John Gibson McMynn was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 educator.

Born in Palatine Bridge, New York

Palatine Bridge, New York

Palatine Bridge is a village in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 706 at the 2000 census. The basis of the name is the community's location in a region settled by Palatinate Germans....

, McMynn graduated from Williams College

Williams College

Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...

 in 1848. In 1848, he moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...

, where he started a school. Eventually, he moved to Racine, Wisconsin

Racine, Wisconsin

Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...

 to set up the public school system. In 1861, he moved to Winona, Minnesota

Winona, Minnesota

Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....

 to help set up the first normal school in Minnesota now Winona State University

Winona State University

Winona State University is a comprehensive public university in Winona, Minnesota, United States, a college and river town located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, with around 8,900 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students...

. However, when the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

 started he went back to Wisconsin and joined the 10th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment

10th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The 10th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 10th Wisconsin was raised at Milwaukee, Wisconsin and mustered into Federal service October 14, 1861....

 and was commssioned a colonel. He served as Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin

Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin

The Superintendent of Public Instruction, sometimes referred to as the State Superintendent of Schools, is a constitutional office within the executive branch of the Wisconsin state government, and acts as the executive head of the Department of Public Instruction...

 1864-1868. McMynn helped set up the Wisconsin Teachers Association and served as regent for the University of Wisconsin. He also worked for Jerome Case

Jerome Case

Jerome Increase Case was an early American manufacturer of threshing machines. He founded what became the Case Corporation and raised champion race horses...

.