John D. Floyd was born around 1822 in Kentucky. He married Susannah Finnie in November 1846, and they had at least six children: John, born around 1847; Thomas, born around 1849; Mary, born around 1851; Susan, born around 1854; Ann, born around 1854; and David, born around 1859. They lived in Union County, Kentucky, and Floyd worked as a farmer. By 1850, he owned $1,333 of real estate. They moved to Dallas County, Texas, in the 1850s, and by 1860, he owned $6,680 of real estate and $4,420 of personal property. A decade later, their wealth had grown to $12,000 of real estate and $1,235 of personal property. His wife died in the 1870s, and he married Mary H. McDougal on November 20, 1879. He eventually moved to Smith County, Texas, and he died on January 14, 1889.

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