet pursuits of farm life in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, where he was early taught to work in the fields. He was a millwright by trade and was thus engaged for ten years. At the outbreak of the Civil war he donned the blue in defense of the Union, enlisting in Ogle county, Illinois, in 1861, in the Fourth Illinois Cavalry. He was afterward honorably discharged on account of disability, having been afflicted with chronic rheumatism, receiving his discharge at Pittsburg, Tennessee. He afterward veteranized in the Third Iowa Battery, from which he was discharged on the 23rd of October, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa, for the war was ended and the country no longer needed his services. After the close of hostilities he returned to Pennsylvania, and in Northumberland county, that state, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Wynn, who during the remainder of his life was a true and loving companion for the journey of life. She was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Shipman) Wynn, natives also of that county. Both are now deceased, the father dying in 1878, at the age of eighty-five years, and the mother was also called to the home above at the age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of nine children, - Reuben, Jacob, David, Rachel, May, Barbara, Emma, Sarah J and Susanna. The father devoted his life to the pursuits of the farm and was identified with the Democratic party.
Adam Wynn devoted his time and attention to the millwright’s trade in Pennsylvania until 1878, when he came to Rice county, Kansas, locating on eighty acres of land. In 1896 he located on the farm where his widow still resides, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, which is improved with a good residence, a large barn and all other necessary improvements. There he remained until his death, which occurred when he had reached his fifty-ninth year. His army service undermined his health and brought on rheumatism, which eventually caused his death, and thus passed from earth one of nature’s noblemen. His life had ever been upright and honorable, characterized by fidelity to duty and to the right. He affiliated with the Republican party, but later became a Populist. He was connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Methodist Episcopal church he was a worthy and active member.
Unto Mr and Mrs Wynn were born four children: Harper J, who married Sarah Nickel, by whom he has one son, Samuel C, and they reside on a farm adjoining the old homestead; Dickson D, who is thirty-one years of age; Lloyd E, who has reached the age of twenty years; and Troy Logan, a young man of seventeen years. The three younger children are at home. The family is one of prominence in the community, and they are honored and respected by all who know them.