Augustus E. Dinet was born in Delle, France in April 1851 and came to this country when he was about 19 years old. He spent some time in Iowa before moving to Illinois, where he settled in Joliet as a grocery store clerk. He married Emma Katherine McAllister in 1885. They had a son, Eugene (1887-1970).
For a time, they lived in Odell, Illinois, before returning to Joliet around 1890. There he founded A. E. Dinet & Co., a fashionable department store. His reputation grew there to become the finest clothing house in the city. He carried only the finest quality goods and even went so far as to guarantee their quality. In 1896 it was noted that he would “keep in repair, free of charge, any suit we sell for a year.” Around 1903 he joined with Joseph F. Nachbour to form Dinet, Nachbour & Co. They were in business together until around 1927-28 when the store burned down in the winter. By November 1928, however, the business was rebuilt as Dinet & Co.
A. E. Dinet and his family started coming to the White Lake area around 1900, where he became active in the community. He was a member of the White Lake Yacht and Golf Club. He turned his hobby of gardening into a business, operating as Bon Temp Gardens in the 1920-30s, selling flowers and trees that he raised at his summer home on South Shore Drive.
A. E. Dinet died in Illinois in April 1936. His wife Katherine died in October 1937.
Son Eugene had joined the family business around 1910 as secretary when it was Dinet, Nachbour & Co. He was treasurer by 1916. By 1940 he was listed as president of Dinet & Co. Indications are that Eugene was still coming to the area as late as 1959.
