WILLIAM W. DINSMORE. Among the leading citizens of Washington county, the sons of Erin have ever held a prominent position. The original Dinsmore family were natives of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish descent, and from that fair land James Dinsmore immigrated to America, first locating on Miller's run, Allegheny county, Penn., afterward, about 1798, moving to Canton township, Washington county. He had two sons - John and James - also several daughters. John was married to Jane Carr, and settled in Canton township, this county, where five children were born to them, namely: William, James, John, Robert and Mary. James Dinsmore (son of James and father of William W.) was born March 4, 1782, in Canton township, this county, and in 1802 was united in marriage with Hester Hamilton, who was born March 6, 1784, a daughter of James and Mary (Renick) Hamilton. Both families were early and prominent settlers of Canton township. To this union children were born as follows: Robert, February 13, 1806; Rebecca, January 30, 1808; Mary, January 6, 1810; Elizabeth, September 22, 1812; James, November 8, 1815; John, July 25, 1818; Alexander W., April 26, 1820; William W., December 3, 1822; and Sarah A., September 8, 1824. Mr. Dinsmore removed to Mt. Pleasant township, where he followed farming very successfully. He was prominent and influential both in the Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school (being a member and regular attendant of both), and served for many years as superintendent of the latter. They brought up their children in strict conformity to the tenets of the church. The father died November 15, 1831, from the effects of being thrown from a young horse. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Dinsmore, although in delicate health, cared for and educated her children, sending her sons James and Alexander to college to prepare for the ministry. She died April 13, 1859, in her seventy-fifth year. James Dinsmore was an uncompromising and enthusiastic champion of temperance. About the year 1830 Rev. Anderson D. D., commenced advocating the cause of temperance, and Mr. Dinsmore was among the first to practice it. About that time, being in want of a barn (in those days they were all built of logs), he told some of his neighbors that he was going to have a "barn raising," and that no whisky was to be used in the work. In reply to this it was intimated to him that the men would not raise the barn without whisky. "I will try it anyhow," was Mr. Dinsmore's laconic reply, and he did so; he not only tried it, but succeeded; and it is a historical fact that this was the first barn in the country raised without the use of alcoholic liquors. To this record his son, William W., adds the following: "And I, James Dinsmore's son, am three-score and ten years old, and have yet to take my first dram. I have not chewed an ounce of tobacco, or smoked the bulk of one cigar yet, and I do not feel like breaking my record now." William W. Dinsmore was born on the home place in Mt. Pleasant township, and attended school until about seventeen years of age; he then took charge of the old homestead. On October 7, 1847, Mr. Dinsmore was married to Miss Mary Jane Maxwell, who was born January 11, 1829, daughter of James and Margaret (Greer) Maxwell. The young couple first settled on the old homestead, two or three years later purchasing the farm in Hopewell township, which is the present home of our subject. It contains 172 acres, and is known as the best farm on the Washington and Wellsburgh roads. In 1875 he purchased 163 acres in another part of Hopewell township, and both farms have been improved and cultivated to the utmost extent. Mr. Dinsmore is a great admirer of fine horses, devoting much attention to raising them. For many years he was a teacher in the Sabbath-school, but has recently given up his class,and he also served many years as a church trustee, contributing liberally, as well, to the support of the cause. He is an intelligent man, a great reader and a close student of current events, and has always been energetic and thrifty. Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore both united with the Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church in early youth, taking an active part in both church and Sabbath-school work. She died August 7, 1889, leaving several children, of whom the following is a brief record: Margaret Jane, born November 10,1848, is the wife of W. M. Dinsmore, of Canton township (they have four children, William M., Mary Daisy, Sarah Adeline and Helen R.); Hetty Amanda, born December 7, 1850, was married to Luther Lawton, of Cross Creek township (they have the following children: John Orr, Mary Luella, Sarah Bessie and Paul Hubert); James Maxwell, born September 1, 1853, married Flora Donaldson (their children are Grace Walker, Mary Josephine, Robert Edwin and William Lloyd); William Benjamin Franklin, born July 26, 1857, is living at home, unmarried; Mary Lou, born October 16, 1859, was united in marriage with J. O. Ely, May 10, 1888 (she died May 10, 1890); Robert Addison, born March 17, 1864, studied dentistry and located in Cumberland county, Ohio, but moved to Cleveland, where on November 5, 1891, he was married to Miss Virgie Green (he is now practicing in Cleveland, Ohio); Emma Rebecca, born September 1, 1866, married J. O. Ely, September 1, 1891, and they reside in Chicago, Ill., where is practicing dentistry. Mrs. Dinsmore was much loved and esteemed as a good, kind-hearted Christian woman, possessing an unbounded influence for good. Her death was deeply mourned by her family and may friends.

Text taken from page 568 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Linda Vourlogianes of Petaluma, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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