John Philip Dinges, aka Philip Dinges, was born in Heidelberg, Lancaster County, PA, on December 10, 1775, the son of John William and Anna Maria Kelker Dinges, grandson of Jacob Dingus (Tinnus). He married Nancy Anna McConnell in Lebanon, PA, in 1799. Nancy was born in Lebanon Township, Dauphin County, PA, in 1778.

John Philip and Nancy Anna McConnell Dinges moved from PA to Russell County, VA, in 1803; and, sometime between 1821 and 1823, they moved to the Dingus Bluff, Wood, Scott County, VA, where they resided for the remainder of their lives. Between 1800 and 1817, they had ten children, all of whom were inexplicably given the surname of “Dingus” instead of “Dinges”, including William Dingus who was born in Cedar Creek (near Dickensonville), Russell County, VA, on March 27, 1805.

The surname of “Dingus” instead of “Dinges,” Tinnus, and other varations of this name has generally become accepted as "Dingus"

John Philip Dingus, aka Philip Dingus, died on May 10, 1831; Nancy McConnell Dingus died in about 1845; and both are buried in the John Philip and Nancy McConnell Dingus Family Cemetery on the Dingus Bluff, Wood, Scott County, VA.