Ferral C. Dininny
Encyclopedia
Ferral Carlton Dininny was an American businessman and politician from the Southern Tier
region of New York
.
, Ireland
to the United States
and settled at Addison
, Steuben County, New York
. Among his children were William Dininny (b. 1810), Henry Ferral Dininny (b. 1815), Ferral Carlton Dininny, John W. Dininny, Owen Dininny (b. 1822) and Daniel Ensign Dininny.
Ferral C. Dininny was born in Otsego County, New York
on January 22, 1818. He received his early education in the Otsego County district schools. Later he entered the Whitesboro Institute near Utica, New York
, and finished his studies at the seminary in Lima, New York
. He resolved to study law, and entered the law office of Andrew Chatsfiels in Addison.. He was admitted to the bar in 1845 in Bath, New York
, and opened an office in Addison.
In December 1849, he married Altia F. Harford of Bedford, Westchester County, New York
.
Their only child, Ferral C. Dininny, Jr., was born in 1851.
In 1850, he was a member of the New York State Assembly
from Steuben County, New York
. Dininny was chosen Speaker
for part of the 73rd session that year when Noble S. Elderkin
of St. Lawrence County, New York
, was called away by illness in his family. (Robert H. Pruyn
of Albany also served as Speaker for part of that session.) Dininny was chosen a presidential elector in 1852, and cast his ballot for the Democratic nominee, Franklin Pierce
. He also was supervisor of Addison for 13 straight years, and became interested in the real estate business.
He was President of the Butler Colliery Company in Elmira, New York
. He was also among the owners of the Blossburg Coal Company, in Blossburg, Pennsylvania
, which obtained its charter by an act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania
, approved April 11, 1866.
Dininny moved to Elmira, New York
in 1872, and lived there in what was then known as the "Governor Randall" property on Water Street. His wife, Altia, died in 1896.
At the time of his death in July 1901, he was commonly supposed to be worth at least $1 million (about $25 million in today's dollar terms, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Historical Statistics of the United States to 1970, Table E135-166), although many believed this estimate was too conservative. F.C. Dininny, Jr., who lived in the greater New York City region, interred his parents' remains in an unknown cemetery in that area. They were subsequently moved to Kensico Cemetery
in Valhalla
, Westchester County, New York
, in 1922.
Southern Tier
The Southern Tier is a geographical term that refers to the counties of New York State west of the Catskill Mountains along the northern border of Pennsylvania. It is a loosely defined term that generally includes the counties that border Pennsylvania west of Delaware County inclusive...
region of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
His father Ferral Dininny (1785–1876) came from County CavanCounty Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and settled at Addison
Addison (town), New York
Addison is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 2,640 at the 2000 census. The name was selected to honor the author Joseph Addison....
, Steuben County, New York
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
. Among his children were William Dininny (b. 1810), Henry Ferral Dininny (b. 1815), Ferral Carlton Dininny, John W. Dininny, Owen Dininny (b. 1822) and Daniel Ensign Dininny.
Ferral C. Dininny was born in Otsego County, New York
Otsego County, New York
Otsego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. The 2010 population was 62,259. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk word meaning "place of the rock."-History:...
on January 22, 1818. He received his early education in the Otsego County district schools. Later he entered the Whitesboro Institute near Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, and finished his studies at the seminary in Lima, New York
Lima, New York
Lima, New York refers to two locations south of the City of Rochester, New York in Livingston County, New York:*Lima , New York*Lima , New YorkNote that the names of both places are pronounced like the bean, not like the capital of Peru....
. He resolved to study law, and entered the law office of Andrew Chatsfiels in Addison.. He was admitted to the bar in 1845 in Bath, New York
Bath (village), New York
Bath is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 5,641 at the 2000 census. Bath is the county seat of Steuben County. The community was named either for the English city or for Lady Bath, daughter of William Pulteney, one of the original landowners.The Village of...
, and opened an office in Addison.
In December 1849, he married Altia F. Harford of Bedford, Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
.
Their only child, Ferral C. Dininny, Jr., was born in 1851.
In 1850, he was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from Steuben County, New York
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
. Dininny was chosen Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
for part of the 73rd session that year when Noble S. Elderkin
Noble S. Elderkin
Noble Strong Elderkin was an American politician from New York. He was Speaker of the New York State Assembly in 1850.-Life:...
of St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
, was called away by illness in his family. (Robert H. Pruyn
Robert H. Pruyn
Robert Hewson Pruyn was an American lawyer, General, diplomat, and politician from Albany, New York.-Political, military, and diplomatic service:...
of Albany also served as Speaker for part of that session.) Dininny was chosen a presidential elector in 1852, and cast his ballot for the Democratic nominee, Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
. He also was supervisor of Addison for 13 straight years, and became interested in the real estate business.
He was President of the Butler Colliery Company in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
. He was also among the owners of the Blossburg Coal Company, in Blossburg, Pennsylvania
Blossburg, Pennsylvania
Blossburg is a borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,480 at the 2000 census.-History:In 1792 a party of immigrants who were building the Williamson Road from Williamsport, in Lycoming County, to Painted Post in New York under the leadership of Robert and...
, which obtained its charter by an act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, approved April 11, 1866.
Dininny moved to Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
in 1872, and lived there in what was then known as the "Governor Randall" property on Water Street. His wife, Altia, died in 1896.
At the time of his death in July 1901, he was commonly supposed to be worth at least $1 million (about $25 million in today's dollar terms, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Historical Statistics of the United States to 1970, Table E135-166), although many believed this estimate was too conservative. F.C. Dininny, Jr., who lived in the greater New York City region, interred his parents' remains in an unknown cemetery in that area. They were subsequently moved to Kensico Cemetery
Kensico Cemetery
Kensico Cemetery, located in Valhalla, Westchester County, New York, was founded in 1889, when many New York City cemeteries were becoming full, and rural cemeteries were being created near the railroads which served the city...
in Valhalla
Valhalla
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those that die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field Fólkvangr...
, Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, in 1922.
Sources
- http://www.jenforum.com/dininny/messages/7.html Dininny ancestry, at Gen Forum
- Google Book The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons & Co., Albany NY, 1858)
- http://www.joycetice.com/books/blossout.htm History of The Seven Counties, by Joyce M. Tice
- Obituary published in the Elmira Advertiser on July 25, 1901