(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 2 by James H. Hawley 1920) William P. Shinn, postmaster at Filer, was born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, about eight miles from Galena, in January, 1855, and is a son of Amos and Mary (Van Dyke) Shinn. The father was a native of New Jersey, while the mother was born at Monmouth, Illinois. The former left his native state when a small boy in company with his parents, who made their way to Licking county, Ohio, where the grandfather of William P. Shinn devoted his life to the occupation of farming. At a later period Amos Shinn left the old home in Ohio and removed westward to Jo Daviess county, Illinois. There he turned his attention to merchandising, which he followed for a number of years, becoming the first merchant at Warren, Illinois, following the building of the railroad. In the spring of 1869 he removed to Marshall county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1873, when he had reached the age of fifty-eight years. In 1874 the mother with her family removed to Adams county, Iowa, where she continued to make her home until called to her final rest in 1892, at the age of sixty-two years. In the early days the father had engaged in freighting out of Omaha to Denver and several times crossed the plains, meeting with all of the varied experiences and hardships incident to travel in that manner and at that period. He was in fact acquainted with every phase of pioneer life and he contributed in substantial measure to the development of the middle west. His political allegiance was given to the which party in early life, while subsequently he became a stanch champion of republican principles. William P. Shinn spent his boyhood days at Warren, Illinois, where he remained to the age of fourteen years and then accompanied his parents to Marshall county, Iowa. In that locality he grew to manhood and was closely associated with farming interests through the assistance which he rendered his father in the development and improvement of the fields at the old home place. Later he clerked in a general store at Carbon, Iowa, and afterward he engaged in business on his own account for a decade. He was likewise postmaster there for a number of years and in 1886 he entered the railway mail service, making the run between Kansas City, Missouri, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, for a period of four years. In 1890 he established a drug store at Corning, Iowa, in connection with his brother, and while thus engaged he went to Alaska, eventually, however, returning to Iowa, where he continued in the drug business until 1898. In that year he was elected to the office of county treasurer for a four years' term and acceptably filled the position, discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. Following his retirement from office he became cashier of the First National Bank ofPrescott, Iowa, and during that period he still continued in the drug business, while his association with the bank covered two years. The year 1905 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Shinn in Idaho, at which time he made his way to Shoshone, driving from that point to Twin Falls. He then entered land south of Filer, in Twin Falls county, his place of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining the town site. In September of that year he removed to his farm and began its development and improvement. Since then he has bought and sold several farms and he has also been an important factor in the upbuilding of the town of Filer. He became a member of the town site company and put forth earnest and effective effort to promotethe new town. In 1915 he was appointed postmaster and is still occupying thatposition, giving to the public excellent service in this connection. In 1873 Mr. Shinn was united in marriage to Miss Eloise Morris, a native of Ontario, Canada, and they have three children: Benoni H., Darwin A. and Juneau H. Mr. Shinn has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party and is a faithful follower of its teachings. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias and the Masons and his life exemplifies the beneficent teachings of these different organizations. His experiences have been broad and varied as he has gone from one point to another and since coming to Twin Falls county he has proven a valuable factor in the upbuilding and development of this district.