John W. DIVINE, M.D., was born in Monroe County, Tenn., April 17, 1836, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Avans) DIVINE, of Irish and Scotch-Irish stock, and natives of South Carolina. A few years after marriage they settled as farmers in Monroe County, Tenn.
Our subject, the youngest of nine children, was educated at Hiwassee College, and began medicine under Dr. BICKNELL, of Madisonville, for two years. In 1860-61 he attended lectures at Nashville, and began practice, continuing until 1862-63, when he became assistant surgeon of the Eleventh and the Ninth Tennessee Calvaries. In October, 1865, he located in Claiborne County and began practice at Tazewell, at which place he continued to practice until April, 1886, when he purchased the Graham farm, one mile from town, where he is now building a nice residence.
On April 17, 1865, Ada M. NEWLES, of this county, became his wife, and they have four children living, two sons and two daughters. He is a Republican in national affairs, and he and his wife and their three eldest children are Presbyterians
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of from Twenty-Five to Thirty Counties of East Tennessee. Chicago: Goodspeed, 1887.