Lewis Dininger

LEWIS DININGER.

The agricultural interests of Darke county are in charge of efficient, capable men who have given to their labor that application of scientific effort that is bound to bring the best results. Years of observance of the best methods have brought the occupation of farming forward until it is nearly on a level with the professions, and the constant improvement of farming machinery has made the harvesting of banner crops a practical surety. One of the progressive farmers of Darke county is Lewis Dininger, who has passed his entire life in tilling the soil in Greenville township, and is now the owner of 100 acres of land on the Palestine road, about four miles from Greenville, to the west. He was born in a log house on this farm, which then belonged to his father, March 30, 1840, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Swank) Dininger.

The Dininger family originated in Germany, where its members were principally engaged in agricultural lines, but the grandfather decided to try his fortunes in the United States, and left the Fatherland for this country in a sailing vessel. While on the ocean he contracted an illness, and died and was buried at sea. After their arrival in America, the family became scattered, three daughters remaining in Baltimore, and three sons and one daughter making their way to Germantown, Ohio. Jacob Dininger was twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents to this country, and was still a youth when he came with his sister and brothers to Ohio. In 1837 he located in Greenville township, buying 240 acres in the timber, which he proceeded to develop, and on which he passed the remainder of his life, succeeding in removing the timber from the greater part of the property. He was married at Germantown to Margaret Swank, and to this union there were born nine children: John, Jonas, Mrs. Dorothy Helmer, Mrs. Maria Stevens and Michael, all of whom are deceased; Jacob, Lewis, Mrs. Elizabeth Beichler and Christian, who is deceased.

Lewis Dininger received ordinary educational advantages in the public schools of Greenville township, and was brought up to farming and reared to habits of honesty and industry. He early became his father's assistant, and some of the best land which he now owns is properly that he himself cleared from the timber. He remained at home until reaching the age of twenty-five years, at which time he took up a tract of eighty acres for himself, and to this he has since added one hundred acres. One of his community's old and honored citizens, Mr. Dininger well merits the respect and esteem in which he is held, for his life record has been that of an upright and honorable man whose operations and activities have been carried on in a strictly legitimate and straightforward manner.

On February 8, 1866, Mr. Dininger was married to Miss Elizabeth Kerst, daughter of Samuel and Anna (Moyer) Kerst. The father of Mrs. Dininger came to Germantown, Ohio, with four brothers, from Berks county, Pennsylvania, and subsequently moved to Darke county. He spent the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits in German township, and was widely known and highly esteemed. He and his wife were the parents of seven children: Morgan, and Mrs. Sarah Qapp, residents of Greenville township; Elizabeth, who married Lwb Dininger; Angeline, who married Mr. Nogle, and is now deceased; Evan, a resident of German township; Mrs. Candy Craig and Mrs. Hattie Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Dininger have had eight children, as follows: Stella, who married J. C. Trmnp and has two children, Herbert and Charles; Anna and Chartes, who are both deceased; Elizabeth, who married Charles Henning and has two children, Thuron and Willard; Harley, who married Edith Johnson, and has two children, Donald and Elizabeth; Bessie, who married Albert Suter, and has two children, Ruth and John R.; Carl, who married Ethtl Shaw, and has had four children, Louise, Joseph, Martin and Richard, the last two being deceased, and Otto, who is single, and makes his home with his parents, being his father's assistant on the homestead farm. The members of the family are consistent attendants of the Lutheran church, in the work of which all have been prominent. In politics a Democrat, Mr. Dininger has not sought public office, but has discharged the duties of citizenship in the capacity of school director of Greenville township.

As printed in History of Darke County, Ohio (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.