Prince Dimmitt

The adaptability of the American mind to various pursuits and different lines of thought and action is well illustrated in the career of Prince Dimmitt, of Shelbyville. He has been successively a farmer, business man and banker, and has been masterful in each undertaking, compelling Fortune to wait upon his will and minister to his triumphs by the force of his character, his business acimien and his comprehensive breadth and readiness of view. He has been quick to see and alert to seize opportunities for his advancement, and has had the ability and the industry to make the most of them when he has embraced them.

Mr. Uimmitt was born in Cooper comity, Missouri, on July.30, 1860, and was brought to Shelby county when he was but six months old. his parents becoming residents of this county at that time. He is a son of Dr. Dimmitt, now deceased, a sketch of whose life will be found elsewhere in this volume. Destined for an exalted place in the financial and business circles of the county, Mr. Dimmitt grew to manhood among its people and was edxicated in the public schools of Shelbyville, completing the high school course and being graduated from the high school in that city.

After leaving school he turned his attention to farming, although he had a leaning to business pursuits. But he lost nothing by the venture, as he applied his business instincts to his farming operations and made them highly successful. Tn 1878 he entered into partnership with his older brother Frank in the management of an extensive farm, and they conducted its operations together until 1881. He then bought his brother's interest in the property, and from that time until 1898 farmer alone. He made his farm one of the best in the county and reaped the reward of his enterprise and industry in doing this when he came to sell the place a few months ago, receiving $112.50 an acre for it, the highest price ever paid for farm land in the part of the county in which it is located.

In 1893 he was chosen vice-president of the Bank of Shelbyville, and five years later gave up farming and removed to Shelbwville. where he has ever since resided. In 1902 he rose by the choice of the directors to the presidency of the bank, and he has ably and ]irogressively filled that position until the present time (1911). Under his vigorous and enterprising management the institution has made great progress, adding considerably to the volume of its business and the number and consequence of its patrons. It is known as one of the soundest and best managed financial institutions in this part of the state and has a high rank

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Dimmitt was married on March 17, 1881, to Miss Cora E. Schotield, a daughter of Ellis and Elizabeth (Baxter) Schofield, of Palmyra, Missouri. The seven children that have blessed their union and brightened their household are all living. They are: Nora L., the wife of Wallace Quinsenberry, of Moberly, Missouri; Edith B., a teacher in the public schools in the state of Utah; Cora L., the wife of Robert Maupin, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Eula S., William P. E., Prince H., Jr.. and Fannie Agee, all of whom are still members of the parental family circle.

With a broad enduring interest in the welfare of the masses of the ])people, and l)believing firmly in their right to a controlling voice in the public affairs of the country, Mr. Dimmitt has been a lifelong Democrat, zealous and effective in the service of his party and holding high rank in its councils in the county. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he takes an active and serviceable interest in its affairs, being one of the trustees of the congregation to which he belongs and a teacher in its Sundav school. Well esteemed as a man and social companion, standing high as a citizen, and exhibiting on all occasions a deep and practical interest in the welfare of the whole comity and all its people, he is one of its most worthy, popular and representative men.

As printed in General history of Shelby County, Missouri (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.