Maxwell H. Shinn is a well known and prominent business man in Republic, where he operates a commission house. He is one of the pioneers of Republic, and has labores asidiously to make a thriving center. Maxwell H. Shinn was born in Quincy, Illinois, on November 18, 1852, being the son of James and Elizabeth (Reeder) Shinn, natives of West Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. They settled in Quincy in 1830, and came to Spokane in 1880, where the father opened the first planing mill in Spokane. He did business there for four years, after which he consolidated his interests with the Brickell company. Later he sold out and retired, living in Spokane until his death, in 1891, when his estate was appraised at ninety-two thousand dollars. The mother is still living in Spokane. The father was a member of the Illinois legislature before he left that state, and was a very prominent and capable business man. They were the parents of thirteen children, there being three pairs of twins in this number. Those who are living are named as follows: Maxwell H., our subject; Wilbur, H.J. and Pet.
Our subject was educated in the common schools, then graduated from Quincy college, in 1869, and afterwards took a diploma from Gem City business college. Immediately following this he went to work on a Mississippi steamboat and one year later went on the road for a Quincy tobacco house. In 1873 he was elected manager for a fruit grower’s association and remained in that capacity until 1882, when he came west to Cheney. He collected for Knapp, Burrell & Company of Colfax, for four years, after which he went to Spokane and took up the commission business. Later he took as partner E. Lozier, but after some time they sold out. Mr. Shinn operated in this business in Spokane until the spring of 1893, when he transfered his family to Kettle Falls and continued in the commission business until May, 1897, when he came to Republic, and is now one of the prosperous business men of this town.
On February 18, 1875, Mr. Shinn married Miss Sarah E., daughter of Alexander and Mary (Crocker) Croson, natives of Virginia, and parents of seven children. To our subject and his wife five children ahve been born: Pearl, deceased; Elsie, wife of Frank Royer, in Grandforks; Frank P., going to business college in Spokane; Alford, deceased, being the first white child who died in the Republic camp; and Fanchon, the baby. Mr. Shinn is an active, influential Republican and is now a member of the city council. He has served in various offices as deputy sheriff, and while in Illinois was deputy sheriff, auditor, adn so forth. Mr. Shinn is a warm friend of ex-governor Palmer and has been associated with the family for years. Fraternally he is affiliated with the A.F. & A.M. and the M.W.A., of which he is an organizer. Mrs. Shinn is a member of the Methodist church.
File contributed by Candy Grubb
Source: An illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, pp. 468-9; by Richard F. Steele and Arthur P. Rose.[Spokane] : Western Historical Pub. Co. 1904.
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