Dear Cuz's, When I travel with the Great Race this summer from Detroit, MI to Daytona, FL... we will be passing through the town of WYNNE, AR. Being that my dad is Wynn, I thought that was kinda neat!! Here is their history.... is it someone you know? History of Wynne ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Wynne, Arkansas was named for Captain Jesse Watkins Wynne. He was the son of Colonel Robert E. and Sarah Watkins Wynne. He was born in Marshall County, Mississippi July 1, 1839. In the year of Wynne's birth, his father moved the family to the Republic of Texas-settling in Nacogdoches County. Young Wynne was reared in Nacogdoches and Rusk counties in the great state of Texas. He was visiting friends in Memphis when the Civil War broke out. He hastened home to Texas and enlisted in Company B, which formed part of the Third Texas Cavalry, Ross' Brigade. He served with that gallant company throughout the year. He was made captain of his company when just 21 years of age. In 1864 he was captured near Jonesboro, Georgia. However, he succeeded in misleading his captors into the Confederate lines, and had the pleasure of marching them up to headquarters as prisoners. He was paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1867 he moved to St Francis County from Crittenden County. In 1868 he was associated with the firm of Dennis and Beck of Forrest City. In 1869 he married Margaret Ross of Holly Springs, Mississippi. They had three sons: Joel, Hugh, and Jesse. Since there were no banks in the area at the time, Dennis and Beck held savings for individuals and firms. As a result the Bank of Eastern Arkansas was formed and Captain Wynne was its first president. When the north-south line of the Iron Mountain railroad was completed in 1882 the town of Wynne was initiated when a train derailed leaving one boxcar without wheels off the track. The car was placed upright and called Wynne Station in honor of Captain Wynne. However, there has never been an e xplanation as to why it was named for him. In 1888 the east-west line was completed forming a junction near the boxcar. The name Wynne Junction then evolved. On May 28, 1888 the word junction was dropped and the new town was incorporated as Wynne. Hugs Cuz Becky ttg-inc@attbi.com http://www.ttg-inc.net http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ttg13/