After spending some time in Licking and Muskingham counties, Levi Shinn returned to his father's home in Virginia, and in 1810 established the first store in what was to become Shinnstown. This son of Jonathan Shinn was called "Elder Levie" because of his position in the Church, and to deistinquish him from his uncle.
Asa Shinn married Phebe Barnes, 16 Mar 1807. See Monongalia Co., Marriage Records. In 1809, Bishop Asbury sent Asa Shinn as a station preacher to Baltimore, Maryland and in 1812-1813 to Gerogetown, D.C.
In 1813, Asa Shinn issued his first book (reprinted in 1831) , An Essay on the Plan of Salvation. In was in 1813 that Asa Shinn lost two of his children and sometime thereafter his wife. There occurrences "in conjustion with an old wound in the head caused by a fall from a tree when a mere youth, brought on a suspension of his reasoning faculties.
During this periol of deep depression, Asa Shinn returned to his father's farm in Harrison Co., Va. In 1814 Asa Shinn built a house up the hill from his brother, Levi Shinn.
"Jonathan Shinn's sons, Levi and Asa, laid out the town of Shinnstown in 1815 with three streets running parallel with the river, and at right angles to them, four cross streets. Shinnston, therefore, is the only Harrison County town that was laid out according to paln, rather then left to expand as the population demaded plots for homes. On Jan 22, 1818 the Virginia General Assemblyt chartered the town." Dorothy Davis, History of Harrison County, page 384.
The site upon which this village develooped was land purchased in 1793 by Clement and Jonathan from their brother, Levi Shinn. This was river land, a tract of 607 acr4es Levi Shinn had acquired in 1784 by preemption warrant.
Jonathan Shinn acquired the southern section, thus making him and his heirs owners of the land on which the business or main part of Shinnstown is now lacated. The northern section , or resicdential district, of East Shinnston is what was on Clemnet Shinns's land.
Shinnstown became a town in 1818 by an act of legislation. Elsder Levi Shinn was appointed the first postmaster of Shinnstown, 18th September 1818. His son, Asa (J) Shinn, served as second postmaster, 17 June 1826 to 17 June 1833.
See pg. 61, Edwards book by Lela Lillian Lones.
Asa Shinn was presiding Elder of the Pittsburg District of the Methodist Episcapal Church in 1822. Whie he was stationed in Pittsburg, Asa Shinn married Mrs. Mary Bennington (Wrenshell) Givvon, daughter of John and Mary (Bennington) Wrenshell.
By an Act of the General Council at the Pittsburg Conference in 1825, the Methodist Church made a complete re adjustment of the organization of Methodism. Many lay persons and several minisers were displeased by the change. They wanted a more democratic form of administration. Asa Shinn left the M. E. Church and with others, founded the Methodist Protestant Church. The Ohio Conference of the M. P. C. was held in 1829. About this time, Asa Shinn's second wife died and we find him at Shinnstown. No mention is made as to the lenght of this stay in Shinnstown during the depression following his wife's death.
As president of the Ohio Conference of the M. P. C. in 1829, the Pittsburg Confrence in 1831, of the General Conference at Baltimore Cin 1842, Asa Shinn became the driving force in the Methodist Protestant Church. His book, published in Philidelphia in 1840, The Benevolence and Recticude of the Supreme Being, was studied in college classes by fledgling miniterial students. Asa Shinn has been called the "Jonathan Edwards" of the Methodist Protestant Church.
Asa Shinn spent the last five years of his life in a "deep depression"/ He died 11 February 1852 at Brattleboro, Wermont.
For the children of Levi Shinn, Asa Shinn, and Elizabeth Shin Clark, see Josiah Shinn: History of the Shinn Family in Europe and America. Chicago 1903. Pages, 204, 206 and 207.
By 1830 only Elder Levi Shinn lived in Harrison County. Asa was about the business of the Methodist Protestant Church. Their brother and four sistesr had joined Sally and Edward Earl, David Edwards adn Andrew Edwards on the East side of the Mississippi River. It is possible that their mother, Sarah Parke Edwards Shinn, was with them.In the 1830 Census of Pike Co., IL, it apears that Sarah Shinn Edwards was living with William Harvey and family.
The Rev. Asa Shinn and the Rev. Levi Shinn were in Harrison Co., VA. Their sister, Ann Shinn, who married the Rev. Daniel Whiteman, may not have been living in 1830.
After spending some time in Licking and Muskingham counties, Levi Shinn returned to his father's home in Virginia, and in 1810 established the first store in what was to become Shinnstown. This son of Jonathan Shinn was called "Elder Levie" because of his position in the Church, and to deistinquish him from his uncle.
Asa Shinn married Phebe Barnes, 16 Mar 1807. See Monongalia Co., Marriage Records. In 1809, Bishop Asbury sent Asa Shinn as a station preacher to Baltimore, Maryland and in 1812-1813 to Gerogetown, D.C.
In 1813, Asa Shinn issued his first book (reprinted in 1831) , An Essay on the Plan of Salvation. In was in 1813 that Asa Shinn lost two of his children and sometime thereafter his wife. There occurrences "in conjustion with an old wound in the head caused by a fall from a tree when a mere youth, brought on a suspension of his reasoning faculties.
During this periol of deep depression, Asa Shinn returned to his father's farm in Harrison Co., Va. In 1814 Asa Shinn built a house up the hill from his brother, Levi Shinn.
"Jonathan Shinn's sons, Levi and Asa, laid out the town of Shinnstown in 1815 with three streets running parallel with the river, and at right angles to them, four cross streets. Shinnston, therefore, is the only Harrison County town that was laid out according to paln, rather then left to expand as the population demaded plots for homes. On Jan 22, 1818 the Virginia General Assemblyt chartered the town." Dorothy Davis, History of Harrison County, page 384.
The site upon which this village develooped was land purchased in 1793 by Clement and Jonathan from their brother, Levi Shinn. This was river land, a tract of 607 acr4es Levi Shinn had acquired in 1784 by preemption warrant.
Jonathan Shinn acquired the southern section, thus making him and his heirs owners of the land on which the business or main part of Shinnstown is now lacated. The northern section , or resicdential district, of East Shinnston is what was on Clemnet Shinns's land.
Shinnstown became a town in 1818 by an act of legislation. Elsder Levi Shinn was appointed the first postmaster of Shinnstown, 18th September 1818. His son, Asa (J) Shinn, served as second postmaster, 17 June 1826 to 17 June 1833.
See pg. 61, Edwards book by Lela Lillian Lones.
Asa Shinn was presiding Elder of the Pittsburg District of the Methodist Episcapal Church in 1822. Whie he was stationed in Pittsburg, Asa Shinn married Mrs. Mary Bennington (Wrenshell) Givvon, daughter of John and Mary (Bennington) Wrenshell.
By an Act of the General Council at the Pittsburg Conference in 1825, the Methodist Church made a complete re adjustment of the organization of Methodism. Many lay persons and several minisers were displeased by the change. They wanted a more democratic form of administration. Asa Shinn left the M. E. Church and with others, founded the Methodist Protestant Church. The Ohio Conference of the M. P. C. was held in 1829. About this time, Asa Shinn's second wife died and we find him at Shinnstown. No mention is made as to the lenght of this stay in Shinnstown during the depression following his wife's death.
As president of the Ohio Conference of the M. P. C. in 1829, the Pittsburg Confrence in 1831, of the General Conference at Baltimore Cin 1842, Asa Shinn became the driving force in the Methodist Protestant Church. His book, published in Philidelphia in 1840, The Benevolence and Recticude of the Supreme Being, was studied in college classes by fledgling miniterial students. Asa Shinn has been called the "Jonathan Edwards" of the Methodist Protestant Church.
Asa Shinn spent the last five years of his life in a "deep depression"/ He died 11 February 1852 at Brattleboro, Wermont.
For the children of Levi Shinn, Asa Shinn, and Elizabeth Shin Clark, see Josiah Shinn: History of the Shinn Family in Europe and America. Chicago 1903. Pages, 204, 206 and 207.
By 1830 only Elder Levi Shinn lived in Harrison County. Asa was about the business of the Methodist Protestant Church. Their brother and four sistesr had joined Sally and Edward Earl, David Edwards adn Andrew Edwards on the East side of the Mississippi River. It is possible that their mother, Sarah Parke Edwards Shinn, was with them.In the 1830 Census of Pike Co., IL, it apears that Sarah Shinn Edwards was living with William Harvey and family.
The Rev. Asa Shinn and the Rev. Levi Shinn were in Harrison Co., VA. Their sister, Ann Shinn, who married the Rev. Daniel Whiteman, may not have been living in 1830.
From the Harrison CO., West Virginia Deed Book 18, pg. 149.
"This indenture was made this 22nd day of September on theyear of our Lord one thousand eight hundred twenty six, between Amasa Shinn and Lydia his wife of Harrison County and the State of Virginia on the one part and Asa Shinn sen'r of the ocunty and state aforesaid of the other part witnesseth that the said Amasa Shinn and Lydia his wife for and consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars lawful money of Virginia the receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged have granted bargained sold ---."
Amasa was one of the first settles in Kinderhook Township, Pike County, IL. Kinderhook was hte first township west of Barry, and at that time, extended westward to the Mississippi River. Kinderhook consisted largely of Mississippi bottom land, which was hte most fertile land in Illinois. One obstacle was that no plow suitable for breaking the prairie land could be had. The sod was tough. The prairie grass grew six to twelve feet high and furnished fuel for terrible fires in the fall. Much ofthe prairie land was considered too wet (swampy) for cultivation.
The hominy block "we have in question consists of a burned out place in the top of a stump, a heavy block or pole attached to a transverse spring pole, but was run by water power instead of the regular way. This Hominy block was made and owned by Amasa Shinn, who resided in or near Kinderhook Township. Mr. Shinn would fill the block with corn at night, set it in motion, and by morning, it would be pulverized and ready to be made into bread for breakfast. There came a time, however, when Mr. Shinn and family preferred to fast for at least one meal. Squirrels were numerous in those days 0 far morethen they are at present, and one evening after Mr. Shinn had set his mill in motion as usual, a squirrel hopped upon the edge of the block and began to wistfully scrutinize the corn below. Finally he concluded to have some, and while hte hammer was up, jumped into the block and began helping himself, when the huge pounder alighted upon him. During the remainder of teh night the puonder kept regularly descending into the block thorougly mashing and mixing the squirrel and hte corn. When Mr. Shinn came down the next morning for his meal, he found a congomerate of squirrel and meal." History of Pike County, Illinois, 1880, pg. 388.
The History of The SHINN Family in Europe and America pg. 197, states that David and Hannah Shinn "moved to Adam County, Illinois in 1826." Amasa Shinn and his sister, Ruth, married first cousins, children of their father's twin brother, David Shinn.
Elizabeth Shinn Clark, youngest daughter of Jonathan Shinn by his first wife, who was unable to travel with her half siblings to Illinois in 1826, joined them in 1829. The last marriage in Harrison Co., VA, at which her husband, the Rev. Samuel Clark, officiated was June 10, 1829. Also, "Samuel Clark is a native of Harrison Co., VA, and was born Sept 22, 1826, son of Rev. Samuel Clark, deceased, who moved to this county with his family in 1829." History of Pike County, IL, 1880. Page 857.
It is not verified when, sometime before the 1830 census, that hte Rev. William Harvey and hsi wife, Ruth Shinn, came to Pike Co.