Jacob L. Shinn

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Jacob Lawson Shinn (October 2, 1826—August 17, 1899) was a prosperous and influential mid to late-nineteenth-century leader in Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas, instrumental in bringing the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad (LR&FS) through town and moving the county seat from Dover, Arkansas to Russellville.

Migration

In 1837, Shinn's family, along with the families of relatives and friends, traveled from Montgomery County, North Carolina, North Carolina by covered wagon when he was 10 years, settling near the area that would become Russellville. His father, Benjamin Daniel Ransom "B.D.R." Shinn, established a farm and, in 1840, one of the first circular sawmills in Pope County, working as a farmer and lumber dealer until his death.[1]

Mexican War

Following the outbreak of Mexican–American War, Jacob Shinn served as a corporal in a company of mounted infantry volunteers from Pope County organized under Captain James S. "Symp" Moffit,[2] in Archibald Yell|Archibald Yell's Arkansas Militia and the Mexican–American War#The Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Volunteers|Arkansas Mounted Rifles, the unit mustering into federal service on July 1, 1846, as Company A.[3][4] The regiment participated in the occupation of several locations and in the Battle of Buena Vista. The commander of the invading American Army, General John E. Wool, derisively called Yell's regiment the "Arkansas Mounted Devils" over issues such as military order and basic sanitation as most of the regiment did not regularly drill and military discipline was extremely lax.[5]

Commercial and Public Life

In the early 1850s, Jacob Shinn established one of the first general stores [6] in an area known as Chactas Prairie,[7] just down the road from the log home of Thomas Russell, the area's first doctor. While tradition holds that the naming of the community came down to a choice between Shinnsville, after Jacob Shinn, and Russellville, after Thomas Russell,[8] Russellville was actually named in the early 1840s when Jacob was a teen.[9] Russellville is listed on mail routes in requests for proposals for carrying the mail in 1842,[10] when Shinn was 15, and in 1846, when he was 19,[11] so naming the community after Jacob would have been quite unlikely. There was, however, a merchant listed in the 1840s in Russellville as J. M. Shinn—likely James Madison Shinn, Jacob's uncle—in advertising for "Dr. Spencer's Vegetable Pills"[12] so any truth in the naming tradition may apply to another Shinn.

In 1855, Shinn married Martha Battenfield. They had four sons.

Shinn was appointed Russellville postmaster on August 4, 1857, and, after the war, was re-established as postmaster on August 6, 1866.[13] By 1858, Shinn's inventory was valued at $2,000, more than twice the average inventory of the eighteen stores taxed in Pope County that year.[14] In November 1850, Shinn was recorded as a farmer living on the family farm with his mother and 8 siblings and owning real estate valued at $200.[15] Ten years later, he was documented as a merchant with $3000 in real estate and $25,000 in personal property.[16]

Shinn opened a larger store in a new two-story brick building on Main Street in 1876, with other businesses occupying offices on the second floor,[17] The older, smaller store stayed open during construction after being "rolled back" on the property to make room for the new building on the original location.[18] The building was the first brick building built in town.[19]

During a portion of the Pope County, Pope County militia troubles in 1872, Shinn took refuge in Little Rock.[20]

For a time, Shinn was the largest land owner in Pope County, with holdings of several thousand acres. He was also a property developer in Russellville, with the J. L. Shinn Addition in eastern Russellville bearing his name to this day.[21]

One of the earliest promoters and, for a time, one of the directors[22] of the LR&FS Railroad, Shinn donated land for a railway station and right-of-way through Russellville.[23] Much of the growth of Russellville can be attributed to the railroad with many of the business people of Norristown, Arkansas|Norristown and Dover, Arkansas|Dover moving to Russellville.

Shinn also supported the Dardanelle and Russellville Railroad (D&R), granting it the right to run across lands that he owned in Pope County.[24] A 4.8-mile (7.7 km) shortline that still exists, D&RR runs from Russellville to the north bank of the Arkansas River at North Dardanelle, Arkansas|North Dardanelle, across from Dardanelle, Arkansas. At some point, Shinn came to own the ferry steamer, Martha, at that time one of the largest in Arkansas, and, together, the ferry and the shortline railroad provided a transportation link for the crops south of the river—at that time, largely cotton—to the railroad freight depot in Russellville.

In the 1870s, a group of affluent Russellville leaders, including Shinn, organized as the Russellville Printing and Publishing Association and established The Russellville Democrat, a weekly newspaper that assured its readers in its January 28, 1875, inaugural issue that "it is placed on a firm basis and will be a permanent thing." Initially a weekly four-page newspaper, through consolidations and name changes, it evolved into a daily paper that today is The Courier.[25]

Russellville's First Christian Church (Russellville, Arkansas) sits on land that was once owned by Shinn where the congregation had enjoyed picnics in a grove of trees. Shinn was a charter member and was selected, by lot, as one of the first deacons when the church was formally organized on January 29, 1882. The unassuming church building that exists to this day began as a single-story wooden structure built in 1885 after the congregation had met in the Masonic Hall for three years. After the construction loan was paid off, Jacob and Martha Shinn turned the deed to the property over to the congregation on February 28, 1889. One of the fourteen large Gotic stained glass windows has "Mr. & Mrs. J. L. Shinn" inscribed on the lower portion of the window.[26][27]

After the LR&FS railroad was completed through Russellville, Shinn was very involved in the effort to move the county seat from Dover to Russellville, which succeeded, after several attempts, in 1887. On March 19, 1887, an election was held on whether to move the county seat to Russellville or to Atkins, Arkansas. Russellville was selected by a margin of 128 votes out of 2,670 total votes cast.[28]

As an incentive for the move of the county seat to Russellville, Shinn and 15 other men provided a $50,000 bond for the construction of a new courthouse and jail within 12 months at no cost to the county or taxpayers on city center lots donated by Shinn.[29] A similar bond was also offered by leaders in Atkins.

Along with his other civic accomplishments, Shinn was a sponsor of the city's first public school system, donating sixteen lots and building a school. He was member of the school board for many years up until his death.[30]

Shinn was the president of the Melrose Manufacturing Company, established in 1882, which owned and operated a cotton mill in Russellville that manufactured rope and twine.[31] While the mill operated for several years, interest accumulating on a large debt incurred by construction and equipment purchases consumed the plant's profits and sapped its financial strength. Shortages of fuel for the steam boiler and barrels for shipping its products of rope and twine halted operation several times. A fire in December 1888 destroyed machinery and products, completely halting production, though the mill was subsequently rebuilt and equipment replaced. In January 1891, a sale of the mortgage transferred ownership of the mill to parties outside of Arkansas, with the mill equipment eventually shipped to another state and many local citizens losing their investment.[32]

With the failure of the Melrose Cotton Milling Company, Jacob Shinn suffered a financial loss of nearly $60,000, with a continuing decline in his wealth in subsequent years.[33]

In 1890, Jacob and Ed Shinn filed for an injunction to prevent the Dardanelle Pontoon Bridge Company from building a bridge across the Arkansas River at Dardanelle.[34] The subsequent construction of the pontoon bridge rendered Shinns' ferry obsolete. Shinn later sued for damages and, in winning, was awarded $5,612—equivalent to about $186,500 in 2023 dollars—enough to bankrupt the pontoon company which was subsequently sold to raise enough money pay Shinn.[35]

Nominated mayor of Russellville on March 6, 1899—and subsequently elected—Jacob L. Shinn died at the age of 72 of typhoid fever just five months later.[36]

References

  1. ↑ Shinn, Josiah H. (1903). The History of the Shinn Family in Europe and America. Chicago, Illinois: The Genealogical and Historical Publishing Company. pp. 165–166, 374–376.
  2. ↑ "Died (Samuel W. Mason obituary)". The Russellville Democrat. No. 25, Ninth Year. The Russellville Printing Association. July 12, 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 22 February 2023. Capt. (Simpson) Moffett died at San Antonio on the march to Mexico...
  3. ↑ West, D. Porter (1906). D. Porter West's Early history of Pope county; a story. Pope County, Arkansas. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 30 December 2022. Many never returned, Capt. Symp Moffit never returned. Going to Mexico at that time was harrowing to think of much less to face an infuriated foe. No railroads, no telegraphs. After a battle, it took months to get particulars..{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ↑ Herdon, Dallas Tabor (1922). Centennial History of Arkansas. Chicago, Little Rock: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 635–636. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Arkansas Mounted Rifles [Mexican War]". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "J. L. Shinn". The Russellville Democrat. No. 45, Vol. II. James E. Battenfield and B. F. Job. December 7, 1876. Retrieved 21 February 2023. For more than twenty years Mr. Shinn has been a merchant of our town. Commencing business here some time about the year 1854 with but a very small capital—less, perhaps, than the fast young man of now a days would require to sport a broad cloth suit, diamond ring or pin, and gold watch and chain—he has by close attention to business, by honorable dealing, and by close economy steadily built up his business until he may now properly be ranked among the most prosperous, substantial and enterprising merchants in all the state. From a small, dingy 18x24 little trading shop, his business has now become the handsome, two story, 50x90 brick store on the corner of Main and River streets, which would be a credit to the capital of our state. This building stands over the identical spot where Mr. S. sold his first dollars worth of goods and was finished only last May.
  7. ↑ West, D. Porter (1906). D. Porter West's Early history of Pope county; a story. Pope County, Arkansas. p. 9. Retrieved 30 December 2022. The situation is most beautiful, being a small prairie, dotted all over with nice little groves of trees.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ↑ "Russellville Downtown Historic District". National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved 16 February 2023. It is said that at a town picnic on July 4, 1847, it was decided that the new settlement which consisted of a general store and five houses should be given a name. They determined the name should be either Russellville, after Dr. Thomas Russell, largely because he had the first home with brick chimneys and was a doctor, or Shinnville, after Jacob L. Shinn, who established the first general store in the settlement. The results of the election to name the town were seven votes for Russellville and only five for Shinnville.
  9. ↑ "Thomas Russell, M. D." The Russellville Democrat. No. 22, 12th year. Russellville, Arkansas: The Democrat Printing Company. June 18, 1885. p. 3. Retrieved 2 March 2023. About the year 1842, when but a small hamlet, this place was named, by a majority vote of its citizens, Russellville, in honor of Doctor Thomas Russell, who was at the time one of the principal landowners.
  10. ↑ "U. S. Mail Proposals". Arkansas State Gazette. No. 15 Vol. XXIII. Little Rock, Arkansas: William E. Woodruff. March 23, 1842. p. 1. Retrieved 25 February 2023. Leave Washington every Saturday at 6 a. m., arrive at Russellville every Monday by 6 p.m.... Leave Russellville every Tuesday at 6 a.m., arrive at Washington every Thursday by 6 p.m.
  11. ↑ "Proposals for carrying the mails of the United States". Arkansas True Democrat. No. 22, Vol III. Little Rock, Arkansas: A. H. Rutherford. February 11, 1846. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2023. Leave Camden every other Friday at 6 a. m., arrive at Russellville next Sunday by 6 p.m.... Leave Russellville every other Monday at 6 a.m., arrive at Washington next Wednesday by 6 p.m.
  12. ↑ "Dr. Spencer's Vegetable Pills". Arkansas State Gazette. No. 50 Vol XXiX. Little Rock, Arkansas: W.E. Woodruff and T.J. Pew. November 9, 1848. p. 4.
  13. ↑ Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971, The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record of Appointment of Postmasters; 1832-Sept. 30,1971; Record Group: Records of the Post Office Department; Record Group Number:28 Series: M841; Roll Number: 8
  14. ↑ Boyette, Gene W. (1990). Hardscrabble Frontier: Pope County in the 1850s. Lanhan - New York - London: University Press of America. pp. 52–53, 181. ISBN 0819177083. Retrieved 21 February 2023. Pope County Collectors Book, 93-94
  15. ↑ United States Federal Census; Year: 1850; Census Place: Pope, Arkansas; Roll: 29; Page: 274a
  16. ↑ United States Federal Census; Year: 1860; Census Place: Illinois, Pope, Arkansas; Roll M653_48; Page:711; Family History Library Film: 803048
  17. ↑ "A Substantial Improvement". The Russellville Democrat. No. 2, Vol II. Russellville, Arkansas: James E. Battenfiels and B. F. Jobe. February 3, 1876. p. 4. Retrieved 21 February 2023. The handsome and commodious new store house of Mr. J. L. Shinn on the corner of Main and River is now almost ready for use, and is indeed a substantial improvement to the town. The building is constructed of brick, with tin roof, and is fifty by ninety. The proprietor will occupy the two store rooms on the ground floor, which he will fill with a tremendous stock of goods in a short time; he will also use the second floor of one room for clothing, furnishing goods, notions, etc. The second story over the corner room is divided into offices, of which there are six, as nice, well ventilated and light as can be found in the State.
  18. ↑ "Local Affairs". The Russellville Democrat. No. 15, Vol. I. Russellville, Arkansas: The Russellville Printing Association. May 6, 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 21 February 2023. Mr. J. L. Shinn is having his old store house on the corner of Main and River rolled back, to make room for his new brick building, which will be more commodious to accommodate his business.
  19. ↑ "Russellville Downtown Historic District". National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved 16 February 2023. In 1875 Shinn built the first brick building... in Russellville
  20. ↑ "Arkansas's Iliad". The New York Herald. No. 13189. James Gordon Bennett Jr. September 30, 1872. p. 7. Retrieved 22 February 2023. (Jacob L. Shinn Interview) It's a discouraging thing, I declare. Dr. Russell started our place (meaning Russellville) about 25 years ago, but I put most of the life into it within the past three years, having had the good fortune to make some money, the whole of which I planted right on the spot... the newspaper published by my brother-in-law, Battenfield... the newspaper office, press and all is burned... I am afraid to stay with my goods. We had the prettiest little place in the State... and now the militia is eating us up. The whole of these expenses must come out of the county; they take our stores and pay us in our own scrip, turn their horses and mules into our fields, and it's all because the Governor will not take the responsibility of removing that man Dodson, the Sheriff.
  21. ↑ Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Chicago and Nashville: The Southern Publishing Company. 1891. p. 206. Retrieved 22 February 2023. J. L. Shinn's addition is the largest, and most important, embracing the most desirable territory and affording opportunities to home seekers seldom equaled. It is probable Mr. Shinn has done more than any other one man to build up Russellville's interests.
  22. ↑ "Stockholders Meeting". Fort Smith Weekly Herald. No. 31, Vol. II. John Wheeler. January 30, 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 22 February 2023. At a meeting of stockholders of the Little Rock and Fort Smith railroad company, held on yesterday, the following named persons were elected directors:.. James L. Shinn
  23. ↑ "Russellville Downtown Historic District". National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved 16 February 2023. He was one of the early promoters of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad line... He pledged money and donated eleven acres of land for a railroad station and right-of-way through Russellville.
  24. ↑ "Dunford v. Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad Company". Cases Determined in the Supreme Court of Arkansas. Little Rock: State of Arkansas. 1927. pp. 1036–1042. Retrieved 22 February 2023. The railroad offered in evidence a certain contract between itself and Shinn, which contemplated the operation of a ferry-boat across the Arkansas River near Dardanelle, and, among other considerations for this agreement, was the right granted to the railroad to run the line of the railroad across 'all such lands as the party of the first part (Shinn) now owns in the said county of Pope..,'
  25. ↑ "About The Russellville Democrat". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 22 February 2023. The weekly newspaper was created by a group of affluent townsmen looking to unify the people of Pope County. These town leaders were J. L. Shinn, President; George E. Howell, Vice-President; J. F. Munday, Secretary; and M. L. Baird, Treasurer.
  26. ↑ Graves, Cathy (February 2020). "A Cornerstone of Faith and Community". About the River Valley. Russellville, Arkansas: One14 Productions, Inc. XV (1): 8–13. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  27. ↑ "First Christian Church" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. April 7, 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2023. The church is the oldest active church building in Russellville and an excellent example of the Late Gothic Revival style. First Christian Church's 14 narrow, pointed stained-glass windows and pointed portico arches, steep gabled roof, and cruciform sanctuary pattern are characteristics of this style.
  28. ↑ "Election Abstract". The Democrat. Russellville, Arkansas. 23 March 1887. p. 3. 1399 for Russellville, 1271 for Atkins
  29. ↑ "The Court-House Question". The Russellville Democrat. No. 30, 12th year. Russellville, Arkansas. September 1, 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 23 February 2023. Know all men by these presents that we J. L. Shinn. H. J. Wilton, W. J. White, J. M. White. W. A. Winn, J. M. Luker, J. E. Battenfield. G. E. Howell, J.T. Fowler, T. M. Wyatt, W. H. Hill, J. W. Welle, J. A. Erwin. A. T. Davis, T. C. Smith, L. M. Smith, acknowledge ourselves to owe and be indebted for the use of Pope county to...
  30. ↑ "Russellville Downtown Historic District". National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  31. ↑ Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Chicago and Nashville: The Southern Publishing Company. 1891. p. 206. Retrieved 22 February 2023. Perhaps the most important industry is that of the Melrose Manufacturing Company, of which J. L. Shinn is president; J. M. Haney, superintendent, and J. E. Battenfield, secretary and treasurer, and which gives employment to from fifty to seventy-five operatives. Incorporated in 1882, the annual business has shown a decided rise each year. The plant is situated on the line of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, and occupies a one-story brick building 52x252 feet in dimensions, with a boiler-room 24x50 feet. The officers of the company are business men of recognized ability. Rope and twine are manufactured.
  32. ↑ "Russellville's Opportunity". The Russellville Democrat. No. 12 Vol. 17. Russellville, Arkansas: Democrat Printing Company. April 16, 1891. p. 1. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  33. ↑ "Russellville's Ticket—Nominee for Mayor Once the Wealthiest Man in the County". The Arkansas Democrat. No. 145 Vol 28. Little Rock, Arkansas: Arkansas Democrat Company. March 8, 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 23 February 2023. The most prominent man, Mr. J. L. Shinn, is an old residenter of this place, once the wealthiest man in the county, but now of very limited means, being subjected to a great loss by the failure of the Melrose Cotton Milling Company several years ago, when it was estimated he lost nearly $60,000. His financial decline has been steady ever since he could not overcome this great loss. He once owned large land interests in the town and has spent thousands of dollars in advertising the city. He also made it possible for this district to erect one of the finest public school buildings in the state. As a church member he is as zealous a worker as you may find, the First Christian Church, of Russellville, being built almost entirely through his donations.
  34. ↑ "Local Lines". The Russellville Democrat. No. 41, Sixteenth Year. Russellville, Arkansas. October 30, 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  35. ↑ "Happenings Round About". The Russellville Democrat. No. 5 Vol. 19. Russellville, Arkansas. February 23, 1893. p. 3. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  36. ↑ "Mayor Shinn Dead". The Arkansas Democrat. No. 281 Vol 28. Little Rock, Arkansas: Arkansas Democrat Company. August 17, 1899. p. 1. Retrieved 22 February 2023. Mayor J. L. Shinn... died last night from a prolonged attack of typhoid fever... once the richest man in Pope county. Reverses came in 1890.

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