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Below is a family biography included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Hon. F. W. Shinman, farmer and stock dealer, of Phelps County, Mo., was born in Erie County, N. Y., in 1842, being a son of Adam and Henrietta Shinman, who were born in Germany in 1805 and 1818, respectively. After having borne five children the mother died, but the date of her death is not known. Her sister afterward married Mr. Shinman, and their union was blessed in the birth of four children. Mr. Shinman died in Erie County, N. Y., in 1872. At the age of sixteen years F. W. Shinman left home and began learning the cooper’s trade in Niagara County, N. Y., and in 1865 was married to Miss Rose Barns; of Oakland County, Mich. She was born in Bristol County, that State, in 1845, and became the mother of six children: F. W., Jr., Etta, Albert, Lena, Walter and Louis. Soon after his marriage Mr. Shinman engaged in the cooper business at Auburn, Mich., but afterward located at Mulford, being also joint owner and manager of a saw-mill at East Saginaw. In 1876 he moved to Rolla, Mo., where he engaged in manufacturing barrels for the Rolla Flouring Mills, continuing two years, and then purchased a half interest in a saloon, and also embarked in buying stock and grain. In 1882 the saloon caught fire and was burned to the ground, but Mr. Shinman soon after built a brick building at his own expense, but sold out the following year, and purchased the farm of 240 acres on which he is now residing, and on which he has lived since 1888. He was recently elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Phelps County in the State Legislature, and since childhood has been a member of the Lutheran Church. He is a Mason, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Phelps County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Phelps County, Missouri family biographies, click here

To view a map of Phelps County, Missouri: Phelps County, Missouri Map

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