Shinn, Frank

SHINN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 21:17:45

Frank Shinn

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.603)
FRANK SHINN, attorney at law at Carson, Iowa, was born in Jacktown, Adams County, Ohio, October 28, 1843, son of Rev. Allen Trimble SHINN, who was a nephew of Governor TRIMBLE and was a native of Hillsboro, Highland County, same state. The latter was a son of George SHINN, of an old Virginia Quaker family. Frank's mother's maiden name was Melinda FENTON. She was a native of Adams County, Ohio, and brought up in Kentucky. Her father, John FENTON, was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother (maiden name Sarah Field) was born in Loudon County, Virginia.

Rev. A.T. SHINN went to Kentucky in ministerial work when his son Frank was 9 years old. Subsequently, in 1856 he was transferred to Marshalltown, Iowa, and two years later to Macedonia, this county, arriving March 4, 1858. Six months afterward he died, leaving a widow and six sons. Asa F., the eldest, enlisted in the First Nebraska Infantry in 1861, and died of typhoid fever at Syracuse, Missouri, thus leaving Frank as the eldest at home, to take care of his mother and the younger members of the family. He therefore remained with her until he was 25 years of age.

January 25, 1869, he married Miss Almira SCHENCK, a native of Parke County, Indiana, born near Rockville, a daughter of James M. SCHENCK, who was a native of Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Her mother, whose name before marriage was Alzina FISHER, was born at Ripley, Brown County, Ohio. Mrs. SHINN was 9 years of age when her father settled in Warren County, Iowa, in 1864. Afterward the family removed to Macedonia Township, Pottawattamie County.

Mr. SHINN has improved four different farms; two in Mills County, one in Montgomery County, and one on section 10, Grove Twp., Pottawattamie County. His first case at law occurred February 21, 1864, before Esquire GROOM in Macedonia Township, and it was such as to create considerable notoriety. He received two tons of hay as his fee.

Urged by H.C. WATKINS to study law, he complied, having to read of evenings and at length was admitted to the bar, April 16, 1876. In August 1877, he removed to Emerson, Mills County, and lived there until 1883 engaged in the law, and finally came to Carson where he has since made his home and has a good practice, his extensive acquaintance in this and adjoining counties being of great value to him.

As a public speaker he is fluent and impressive. He has also taken a prominent part in the temperance movement, working in favor of the prohibition amendment ever since 1874. In May 1882, he stumped western Iowa in favor of the prohibition constitutional amendment. As a candidate for State Senator in 1887, he ran 117 votes ahead of his ticket. He is the wheel-horse of the Republican party in western Iowa. He is a member of Coral Lodge No. 430, F.& A.M. at Carson.

Mr. SHINN has three daughters, namely: Linnie A., Kate L. and Myrtle I. He has lost two children by death; James A. at the age of 10 years and Addie at the age of 14 years. While residing where Marshalltown now is in 1857, Mr. SHINN cut his knee with a corn knife, which rendered him a cripple for life.