David Dinning

DINNING, NICOL, STEEL, ROSS, COCHRANE

Posted By: Polly
Date: 11/15/2006 at 20:59:06

DAVID DINNING

Connected with the development of the rich coal deposits of Iowa, David Dinning is now accounted one of the most prosperous business men of Cincinnati, Iowa. At the age of fourteen years he started out in life for himself, and though but a boy from that time forward he earned his own living, and whatever success he has since achieved is a direct result of his own labors. He was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, on the 27th of April, 1859, and is a son of Matthew and Martha (Nicol) Dinning, who were also natives of Scotland. His paternal grandfather, Hugh Dinning, was a son of Matthew Dinning, who was a sexton, or Scottish beagle. His marked characteristics made him the subject of many anecdotes which are told in Dean Ramsey's "Anecdotes of the Scottish Worthies." The parents of our subject had ten children, of whom five are now living and are residents of Cincinnati. The father and mother came to the United States in 1884, taking up their abode in Cincinnati, Iowa, where Mr. Dinning is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-six years. His wife, however, passed away in 1890 at the age of fifty-nine years.

David Dinning was the first of the family to come to America. He crossed the Atlantic in 1880 when twenty-one years of age, believing that he might better his financial condition in the new world with its broader business opportunities. He had gained a fair education in the schools of Scotland, and at the age of eleven years had begun to mine coal. After a short duration following his arrival in the United States, he came to Appanoose county, Iowa, where he has since lived. For two years he was employed as a coal miner at Centerville, and in August, 1883, he came to Cincinnati, where he obtained similar work, but his ability soon won him promotion and he was made manager of the Cincinnati Joint Stock Company in control of the Appanoose mine, which position he continued to fill until 1888. In that year, with three of his brothers and two of his brothers-in-law, he formed a partnership under the name of the Thistle Coal Company, and they began the development of the Thistle coal mine, sinking a shaft and carrying on the work with energy. In 1892 Mr. Dinning, associated with David Steel, purchased the interest of all the other partners and now these two gentlemen are in control of three paying mines, the second one being known as the Thistle Mine No. 2, and the third, The Merchants mine, known as Thistle Mine No. 3. Annually under their supervision a large amount of coal is taken from the earth and placed upon the markets, where it commands a good price, and brings to the mine operators a desirable financial return for their labor.

In 1881 Mr. Dinning was united in marriage to Miss Jane Ross, also a native of Scotland, and to them were born four children: Mary Belle, now the wife of J. A. Cochrane, doctor of dental surgery at Cincinnati, Iowa; Matthew and Martha, both of whom are deceased; and George, who completes the family. The parents are zealous members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Dinning is a Royal Arch Mason. In his political views he is a Republican, but the demands of his business give him no time for seeking public office. His career proves that the only true success in life is that which is accomplished by personal effort and consecutive industry. It proves that the road to success is open to all young men who have the courage to tread its pathway, and the life record of such a man should serve as an inspiration to the young of this and future generations, and teach by incontrovertible facts that success is ambition's answer.

source: Biographical & Genealogical History of Appanoose & Monroe Counties, Iowa; New York, Lewis Publishing Co.; 1903