Untitled From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 562-563

BENJAMIN SHINOE (deceased) was a farmer in the town of Paris, Grant county, where he long sustained an enviable reputation as an honorable and upright man, a good citizen and an industrious and successful farmer.

Mr. SHINOE was born in Virginia Jan. 26, 1817, a son of Jeremiah and Deborah (REED) SHINOE. The father was born in Rouen, France, and came to this country in 1806, settling first in Virginia, and then moving to Ohio. In 1853 he moved to Wisconsin, and made this State his home until his death. With his wife he is buried near Platteville. They had a large family all of whom are deceased except four: (1) Oliver resides in the town of Waterloo, Grant county. (2) Jane is the wife of W. H. COOPER, of Cuba City. (3) Margaret is the widow of Joseph HEAD, of Platteville. (4) Annie is the wife of James CRISOP, of Ohio.

Benjamin SHINOE reached his majority in Ohio, and there received part of his education in the public schools; he was also for a time in attendance upon a school in Virginia. When a young man, in Illinois, he married Miss Elizabeth McCLEES, daughter of William and Diana (WELLS) McCLEES. William McCLEES was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and his wife was a native of Columbus, Ky. They married in Kentucky, but very soon afterward removed to Tazewell county, Ill., where he followed farming and died in 1841, his wife surviving him many years, and passing away in 1875, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. SHINOE, who is the only one of the family now living. She obtained her education in the public schools of Tazewell county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. SHINOE found a home in the town of Paris, Grant county, in 1847, while it was still a part of the territory. Mr. SHINOE secured a quarter section of good farm land one and a half miles east of Dickeysville, and here he cleared up a fine farm, making his home there on until 1883. That year he purchased the "Big Platte Ferry Farm," a magnificent estate of 260 acres, where he made his home until his death, in 1899. Mr. SHINOE was a Republican, and long took an active part in political work.

To our subject and wife were born twelve children: (1) Lewis, the eldest son, born in Grant county, grew up at home, married Miss Nancy RISTER, and is now residing on his farm in the town of Paris. His family consists of two children, William H. and Cora, the latter now the wife of Martin BOLAN, of Paris. (2) Mary, born in February, 1849, is now the widow of Cyrus A. HORNBECK, a veteran of the Civil war; she has had six children, Melvin H., Albert, Orvil L., George, Minnie E. and Earl. (3) Josephine, born in Paris in 1850, married Henry HARVEY, and moved to Farley, Iowa, where he died, leaving a wife and five children, Alfred, Mortimer, Guy E., Viola and Walter. (4) Albert, born Oct. 24, 1852, has had an extensive and varied experience. He obtained his education in the public schools. When a boy of seventeen years he lost his right hand by accident, in a threshing machine. During his early manhood he was engaged in railroading, and had a situation on the barges on the Mississippi river. As a homesteader he located near Lake Superior, in Wisconsin, where he remained three years, and in 1894 went to Montana, spending some months as a prospector in that region. On the death of his father he came back to Wisconsin, and has remained with his widowed mother to the present time, never having married. (5) Sophia, born in January, 1855, is the wife of George RICH, of Dubuque, Iowa, where he is engaged as a ship carpenter. They have a family of four children, Florence, Lottie, Jessie and Raymond. (6) Dianna D., born in Paris Feb. 28, 1857, is the wife of Henry MILLER, a machinist of Minneapolis. (7) Viola, born Nov. 18, 1859, is the wife of Capt. L. BRENEN, of West Superior, Wis., where he has a good standing as one of the leading steamboat captains on the Lakes. They have two children, Olive and Ethel. (8) Margaret J., born in November, 1861, married William SHEFFIELD, and is now living in Dubuque, Iowa, where their two sons, Claude and Clarence, are attending the city schools. (9) Elizabeth, born in April, 1864, married Fred JOHNS and lived in Cuba City, where he died, leaving one daughter, Huldah. Mrs. JOHNS later married Benjamin MAGNER, and now resides in Minneapolis. To this union one son has been born. (10) Benjamin, born in September, 1866, married Miss Catherine JUNGLES, and they have one daughter, Maud S. He is now a ship builder in West Superior, Wis. (11) Charles H., born June 9, 1869, grew up on the homestead, where he is still living with his mother. (12) Minnie died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. SHINOE celebrated their Golden Wedding, and she now holds her badge as one of the members of the Wisconsin State Centennial.

Mrs. Elizabeth SHINOE is a member of the Christian Church, with which she united when a young girl. She is a lady of character and ability, is the present health officer of the town of Paris, and is now vice-president of the Union Church Society. She was elected president of the Soldiers Aid Society, serving during the Civil war. Mrs. SHINOE comes of old patriotic stock, and her grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. She is well versed in national affairs, is a strong advocate of prohibition, and is a cultured lady, engaging in her manners, and of charming conversational ability.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck