Lincoln County, West Virginia    Biography of Joe Witcher DINGESS

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Submitted by Karen Richter, <KRic689317@cs.com>
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II
page 292

JOE WITCHER DINGESS: 

One of the younger members of the Cabell County bar, who has just entered
upon the practice of his profession a Huntington, with every promise of
attaining a leading place therein in the future, is Joe Witcher Dingess. He
was born at Hamlin, Lincoln County , West Virginia, March 8, 1900, and is a
son of Jerry Witcher and Belle (Hainor) Dingess. 

    Jerry Witcher Dingess, now a resident of Huntington, was born April 8,
1879, near Hamlin, West Virginia, and was reared on a farm in Lincoln
County, where he received a rural school education. He was married in that
county, and as a young man formed a connection with the American Book
Company, working for that concern's interests in Lincoln County until 1901
and then removing to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1905 he located at
Huntington, being still identified with the same company, but in 1908
severed his connection there-with to become district manager, covering the
south-eastern states, for the Columbus Heating and Ventilating Company of
Columbus, Ohio, a position which retained until 1912. In that year he was
appointed postmaster of Huntington, during President Wilson's
administration, but resigned his office in 1917 to accept a position wit the
John C. Winston Book Company of Philadelphia. He is in the educational
department of this company, and while his home remains at Huntington, his
territory is the entire United States. As a democrat Mr. Dingess has been
prominent in the ranks of his party, and in the past has been candidate for
mayor of Huntington and for state senator, but met with defeat for the
offices because of his residence in a strong republican district. He is a
devout member of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church of Huntington.  Mr. Dingess
assisted in the organization of the old Westmoreland Country Club, of which
he was a charter member. In Lincoln County he was united in marriage with
Mess Belle Hainor, who was born September 28, 1876, near St. Albans, West
Virginia, and Joe Witcher is their only child.

    The early education of Joe Witcher Dingess was secured in the public
schools of Huntington, and after his graduation from high school in 1917, he
attended Washington and Lee University, taking a full course in the law
department. As a member of the class of 1921 he was given the degree of
Bachelor of Laws. While attending college Mr. Dingess was admitted to
membership in the Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Phi college fraternities. On
September 27, 1921, he entered upon the practice of his profession at
Huntington , where he maintains well-appointed offices in the Ohio Valley
Bank Building. His professional career thus far has been a limited one, but
he has already attracted a good clientele and is regarded as on of the
rising young attorneys of the city.

     Politically Mr. Dingess is a democrat , and his religious connection is
with the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. He belongs to the Guyan Country Club
and the Gypay Club. During the World war he held the rank of corporal in the
Students Army Training Corps at Washington and Lee University. He is not
married.