B. B. Shinn, farmer; P. O. Mattoon; owns 142 acres; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, March 10, 1824; was brought up a farmer. He married Margaret Barcalow Jan. 1, 1845; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio July 14, 1824; they have had three children; only one (G. B.) is now living; he was born in Bartholomew Co., Ind. Oct. 20, 1851. He married Cornelia M. Ricketts Feb. 11, 1872; she was born in Charleston March 19, 1853; is a daughter of Joshua Ricketts, Esq., of Ashmore Tp.; they have had three children, two of whom are now living – Nellie and O. Morton; Katie is the name of the deceased. The subject of this sketch had two other children – James, who died at the age of 22 years; a twin to the latter died in infancy. Mr. S. has held the office of Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and Town Clerk. He, in company with his wife, spent five months at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, in 1876. He was appointed by the Governor of this State as Assistant Commissioner at that exhibition; he purchased a county right for a patent farm-gate, while at that Exhibition, that is worth the attention of every farmer; it is simple and cheap, and a person does not have to alight from a load of hay or a wagon to open it; it costs no more than a common gate; the inventor was a Canadian, and, of course, it is constructed so that deep snows are no hindrance to its being opened or shut at any time without the trouble of shoveling snow; it will pay any person to travel a long distance to see this gate; there is no doubt but what they will come in general use just as fast as the people find out that there is such a simple device in existence.
