For twenty-two years this gentleman has carried on agricultural pursuits on Camas prairie and is now the owner of one of the finest farms that adorn this section of the state. He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1853, a son of Jacob and Mary Louisa (Swarts) Bingman, also natives of the Keystone state. The father was a farmer and a charcoal burner, and at the time of the civil war he enlisted in his country’s service as a defender of the Union. He was a drum major and belonged to Company E, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until injured, when he was honorably discharged. He lived to be seventy-five years of age, and died in 1882, his wife passing away when seventy-four years of age. They were the parents of fourteen children, and their three eldest sons, James, George and Charles, entered the Union army. James laid down his life on the altar of his country. He was taken prisoner, and after suffering all the hardships and privations of life in Andersonville, he passed away. Ten of the family still survive.
Mr. Bingman of this review was educated in the public schools of his native state, and since ten years of age has not only earned his own living but gave his wages to his father until he had attained his majority. Leaving the Keystone state, he then went to Michigan, where he was employed as a farm hand until 1877, when, hoping to take advantage of the government’s offer of land, he came to Idaho and entered one hundred and sixty acres on Camas prairie, one of the richest agricultural districts in the entire northwest. The farm is conveniently and pleasantly located four miles north of Grangeville and thereon he has built a good house and barn and made other substantial improvements. Some of the land has been transformed into rich fields, giving evidence of abundant harvests, and the other is used as pasture lands for his cattle, horses and hogs. Both as a general grain farmer and stock-raiser he has met with good success, being a very industrious, energetic man, which qualities are the elements of prosperity.
In 1883 Mr. Bingman returned east, and on the 14th of February, 1888, married Miss Rose G. White, by whom he has one child. May Alice. They have since resided on the farm and are widely and favorably known in the community. Mr. Bingman exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy. He was a participant in the Nez Perce war and did duty at Mount Idaho and the Grangeville stockade, and was also at the battle of Clearwater. The days of Indian hostilities being past, he has since zealously labored to promote all interests calculated to benefit the community, and his public spirit would make him a valued citizen in any community.