When Capt. James Dinkins was born on 18 April 1845, in Madison, Mississippi, United States, his father, Alexander Hamilton Dinkins, was 29 and his mother, Cynthia Dinkins Springs, was 24. He married Susan Emeline Hart on 15 November 1866, in Canton, Madison, Mississippi, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in Mississippi, United States in 1870 and Canton, Madison, Mississippi, United States in 1880. He died on 19 July 1939, in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States, at the age of 94, and was buried in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States.