Alvin Bingaman. Prompt adaptation to opportunity, a capacity for gauging the possible increase in values and the well developed speculative instinct which places the natural broker in a class by himself, arc factors which have contributed to the business success of Alvin Bingaman, formerly a legal practitioner, but of more recent years a dealer in loans and investments, at Cordell. Mr. Bingaman belongs to a family which originated in Germany and migrated to America during colonial days, settling in Pennsylvania. He was born at Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, September 28, 1870, and is a son of Albert and Mary (Welcome) Bingaman.

Albert Bingaman was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1836, and as a youth of eighteen years made his way to California, where he continued to be engaged in prospecting and mining until 1864. He then went to Illinois and took up his residence at Quincy, where he established himself in the agricultural implement business, continuing there until 1871, when he moved to Nodaway County, Missouri. From that time forward, Mr. Bingaman was engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred on his farm in 1913. He was a man of industry, who made money in each of his several ventures, being possessed of versatile talents in a business way. His religious belief was that of the Presbyterian Church, while fraternally he was a Mason and politically a democrat. His strict integrity placed him in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. Bingaman married Miss Mary Welcome, who was also born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1850, and died at Burlington, Kansas, in July, 1911. They became the parents of four children: Alvin, Nena, whose home is in Nodaway County, Missouri, but who at this writing (1915) is on a visit to California: Lydia A., who married Fred E. Diss, a mechanic of Nodaway County, Missouri; and Harry, who is engaged in the loans and investment business at Creston, Iowa.

Alvin Bingaman attended the graded schools of Nodaway County, Missouri, and was graduated from the Maryville (Missouri) High School with the class of 1892. He then attended the State University of Missouri, at Columbia, finishing the sophomore year, and returned to Maryville, where ho took up the study of law in the office of Edwin A. Vinsonhaler, being admitted to the bar in 1894. For a time Mr. Bingaman was engaged in practice at Maryville, but he had become interested in the farm loan business, and when he came to Cordell, in 1910, gave up the law entirely to devote his whole time and attention to the farm loan and investment business, taking notes and mortgages. He is the owner of a farm eight miles southwest of Cordell, a tract of 160 acres of valuable land, and another property, of 240 acres, eleven miles southeast of Cordell. He handles considerable stock and in this venture, as in his others, he has been more than ordinarily successful. Mr. Bingaman is alert, active and progressive in his views. he has evinced commendable public spirit and zeal, and in all his transactions has been guided by probity, sagacity and good judgment. His offices are located in the Kerley Building. A democrat in political matters, Mr. Bingaman has served as president of the school board of Cordell, and was a member of the Missouri State Democratic Committee while residing at Maryville. With his family, he belongs to the Presbyterian Church. He is well known in fraternal circles, being past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Maryville, a member of the Encampment there, Maryville Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America and Maryville Camp, Woodmen of the World. He is an enthusiastic member of the Cordell Commercial Club and has been active in its work.

Mr. Bingaman was married in June, 1900, at Maryville, Missouri, to Miss Ada A. Alderman, a daughter of Hon. Ira K. Alderman, a resident of Maryville and ex-judge of the District Court. To Mr. and Mrs. Bingaman there has come one daughter, Helen Kemper, born Mav 31, 1913.