Sacramento County
Biographies
ROBERT E. LEE SHINN
ROBERT
E. LEE SHINN.–On the roll of capable attorneys at the Sacramento
bar appears the name of Robert E. Lee Shinn, at present the capable city
attorney, his selection being a token of the confidence reposed in his professional
skill and ability by the public in general.
He was born in Baker County, Ore.,
December 15, 1865, a son of Oliver and Louisa (Clemson) Shinn. Oliver Shinn was born in Indiana,
then moved to Missouri, and
early in the sixties he crossed the plains with his family to Oregon,
engaged as a farmer and stock-raiser until he removed to Lassen
County, California, where he
was a farmer and stockman until his death in 1884. On this ranch in Lassen County Robert E. Lee
Shinn was reared, his education being carefully looked after by his mother, who
had been a teacher in Indiana
before her marriage. Under her
instruction he completed the grammar and academic studies. In 1885 Mr. Shinn began the study of law in
the office of his brother, continuing there, and was
duly admitted to the bar in 1892, and in 1894 he was admitted to practice in
the supreme court of California. In 1903 he located in Sacramento,
where he has since practiced law. His
appointment to the office of city attorney on September 1, 1920, was but an
expression, in a measure, of the confidence and esteem with which Mr. Shinn is
held in Sacramento.
The marriage of
Mr. Shinn united him with Miss Elva C. Roff. They are the parents of six children; Vera,
Mrs. C. J. Mahoney of Visalia; Irma L., Mrs. W. A. Sheean residing in Oakland; J. O.
residing in San Francisco; Mae, Mrs. Lester Brown of Sacramento;
Esther, the wife of Walter Mails of Oakland; and Loraine, a student. Mr. Shinn gives his allegiance to the
Republican party and fraternally is a member of the
Masons, the Elks, Chamber of Commerce and bar association. Courteous and affable in manner, the circle
of his friends is constantly broadening and he enjoys the high regard of all
with whom he comes in contact.
Transcribed 1-30-07
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 366. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Marilyn R. Pankey.