From: "History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1883"

Page 276:

James Curtis and Thomas Wynn came to Mitchell County, Burr Oak township in the spring of 1854, the latter pre-empting the southeast quarter of section 10, and purchasing a claim of Mr. Hart. He brought his family on in July, 1854.

Mr. Wynn was a native of Livingston Co., N. Y., from whence he removed to Warren Co., Penn., in his boyhood, and from there to this county. He continued to reside upon his farm until the spring of 1883,when he moved to Brown Co., Dak. Mr. Wynn's father-in-law, John Johnson came on at the same time, and shortly afterward died.

Page 277:

The first death of a white person in Burr Oak Township was that of John Johnson, who died at the residence of his son-in-law, Thomas Wynn, in the winter of 1856-7. Mr. Wynn was compelled to carry the lumber of which the coffin was made for Mr. Johnson's burial, from Hart's Grove, a distance of six miles, on his back; the snow being so deep, and bearing so heavy a crust, that travel was impossible, The body of Mr. Johnson was buried in Mr. Wynn's yard but subsequently removed to the Grove Cemetery.

Page 281:

Thomas Wynn is mentioned as helping Mr. Wilson (first settler in Burr Oak Township) break the first land.

 

---

Transcribed by: Gordon Felland - July 19, 2005