BINGHAM, James
Source: Indianapolis Star, Tue 20 Aug 1940 p 14
James Bingham, 79 years old, former attorney general of Indiana and participant in many important cases during his long career as an attorney died yesterday after four years of illness. Mr. Bingham had practice law in Indianapolis since 1910 after four years of service as attorney general, two years during the administration of Governor J. Frank Hanly and two under Governor Thomas R. Marshall. He was association in practice here with his son, Remster A. Bingham, former national judge advocate of the American Legion and former secretary of the state board of law examiners. Mr. Bingham was acclaimed widely during his service as state attorney general for his campaign against the brewery-operated saloon and for his efforts toward passage and enforcement of pure food legislation. He also obtained an injunction against “rating bureau” activities of insurance companies which is said to have tended to create an insurance monopoly. Mr. Bingham had been an attorney more than ½ a century. He began his career as a teacher in the public schools when he was 15 years old. He then had had only six months’ preparation at the Valparaiso Normal School. When not yet 21 years old, he was elected superintendent of the Fountain County schools and served two years in that capacity. He prepared the first regular course of study in the common schools of the county and held one of the first grade school graduations in the state. Later he served on a committee which drafted a course of study for grade schools in the state. With Charles McCabe of Crawfordsville and Dan Simms of Lafayette, Mr. Bingham opened law offices in Covington in 1885. He was admitted to the Fountain County bar in 1887. Previously he had injured his eyesight seriously by tireless study of law and, when he was admitted to the bar, Mrs. Bingham aided him in legal work by doing all his reading. His sight improved later, however. Mr. Bingham served as Fountain County prosecutor and, in 1894, moved to Muncie, where he opened a law office. He remained there until he was elected attorney general in 1906. He was Republican chairman of Fountain County in 1888 and managed the campaign of Pres. Benjamin Harrison in the county then. An attorney in two test cases originating in Ohio, Mr. Bingham engaged in litigation which resulted in US Supreme Court decisions holding the 18th and 19th amendments constitutional. The former provided national prohibition and the latter granted women the right to vote. Mr. Bingham was born in Fountain County March 16, 1861, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Bingham. The family lived on a farm and Mr. Bingham received his early education in the district schools. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Remster, then principal of Veedersburg HS, Dec 27, 1887. Mrs. Bingham was the sister of the late Judge Charles Remster of Indianapolis. Mrs. Bingham died in 1925 and a son, Charles Bingham died of an illness resulting from service in the army during the World War. Mr. Bingham was a member of the American Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Indiana Historical Society and Second Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Columbia Club 34 years. Survivors are his son, Remster A. Bingham; a brother, George F. Bingham; six grandchildren: Rosemary, James Joan Elizabeth, Carol and Dorothy Bingham, all of Indianapolis and Catherine and Remster Jr. both of Chicago. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon in the Second Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery. Time of services has not been decided. - transcribed by kbz
