CAPTAIN ANDREW DINSMORE  

Captain Andrew Dinsmore, of Conway, N.H., was born in this town January 5, 1817, being a son of Joseph F. and Lydia  (Hart)  Dinsmore, and grandson of Stephen and Mehitable  (Frye) Dinsmore.  Elijah Dinsmore, the father of Stephen, was for many years of his life engaged in farming at Lee, N.H., his native town.  He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War.  From Lee he removed to Conway, of which place he was an early settler; and here his death occurred in the nineteenth century.  In the “Census of Pensioners,” June 1, 1840, is the name of Elijah Dinsmoor, of Conway, N.H., aged seventy-seven years, said to be then residing in the family of Fox Dinsmoor.

Stephen Dinsmoor, who spent his threescore or more years of earthly life in Conway, was engaged in agricultural pursuits, his farm being located at the Intervale.  For several years he was a Colonel in the State militia, and he served for a while as Sheriff of Carroll County.  He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church.  His wife, Mehitable Frye, was from Fryeburg, Me.  They became the parents of seven children; namely, John, Joseph, William, Stephen, Nancy, Sarah, and Polly - all of whom are deceased.

Joseph F. Dinsmore, a lifelong resident of Conway, died in 1839, aged fifty-one years. He was a farmer by occupation, a member of the Baptist church, and a firm supporter of the Democratic Party. His wife, Lydia, who was born in Conway, and was a daughter of John and Sarah (Willey) Hart, died in 1876, aged seventy-five years. Seven children were born of their union, namely: Martha, wife of Charles S. Whittaker, of Conway, born September 4, 1815, died December 4, 1877; Andrew, the special subject of this brief sketch; Eveline, born in 1821, who died at the age of eighteen years; Aurilla, deceased, who married Joseph Nute, of Conway; Captain Joseph F., deceased, who married Martha Eastman; William Freeman, who left Conway when a young man, more than sixty years ago, and has not since been heard from; and Sarah Ann, who died June 3, 1828, aged eleven months.

 Martha Eastman, above mentioned, wife of Joseph F. Dinsmore, Jr., was born December 13, 1823, and died April 23, 1877.  Her twin sister, Honoria W. Dinsmore, born December 13, 1823, married Lemuel Potterance, of Conway, and living in the State of Iowa.

 Andrew Dinsmore was educated in the public school of Conway and the academy in North Conway. Since that time he has devoted the greater part of his time to general farming, carrying on a successful business. He has taken an active interest in public matters, and has rendered his fellow-townsmen excellent service in various offices of trust.  In 1870 and 1871 he was a Representative to the New Hampshire Legislature, in which he served on the Committees on Prisons and on Finance.  He is often called upon to act as Moderator at town meetings, and for three years served as Selectman.  Politically, he is a stanch advocate of the principles promulgated by the Democratic party.  In his early manhood he joined the State militia as private in an independent artillery company and was promoted to be Captain of the company.  He was for many years a member of the I. O. O. F.   

Transcribed from:
American Series of Popular Biographies
New Hampshire Edition