James Denton Dinsmoor

The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc. Chicago and New York, Volume III pg 161 Submitted by Gerald Bills.

JAMES DENTON DINSMOOR With the development of the Oil district around St. Marys no name has been more prominently identified than that of Dinsmoor. James Denton Dinsmoor is associated with his brother in the firm of Dinsmoor Brothers, and their father, during his last years, was also a participant in this development. The Dinsmoor brothers do not confine their operations as producers to St. Marys, or even to West Virginia, their holdings being scattered extensively over nearly all the settled Oil districts of the Middle West.

James D. Dinsmoor has been permanently located at St. Marys for a number of years, is a banker of that city and also represents this district in the State Senate. He is of old New England ancestry, members of the family, Scotch Irish descent, having settled in New Hampshire in Colonial days. One of his ancestors was an officer in the Revolutionary war. His grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, was born in New Hampshire, and throughout his active career followed teaching and was an old fashioned and highly educated schoolmaster. For many years he was identified with the schools of Warren County, Pennsylvania, where he died. John C. Dinsmoor, father of Dinsmoor Brothers, was born in Warren County in 1837, was reared and married there, and first engaged in the lumber business. In 1872 he located at St. Petersburg in Clarion County, where he began mining coal from his own mine, and was interested in some of the pioneer oil well operations there. In 1886 he removed to the Tarkill oil field in Venango County, Pennsylvania, where he was one of the leading producers. Associated with his sons, he extended his interests to the St. Marys field of West Virginia, and in 1906 he moved to St. Marys to look after his business in this district. In 1908 he established his home at Williamstown in Wood County, where he lived until his death in 1918. As an oil producer he had interests throughout the Ohio and West Virginia fields. He was a republican, held the office of school director in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Loyal Order Of Moose. John C. Dinsmoor married Jane Holt, who was born in Warren County, Pennsylvania, in 1838, and died at St. Marys in 1906. James Denton and Lyell E. are the only two sons of this marriage and comprise the firm of Dinsmoor Brothers at St. Marys. John C. Dinsmoor married for his second wife Miss Nellie Finny, a native of Pleasants County and now living at Marietta, Ohio. She has three young children. James Denton Dinsmoor attended school in Clarion County and high school at St. Petersburg, but after the age of fifteen he turned from books and book- studies to a scene of action. For several years he was a telegraph operator and station agent with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, being on duty at Jefferson, Turkey City and other stations in Clarion County. When he was twenty Mr. Dinsmoor began his long and thorough apprenticeship in the oil industry. He began as a pumper in the fields of Clarion and Venango counties, and then successively was a driller, rig builder, tool dresser and even bad experience in the mills where the pipe and castings for oil wells are manufactured. Associated with his brother and father Mr. Dinsmoor came to St. Marys in 1901 and began buying settled oil production. Dinsmoor Brothers have for several years been by far the largest producing concern in the county, and they rank among the very largest in the entire state. Mr. Dinsmoor is a senior partner. and his word is accepted as the ultimate authority in fourteen different Oil, companies operating through Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois and Pennsylvania. He and his brother were also pioneers in the development of the oil resources of Eastern Kentucky, but they sold their interests in that state in 1919. Mr. Dinsmore is vice president and a member of the executive committee of the Keener Oil & Gas Company of Ohio. Dinsmore Brothers, whose offices are on Second Street in St. Mary, own a number of farms, two in Pennsylvania and over 1,000 acres in Peasants County. Mr. Dinsmore is vice president Of the First National Bank of St. Mary, is a. director of the People’s Bank & Trust Company Of Marietta, Ohio. and holds stock in two other banks. His home, the finest in St. Mary, is situated on a commanding eminence on Second Street. Mr. Dinsmore was elected on the republican ticket. to the State Senate in November, 1920, beginning his duties in January, 1921. During the first session he was a member of the committees on finance, mines and mining, labor and railroads, and was one of the Senate sub-committee of three which drafted the Gross Sales Tax Bill. During the war Mr. Dinsmore was ready and welcome every opportunity to contribute or aid in any way the Government in the successful prosecution of the war. He is a member of the Pleasants County Automobile Association; St. Mary Lodge No. 41, A. F. and A. M.; St. Mary Lodge No. 22, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he has been a member of the Odd Fellows since he was twenty one years of age, joining at Oil City, Pennsylvania.

In 1905, at St. Mary, he married Miss Nell Gallagher, daughter of Silas and Rosa J. (Porter) Gallagher, the latter living in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore. Silas Gallagher was a farmer who died at St. Mary, and a portion of that city occupies his old farm. Five children were, born to Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore: Carlton G., born in July, 1906; James Denton Jr., born May 1, 1908; Gordon H. born in 1912; Mary Louise, born in September, 1915; and Jane Elizabeth, born in July, 1918.. The oldest son, Carlton, is a student in the Culver Military Academy of Indiana.