Beniah Dimmitt

As printed in 1901

ENIAH DIMMITT, a gentleman of high educational attainments, is superintendent of schools of Wapello county, Iowa, and is serving as such in the most efficient manner. He has great natural ability as an instructor and received training in high class institutions for educational work. He was born in Highland township, Wapello county, Iowa, in 1864, and is a son of the late Beniah Dimmitt, Sr.

Beniah Dimmitt, Sr., settled in Highland township, in 1844, having come from Indiana. He was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, and lived here until his death in 1875. He was married here to Elizabeth Padgett, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1827, and is now living in Ottumwa, at the age of seventy-four years. This union resulted in the following offspring: Austin; Laura; Olive; Lincoln; Beniah; Samuel; Tolbert, and Lada. Austin died in 1884, at the age of about thirty years. Laura resides at Ottumwa with her mother. Olive died in 1886, having been married, in 1885, to George Phillips, who was formerly county superintendent of schools and is now located at Ottumwa, in the employ of the C. B. & Q. Railroad Company. Lincoln resides in Dahlonega township, Wapello county. Samuel resides with his wife on the old family homestead in Highland township. Tolhert is employed in the main office of the Western Union Telegraph Company, at Chicago, Illinois. Lada is deceased.

Beniah Dimmitt was reared in this county and attended Mrs. Peck's Normal School, where he completed a four-year course in 1885. He then followed the profession of teaching four or five years in Wapello county, after which he was superintendent of schools at Richland, Keokuk county, for three years. He resigned to attend the Iowa State Normal School at Cedar Falls, from which institution he was graduated in 1894. In that year he went to Hopkins, Missouri, where he served as principal of schools for five and a half years. In 1899 he was elected superintendent of schools of Wapello county, Iowa, succeeding Joseph Parks, and this office he has since filled in a most creditable manner. In the summer of 1896 he spent some months in psychological work in Clark University at Worcester, Massachusetts, and has also held positions as instructor in various institutes during the summer. He stands very high in his profession, and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Ottumwa. He resides with his mother and sisters at No. 318 West Maple avenue, Ottumwa.

In politics Mr. Dimmitt is a Democrat, although his family is mainly Republican. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; a Mason, belonging to the Commandery, K. T., at Ottumwa, and to Moila Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of St. Joseph, Missouri. He is a member of the State Teacher's Association. A portrait of Mr. Dimmitt accompanies this mention of his life.

As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.