B. G. Shinn

    B. G. Shinn, attorney at law, Hartford City, Indiana, was born in Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana, October 20, 1838, a son of Hyman and Ann (Van Buskirk) Shinn. His father was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, and when thirteen years of age accompanied his parents to Dublin, Indiana, where he was reared, and married Ann Van Buskirk, who was a native of Hampshire County, West Virginia. In 1841 the family moved to Blackford County, and located in Harrison Township, where the parents lived until December, 1886, when they moved to Hartford City, where they now live.

    B. G. Shinn has lived in Blackford County since he was three years of age, living on a farm until twenty-six years old. His early education was received at the old district schools, and in the winter of 1857-58 he attended Liber College, in Jay County. He then attended Asbury University, at Greencastle, two years, and while there enlisted in April, 1861, in a company of college students for the three month's service in the war of the Rebellion. They went to Indianapolis and were in camp eight days, when the quota being full without their company they were sent back. He returned home and the following August again enlisted, and on the organization of Company B, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, was elected its Second Lieutenant. The regiment went into camp at Anderson, and while there he was taken sick, and not recovering was compelled to resign before he returned to college. In the spring of 1864 he again enlisted and was assigned to Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Infantry and was appointed Orderly Sergeant. His regiment was principally engaged in doing guard duty on the line of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad.

    In the spring of 1865 he went to Bluffton and began reading law in the office of Judge E. R. Wilson, and was admitted to the bar before Judge Borden, in April, 1867. He immediately began the practice of his profession, and for a year was associated with Dwight Klink, in Bluffton. He was then in partnership with J. J. Todd until April, 1871, when he returned to Blackford County, and located in Hartford City, and for two years was associated with Michael Frash, when Mr. Frash temporarily retired from practice and Mr. Shinn was alone until the spring of 1882. He then formed a partnership with John Noonan, which continued until the fall of 1883, when Mr. Noonan went to Leadville, Colorado. Mr. Shinn then practiced alone until July, 1885, when the present firm of Shinn & Pierce was formed.

    Mr. Shinn was married in the fall of 1862 to Emily J. Harris, a native of Wells County, Indiana, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Ann (Dawson) Harris, early settlers of Wells County. She was left an orphan when five years of age and was reared  by her grandparents, John and Prudence Dawson. Mr. and Mrs. Shinn have three sons -Orlando M., Elmer Ellsworth and Eugene M.

    In politics Mr. Shinn is a Republican, and has been chairman of the Central Committee through three campaigns, being the present incumbent. He has served Hartford City as clerk, treasurer and school trustee. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 1868 was licensed to preach, and in 1874 was ordained a local deacon. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Order, Hartford City Lodge, No. 262, and has passed all the chairs and represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the State. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Jacob Stahl Post, No. 227.