Mr. Dinsmore then retired from the council, having sat as reeve at this time for two years. On the 27th day of March, 1876, was organized the Blanshard Mutual Fire Insurance Co., on whose board of directors was Mr. Dinsmore, and which position he has retained, with the exception of one or two years, ever since. In 1885, if I remember right, he was again a candidate for the reeve's chair, his opponent being Wm. Hutchings, whom he defeated. He held the reeveship on this occasion for two years, when he retired. This was his last appearance on the political stage of the municipality, having been in the harness almost continually from 1853 up to 1887, a period of thirty-four years.

We must now draw this imperfect biography to a close, Mr. Dinsmore, at the age of seventy-eight, is still strong and hearty. At his best he was never robust looking, but his muscles seemed like wires of steel. He was scarcely ever fatigued. Prolonged or severe labor affected him but little, and he had his share of both. In all his business relations he was prompt and strictly honorable. No man, during his whole career as an auctioneer, could ever accuse him of favoritism or dishonorable conduct. In the making of his accounts he rarely made mistakes, and he had to settle the whole transactions of a sale, amounting to hundreds of dollars, sometimes under the greatest annoyance. He knew men well and could not be imposed on. For a person naturally impetuous and energetic, all his business was transacted with coolness and calm deliberation He had a wide circle of acquaintances, and as matter of course received many visitors, all of whom he entertained most hospitably. His independence was one of the strongest features in his character. He never decided a question, or was biased in any way by the opinions of other men, no matter what may have been their standing in society; be they prophets, priests or kings, all were alike to him. Men stood high or low in his estimation on the same grade as their manhood. Under the greatest provocation he preserved his equanimity. There appared to be no excitable qualities in his nature that could be touched by the vilest asperities of his traducers. This was one of the factors that gave him power.

He was Conservative in politics, but not intolerant. The democratic feeling which was strong in his nature had a subduing effect on his political thought; so much so that he would never sacrifice what he believed to be the interests of his country to any particular exigency arising in his party. He was strongly attached to his family and to his home, and would endure great hardship that they might be comfortable and happy. But to say that this man had no faults would be to say that he was more than human. He had faults and many great defects indeed. But his defects reacted upon himself rather than on those around him. We conceive, however, it is no part of the biographer to array the weak points of prominent men before the public eye. Nay, we rather conceive that the duty of the biographer is to place before his readers the good, the noble, and the true, that those coming after may take pattern by their conduct, and emulate their virtues.