William Charles Shinn (1870 - 1943)

Born 12 Jan 1870 in Alpha, Henry, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Belva L (Woods) Shinn — married 18 Jun 1891 in Violet, Pawnee, Nebraska, United States

Husband of Myrtle Pearl (Klock) Shinn — married 28 Oct 1939 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Died 24 Jun 1943 at age 73 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Nellis [send private message]

Biography

William was born in 1870 to Liberty Shinn and Katherine Laird in Henry, Illinois. In about 1879, his family moved to Pawnee County, Nebraska.

William and a partner were raising Duroc Jersey Swine in Pawnee City and Burchard.

In 1891, William married Belva Woods in Violet, Pawnee, Nebraska. They had two children.

In 1900, they were living in Lincoln, where William opened a lightning rod manufacturing plant at 2049 O St. and then 322 S. 11th St. These buildings no longer exist.

In 1907, William received a patent for his "Machine for Making Cable Lightning Rods." He also patented a Lightning Arrester (aka Lightning Rod) in 1910 and Folding Ladder to use while installing lightning rods in 1917.

In 1908, William moved into a new manufacturing plant at 126 N. 16th Street. The building is now an apartment complex called "W. C. Shinn Lofts."

In about 1916, they moved to Chicago, where he opened an even larger manufacturing plant.

In 1924, William received a patent for a keyed lock that was used on coin-operated machines. He also received patents for a Coin Chute and Plate Tumbler Lock. He received a design patent for Coin Chute Faceplate that was widely used in pinball games.

By 1930, William and his son were running the Chicago Lock Company.

In 1934, Velda passed away in Chicago.

In 1939, William married Myrtle (Klock) Kenworthy.

In 1943, William passed away in Chicago.

The Burchard Times (Burchard, Nebraska) Fri, Aug 6, 1897, Page 1

W. C. Shinn and T. L. Livingston are enterprising stock men, having ordered printed stationary for advertising their Duroc jersey Swine.

The Pawnee Press (Pawnee City, Nebraska) Fri, Jan 12, 1900, Page 1

Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Shinn and children went to Lincoln, Tuesday; where Mr. Shlnn is going into the lightning rod manufacturing business. Although we are sorry to lose Mr. Shinn as a citizen, we wish him the best of success in his new business.

The Courier (Lincoln, Nebraska) 10 May 1902, page 9

W. C. SHINN. [includes a photo]

Mr. Shinn, who has redeemed the lightning rod business, and triumphantly placed the science on the roll of honor, was born in Henry county, Illinois, in 1870, and came to Nebraska at the age of nine years with his parents, who settled in Pawnee county, where they still own 400 acres of the choice land. He was raised on a farm, educated at Pawnee City, and married to Miss Belva Woods, daughter of Hon L. H. Woods, who was senator from Pawnee and Richardson counties.

Mr. Shinn embarked in the live stock business and was very successful in that line, being one of the men who has brought the Duroc breed of swine up to their present high standard.

Realizing the manner in which the lightning rod business had been abused, and having made a study of atmospheric electricity and found that buildings and lives could be protected from the ravages of lightning by scientifically applying good copper conductors, he saw that if a man would manufacture a good copper cable lightning rod and handle it on business principles, selling to every person at the same price, and pursuing straight, honorable methods, that there could be a good business worked up along that line.

With this end in view he moved to Lincoln and put in a plant and for the last three years has been conducting such an institution. The business has grown now to justify his beliefs, as they make about 2.000 feet per day, and the demand is daily growing, as there has never been any damage where these rods have been applied.

The Insurance companies of Nebraska appreciate his good work and all endorse his system of rodding and endeavor to get their patrons to secure his services.

Mr. Shinn also handles static and X-ray machines and has sold in the past two years more machines than was in the state before. The same feature of square dealing is the cause for this.

He is a member of several secret societies, among which he prizes the Masonic order the highest, being a Knight Templar.

He owns a beautiful home at 2327 P street and his factory is at 2049 O street. Mr. and Mrs. Shinn are well known socially. Mr. Shinn is doing much to promote the commercial welfare of Lincoln.

Automatic Age, September 1939, page 56

CHICAGO LOCK CO. [includes photo of "W. C. Shinn"]

W. C. Shinn, President, The Chicago Lock Company, internationally known manufacturers of locks for all industries, for metal or wood cabinets, for vending, amusement, merchandising and musical machines...Famous Chicago Ace Lock, Single Bitted, Double Bitted Lock and Double Locking Padlocks.

Our "interviewer" confidentially imparts this information about "W.C." Born and raised on a farm and proud of it. Made an outstanding succes of the lightning rod business. Some twenty odd years ago bought out the then small and little known Chicago Lock Co. Fooled the fellows in the lock gam who, because he...

The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) Fri, Jun 25, 1943, Page 12

William C. Shinn, Former Lincoln Business Man, Dies

Funeral services for William C. Shinn, former Lincoln business man, will be held in Chicago at 2 p. m. Saturday, according to word received here. Mr. Shinn passed away at a Chicago hospital Thursday after an extended illness.

For many years Mr. Shinn was engaged in the manufacture of lightning rods in Lincoln. The family home was at 217 South Twenty-seventh street. Mr. Shinn moved to Chicago about 20 years ago.

Mrs. Earl Hawkins, a daughter, resides in Omaha and a son, Lyle, in Los Angeles.

Patents

• 1907 US Patent No. 873,178 Static Electricity Machine
• 1908 US Patent No. 887,277 Machine for Making Cable Lightning Rods
• 1910 US Patent No. 945,293 Lightning Arrester
• 1917 US Patent No. 1,233,717 Folding Ladder
• 1924 US Patent No. 1,489,854 Lock
• 1930 US Patent No. 1,761,092 Lock
• 1934 US Patent No. 1,964,963 Lock
• 1936 US Patent No. 2,044,107 Coin Chute
• 1937 US Design Patent No. 102,961 Faceplate for a Coin Chute
• 1943 US Patent No. 2,330,929 Plate Tumbler Lock

Sources

• 1939 Cook County Marriage Record for William C Shinn and Myrtle Kenworthy
• 1940 United States Federal Census: Ancestry Record 2442 #147391568
• Find A Grave: Memorial #254488593profile]