John Winsmith was born John Winn Smith on January 13, 1802 near Glenn Springs, South Carolina. He attended and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine from 1822 to 1825. Upon his return to S.C., he practiced medicine in Spartanburg and Union Districts. An act of the South Carolina Legislature changed his name from John Winn Smith to John Winsmith. He represented Spartanburg District in the South Carolina legislature from 1830 to 1832 and again from 1852 to 1862. He also served as a delegate to the Southern Rights Convention of 1852 and served as captain of Company H, 1st Regiment, S.C. Volunteers. He died in 1889 in Spartanburg where he is buried.
From the description of John Winsmith Papers. 1822-1833. (Medical University of South Carolina Library). WorldCat record id: 19638144
