DINGLEY, FRANK W.

DINGLEY, WILLIAMS, CORDINGLEY

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/10/2004 at 10:02:55

Biography reproduced from page 596 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Frank W. Dingley, a representative and prosperous citizen of Kossuth county, is well known in financial circles as cashier of the Algona State Bank of Algona. His birth occurred in Grant county, Wisconsin, on the 1st of October, 1866, his parents being Frank and Harriet C. (Williams) Dingley. They removed from the Badger state to Chautauqua county, New York, and in 1879 took up their abode in Delaware county, Iowa. In 1883 they came to Algona, where Mr. Dingley has been successfully engaged in the real-estate business throughout the intervening twenty-nine years. He has reached the advanced age of eighty-two years and his wife is seven years his junior.

Frank W. Dingley obtained his education in the public schools of Algona and in 1885, when a youth of nineteen, began clerking in the drug store of Dr. B. G. Forbush, in whose service he remained for two years. In 1887 he succeeded to the business and conducted the same for a period of nine years or until he sold out in 1896. At that time he became the manager for the Algona Milling Company of Algona, acting in that capacity for three years and resigning in 1899 to embark in the real-estate business. In that field of activity he remained for nine years or until 1908, when he was made assistant cashier of the Algona State Bank. Three years later he became cashier and by reason of his able discharge of the duties devolving upon him in this connection has been a recognized factor in the continued growth and success of the institution. He is likewise interested in a number of industrial enterprises of Kossuth county and also owns several fine farm properties here.

In October, 1891, Mr. Dingley was united in marriage to Miss Emma Cordingley, her father being John Cordingley, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, who served in an Ohio regiment throughout the Civil war. Our subject and his wife have two children, namely: Zada, who was born in June, 1893, and is now attending school at Notre Dame, Indiana; and Helen, born in June, 1895, who also is a student at Notre Dame.

Fraternally Mr. Dingley is identified with the Knights of Pythias, having passed through all the chairs in Lodge No. 174 at Algona. He is also a member of Algona Lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America. Ever alive to the responsibilities of citizenship, he has at all times been most public-spirited and loyal, cooperating in those movements which tend toward the material, intellectual and moral upbuilding of the community and feeling a deep interest in those things which are matters of civic virtue and civic pride. Earnest effort and intelligently directed labor have ever constituted the salient features of his business career, while his life has been governed by high principles that have gained for him the respect and good will of his fellowmen..