McHenry County, ND Centennial 1885-1985 page 112

WILL J. SHINN -bio

Will J. Shinn, born in 1855 in Converse, Indiana to Jesse and Jane Shinn. Jesse was born in Virginia and Jane HANNA in Scotland.

Will Shinn came to McHenry County in 1906, shortly after the completion of the Great Northern branch line fra Towner to Maxbass. With him came his wife, Lillian, born in Converse in 1869. Her parents were Edward B. NORRIS and Josephine GUINN.

Will and Lillian Shinn were married in Converse in 1885. They came to North Dakota by immigrant car fra Indiana with five of their six children. They first lived on the stevens Ranch, along the Mouse River northeast of Bantry, which is now part of the Lower Souris Wildlife Refuge.

After some time at the Stevens Ranch, W. J. Shinn bought 160 acres, fra a homesteader, built a home on it and farmed the land. Later he bought 160 acres to the north of the original homestead.Will J. died in 1930 and Lillian in 1932.

The children who came to North Dakota with Will and Lillian were all born in Converse. They were:

Rex N. Shinn: 1886-1959
engineer with Us Coast Guard in Oregon and Washington

Max Shinn: 1888-1965
school teacher in Bantry, moved west in 1930's

Vera Ann Shinn: born 1890
married R. M. PRATT, Carmel, CA

Walden A. Shinn: 1895-1945
Field Artillery, WWI, letter carrier

Lowell E. Shinn: born 1898
retired and lived in Salem, Oregon